Mets' All-Stars: Francisco Lindor, Pete Alonso, Edwin Diaz but no Juan Soto - Newsday
The Mets will be well-represented at the All-Star Game, just not by a near-perennial All Star.
Francisco Lindor, who won the fan vote, will be joined by Pete Alonso and Edwin Diaz at the Midsummer Classic at Truist Park in Atlanta, MLB announced Sunday. But Juan Soto, who’s been named an All-Star in four of his last five seasons, missed the cut despite being one of the fan vote finalists and being named June’s National League Player of the Month.
Alonso also said he won’t be participating in the Home Run Derby — the event he’s won twice.
“I feel like I’m in a groove with certain things,” he said Sunday. “It doesn’t mean no forever. If an All-Star Game happens at Citi Field or another park I love to hit at like Fenway or Wrigley, for sure. I’m not necessarily called to it this year . . . I just want to be able to fully enjoy the festivities.”
Soto’s stats, meanwhile, indicate that much like Lindor last year, the outfielder was a noticeable omission. His 21 homers are third among National League outfielders, and his OPS, second.
Either way, Lindor, in his first All Star nomination as a Met, was excited to have the company. This will be his fourth career appearance and his first since 2019. This is Diaz’s third appearance and first since 2022. Alonso is going for the fifth time, a franchise record for first baseman, and two more than Keith Hernandez.
“It should be fantastic,” Lindor said. “The fans voted for me, which I appreciate. I’ve got nothing but respect and love. But now the players who are going to get in tonight are going to get in through their peers and that’s very special as well. That’s a big honor, when your colleagues, your peers, they respect you enough to vote for you.”
Diaz's goal: “try to pitch in the game."
“My last one, I didn’t pitch, so this one, I’m looking forward to going in the game and having fun there,” the closer said.
As for his companions, “for a couple seasons [Lindor] deserved to be there but he didn’t make it. This year, he made it and he deserves it. I’m really happy to share a locker with him and Pete.”
Laura Albanese is a reporter, feature writer and columnist covering local professional sports teams; she began at Newsday in 2007 as an intern.