A lot of people are upset about Jacob Misiorowski making the MLB All-Star Game.
Misiorowski himself is surprised by his selection. But he’s confident the critics aren’t actually upset with him. The Milwaukee Brewers’ pitching phenom addressed the criticism of his late addition to the All-Star Game on Monday.
“They’re not upset with me,” he said, per ESPN.
He’s almost certainly right in most instances. People aren’t angry with Misiorowski for a decision that was out of his hands. But plenty are critical that he made the NL All-Star team despite playing in just five games, the fewest in MLB history for a player selected to the All-Star Game.
Nobody’s doubting Misiorowski’s talent. The 23-year-old has taken baseball by storm with a fastball that regularly exceeds 100 mph, a devastating slider and a diving curveball that have combined to baffle MLB hitters since Misiorowski made his MLB debut for the Brewers on June 12.
The result is a sterling 2.81 ERA and 0.896 WHIP with 33 strikeouts in 25 2/3 innings pitched. But it’s that 25 2/3 innings tally that has baseball in an uproar ahead of Tuesday’s All-Star Game.
MLB players sound off on Misiorowski’s selection
Despite Misiorowski’s tremendous performance on the mound, there were inarguably better candidates for his roster spot who have played throughout the first half of the season. Philadelphia Phillies pitchers Ranger Suárez (1.94 ERA, 78 Ks in 83 2/3 IP) and Cristopher Sánchez (2.50 ERA, 122 Ks in 115 IP) are among them.
Their Phillies teammates were furious when MLB announced Friday that Misiorowski would replace Chicago Cubs pitcher Matthew Boyd on the NL roster.
“What a joke,” Trea Turner told The Athletic of Misiorowski’s selection. “That’s f***ing terrible. I mean, that’s terrible, dude.”
Phillies outfielder Nick Castellanos joined his teammates in lambasting MLB. “It’s turning into the Savannah Bananas,” he said.
But Atlanta Braves All-Star pitcher Chris Sale put things in perspective in terms of Misiorowski’s experience.
“Honestly, my first reaction was ‘You can’t take it out the kid,’ right?” Sale told the FanDuel Sports Network. “All he’s done is go out there to do the best he can to be a big leaguer and be a pitcher and try to help his team.
“Some of the decisions that get made behind closed doors, that’s not up to us. Again, if you love the move or you hate the move, you can’t fault him for it. He’s just here trying to do the best he can. He deserves to enjoy this experience as much as everybody instead of being stressed out thinking if this guy’s liking him or that guy’s not liking him. …
“At the end of the day, the guy got named an All-Star, and he deserves to enjoy this experience as much as anybody.”
That’s the perspective Misiorowski is certainly hoping for from his fellow All-Stars and likely the one he’ll experience Tuesday. But whatever his experience in Atlanta, it won’t be what he was planning for.
“The last five weeks have been insane,” Misiorowski said. “I thought the All-Star break would be a chance to sit down and reflect. Now we’re here.”
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