Phillies' Zack Wheeler declines late All-Star Game invite after complaining about snub

Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Zack Wheeler has nary involvement successful appearing successful the MLB All-Star Game adjacent aft receiving a precocious invitation to the Midsummer Classic.

Wheeler was initially incapable to person the accidental to transportation astatine Citizens Bank Ballpark, his location stadium, due to the fact that of his pitching schedule. The pitching schedules person determined who is disposable for the Midsummer Classic, but it's not known whether they person strictly determined All-Star selections.

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Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Zack Wheeler pitches during the 2nd inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates connected Wednesday, July 1, 2026, successful Philadelphia. (Matt Slocum/AP Photo)

He was invited to articulation the roster Friday arsenic an wounded replacement but declined, saying helium was "not gonna beryllium the 5th option."

"Because they disrespected me," helium said, via NBC Sports Philadelphia. "So I’m conscionable not gonna enactment successful that thing."

Wheeler made wide helium wasn’t criticizing the lawsuit itself, calling it a "privilege" to enactment successful it. However, it was the archetypal snub that didn’t beryllium good with him.

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Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Zack Wheeler throws during the archetypal inning of a crippled against the Cincinnati Reds successful Cincinnati connected Tuesday, July 7, 2026. (Carolyn Kaster/AP Photo)

"Guys bash instrumentality a batch of pridefulness to having the All-Star adjacent to your name," helium added. "During your vocation and aft your career. And radical who physique them worldly aft your vocation mightiness look astatine that, too. For idiosyncratic to benignant of instrumentality that distant from me, it doesn’t beryllium the best."

Wheeler has been dealing for the Phillies this season. In 14 starts, helium has a 2.28 ERA with 98 strikeouts and a 10.1 K/9 ratio.

He suggested connected Tuesday that it was his pitching docket that was keeping him disconnected the mound.

"It p---es maine off. It’s benignant of BS, so. Maybe if I wasn’t needfully close successful there, I wouldn’t beryllium saying this, but I consciousness similar I’ve earned it, and conscionable due to the fact that I transportation connected a definite day, I can’t transportation successful the All-Star Game oregon adjacent beryllium determination oregon get the designation for it," helium said.

Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Zack Wheeler throws during the archetypal inning of a shot crippled against the Washington Nationals, Friday, Aug. 15, 2025, successful Washington. (AP Photo/Daniel Kucin Jr.)

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"I deliberation it's benignant of conscionable a BS rule, conscionable due to the fact that I transportation connected a definite day, I get punished for it, I guess."