The Philadelphia Phillies had five players named to the All-Star Game on Saturday, but one selection still left many fans scratching their heads. While star first baseman Bryce Harper ultimately secured a place on the National League roster, he did so as Commissioner Rob Manfred’s “legend” selection rather than through fan voting or the standard roster process.
Harper’s inclusion is certainly deserved, but considering the season he’s put together, it’s difficult to understand why he needed the commissioner’s special selection in the first place.
Harper spent the voting period locked in a tight three-player battle with Freddie Freeman and Matt Olson for the National League’s starting first base spot. All three have delivered outstanding performances throughout the season and each had a legitimate argument to start.
Olson entered Sunday leading the trio with 22 home runs, while Freeman owned the highest batting average at .297. Harper landed squarely between them, posting a better average than Olson while hitting more home runs than Freeman. In the end, Freeman benefited from overwhelming support from Dodgers fans to earn the starting job, while Olson claimed one of the reserve infield spots.
Bryce Harper deserved an All-Star selection without needing MLB’s special exemption
Harper may have been left out of the All-Star festivities altogether if not for Manfred’s “legend” selection. The commissioner has the authority to add players based on their stature within the sport, regardless of whether they qualify through the normal selection process.
That designation has previously gone to future Hall of Famers Albert Pujols, Miguel Cabrera and Clayton Kershaw, all of whom received the honor near the end of their careers after their production had significantly declined.
Harper’s situation is far different.
Rather than receiving a farewell tribute, the Phillies slugger has been one of the club’s top performers all season. His .892 OPS ranks second on the team only behind the remarkable production of Kyle Schwarber, hardly the résumé of someone receiving a lifetime achievement award.
So why did Harper need the commissioner’s special invitation instead of earning a traditional All-Star berth?
The answer largely comes down to roster construction.
With limited roster spots available, deserving players inevitably miss out each season. Phillies fans experienced that frustration last year during the Cristopher Sánchez/Jacob Misiorowski controversy, and a similar scenario appears to have unfolded again.
First base happened to be one of the National League’s deepest positions. Harper finished behind two outstanding candidates in the fan vote, and carrying three first basemen while leaving other positions thin was never likely to happen. Still, that doesn’t necessarily mean Harper should have been excluded from the standard roster.
One player whose selection has fueled debate is Cincinnati Reds rookie corner infielder Sal Stewart. Stewart has enjoyed an impressive debut season, producing an .805 OPS with 17 home runs in 89 games to earn his first career All-Star appearance.
But when comparing the numbers, Harper’s .892 OPS and 20 home runs present a compelling case that he was at least as deserving, if not more so. While Harper’s defensive performance has been below his usual standard, his offensive production remains among the league’s best.
Ultimately, the most important takeaway is that Bryce Harper will be an All-Star.
Years from now, his ninth All-Star appearance will count the same regardless of how he got there. Even so, after seeing Cristopher Sánchez overlooked previously and Zack Wheeler receive little recognition this season, it’s understandable why many Phillies fans feel Harper deserved a standard All-Star selection instead of what feels like a secondary honor.