Diamondbacks All-Time All-Star snubs
With the MLB All-Star Game rosters having been recently announced - congrats Joe Mantiply - it got me thinking about past Diamondback all-stars, and also players who should’ve been at some point.
So, while national sports sites are publishing their articles about who was snubbed this year,
Here is a list of my all-time Dbacks all-star snubs.
No. 10 - Christian Walker
While his batting average is low and the Diamondbacks aren’t high in the standings, Walker has hit 21 home runs so far this season, which is fourth in the National League.
There wasn’t necessarily an obvious All-Star for the Dbacks this year, but it could have been Walker if the first base position in the NL wasn’t stacked.
No. 9 - Aaron Hill
While he was an All-Star with Toronto, you could argue he should have been in Arizona as well.
Hill won a Silver Slugger award in 2012 at second base, tallying 26 home runs and 85 RBI. Not mind-blowing numbers, but if he won a Silver Slugger, he could have been named an All-Star too.
No. 8 - Gerardo Parra
While he wasn’t the most outstanding offensive right fielder, Parra was a stud defensively.
He won a Gold Glove in 2011, following it up with a second in 2013 when he was also named a Fielding Bible recipient and the Wilson Defensive Player of the Year.
With his defensive acumen, Parra should have made at least one All-Star team during his six-year stint in the desert.
No. 7 - Stephen Drew
The Diamondbacks' all-time leader in triples (52), Drew’s best chance at an All-Star selection was during the 2008 season.
During that season, he notched career highs in both home runs (21) and RBI (67), even receiving MVP votes. It only stands to reason that if you garner MVP votes, you have a decent case for an All-Star nod.
No. 6 - Nick Ahmed
Another argument for a solid defensive player, Ahmed’s offensive numbers have never been prolific - his career-high in home runs is just 19 - but he has been rewarded for his skills on the defensive side.
In 2018 Ahmed received a Gold Glove award and followed it up the next year with both a Gold Glove and Fielding Bible. Great offensively? No. But perhaps an All-Star-worthy defender? You could make the case.
No. 5 - J.J. Putz
While he was an All-Star in 2007 with Seattle, he should have been with the Dbacks in 2011 as well.
During the 2011 season, he recorded a 2.17 ERA with 45 saves (2nd in the National League). When the All-Star rosters were announced, he had already tallied 21 of those saves.
Of course, we know the Diamondbacks ended up winning the division that season, in large part thanks to an all-star level closer.
No. 4 - Mark Reynolds
Ya, I know, Reynolds struck out sometimes. Ok, a lot of times. But he also put up offensive numbers worthy of at least one All-Star selection. During the 2008 season, Mark hit 28 home runs and drove in 97 runs. Solid numbers for sure, but his 2009 season was even better.
Even though he led the league in strikeouts, he also hit 44 home runs, good for fourth in the National League. He also added 102 RBI (tied for 10th), 24 stolen bases, and received MVP votes. When the rosters were announced, he had tallied 23 home runs and 58 RBI.
A similar thing happened in 2010. While his numbers dropped off some, he still had recorded 19 home runs and 53 RBI when the All-Star rosters were named. He ended the season with 32 home runs (6th in the NL) and drew 83 walks, also sixth in the league. Over those three seasons (2008-10), Reynolds should have been selected to at least one All-Star roster.
No. 3 - David Peralta
A current Diamondback, Peralta could have been an All-Star at least once by now, if not more.
While he won a Gold Glove in 2019 and led the NL in triples last year, there were two seasons where you could make the best argument for David to be an All-Star.
During the 2015 season, Peralta led the NL in triples and finished in the top ten in on-base percentage (.371 - 8th), slugging percentage (.522 - 6th), and batting average (.312 - 8th). He also had a solid 2018 season, smacking a career-high 30 homers (t-8th in the NL) while winning a Silver Slugger award.
All-Star worthy at least once in nine big league seasons? I don’t see why not.
No. 2 - Brad Ziegler
The Dbacks' all-time leader in appearances (377) and ERA (2.57), Ziegler could have been an All-Star in three different seasons. During the 2012 season, he compiled a 6-1 record and 2.49 ERA while appearing in 77 games. He followed it up in 2013 with an 8-1 record and a 2.22 ERA in a league-leading 78 appearances.
In 2015 he became the team’s closer, notching 30 saves (t-10th in the NL) in 32 chances while recording a 1.85 ERA. In other words, Ziegler should have at least one career All-Star selection, if not two or three.
No. 1 - Ian Kennedy
Now back in Arizona at 37 years old in his 16th season, I still can’t figure out how Ian Kennedy wasn’t named an All-Star in 2011.
While the Dbacks won the NL West, Kennedy led the league in wins with 21, also finishing top ten in the NL in ERA (2.88 - 7th), and strikeouts (198 - 8th). When the All-Star teams were announced, Ian had compiled an 8-2 record and a 3.01 ERA.
In other words, he was the ace of a playoff team, finished with a 21-4 record, and was fourth in the Cy Young balloting, but not an All-Star? I still don’t understand that, and honestly, I’m not sure I ever will.
Who are your Diamondbacks biggest All-Star snubs?
All stats referenced in the article via Baseball-Reference.