Diamondbacks' notable all-star game snubs

While it has been a thrill to watch young superstar Corbin Carroll and LF Lourdes Gurriel place as all-star finalists, several high-performing Diamondbacks did not make the cut.

The D-backs have had no shortage of talent this season, with seemingly each and every individual position player either stepping up to their role or noting marked improvements from previous seasons.

However, only two of the team's outfielders made it to the final round of all-star voting. Here are some of the notable D-back snubs from the all-star ballot.

Diamondbacks 1B Christian Walker

Despite a tough start to the season, with many fans disappointed in Walker's lack of performance with RISP, Walker has quietly had an excellent month of June, steadily improving his batting average and RBI stats over the last several weeks.

Despite a .237 BA in May, Walker has turned it around this month, going 26-75, with 3 HRs and 14 RBI in just over three weeks. He's slashing .347/.405/.600 in that time, raising his season AVG to .271 after two consecutive sub-.250 months.

While Walker doesn't measure up to ASG finalist Freddie Freeman's season .323/.403./.538, he tops him in home runs, and leads another finalist Matt Olson in batting average and slugging, with a huge lead over him in all categories through recent weeks.

Walker is known for his home runs and excellent defense over at 1B, taking home the D-backs' gold glove award in 2022.

He led the team in homers with 36 last year, and is on pace to near that total this season. His power-hitting presence is balanced by an ability to find holes in the infield, and while striking out can sometimes be an issue, his strikeout % is in the 79th percentile for 2023 while sitting in the 94th percentile in max exit velocity.

Despite his massive resurgence (as of late), Walker did not finish in the top 10 of all-star voting this season. Maybe next year, C-Walk.

Diamondbacks SS Geraldo Perdomo

Perdomo did not have the greatest 2022 season, finishing with a low BA of .195 and an OPS of only .547.

Batting mainly near the bottom of the order and taking the majority of the reps at shortstop due to veteran Nick Ahmed's season-ending injury, Perdomo struggled to find his rhythm on offense despite regularly showing flashes of excellent defensive prowess.

In 2023, Perdomo flipped his own narrative. He's now slashing .297/.406/.462 with five home runs, 31 RBIs, and 9 steals.

Manager Torey Lovullo, impressed by his ability to see pitches and his .868 OPS, transitioned Perdomo to the leadoff spot, where he has shown solid production despite sharing more of the starting load with Ahmed since his 2023 return.

While Perdomo has been a valuable bat and an exceptional defender, he was met with stiff competition at his position. Finalist and Braves' SS Orlando Arcia is slashing .333/.392/.478, despite trailing Perdomo in RBIs, stolen bases, and OBP.

Perdomo holds a substantial lead over Mets' SS and other finalist Francisco Lindor in AVG, OBP, and OPS, but trails Lindor's impressive 14 HRs and 51 RBIs.

Despite the heavy talent pool at the SS position, Perdomo finished 8th in all-star voting, with 265,521 votes.

Diamondbacks 2B Ketel Marte

Fans have been waiting for Ketel Marte to return to form. The veteran 2B had a difficult 2022 season, marking a .240 AVG and .728--both career lows--with only 12 HRs on the season, his lowest full-season total.

This season, Marte's matched his total in homers in only 70 games, and has bumped his AVG to a solid .289. Ketel is slashing .289/.367/.500 on the season, .318/.451/.576 in the month of June, with a season OPS of .867.

A versatile switch-hitter and solid defensive 2B, Ketel has begun to find power on both sides of the plate and has 37 RBIs to date.

While it is nearly impossible to argue Marte's case over Marlins' 2B and finalist Luis Arraez, who's danced around an incredible .400 AVG all season with a league-low 15 strikeouts, Marte holds a distinct lead in XBH with 29 to Arraez's 15. Marte also holds a 10-homer lead over his single-reliant opponent, holding a slight RBI lead as well.

Ketel leads Braves' 2B and 2nd place all-star votee Ozzie Albies in many statistical categories this season. Albies is slashing only .267/.318/.502, with an .820 OPS, but leads Marte in home runs, RBIs, and XBHs.

Ketel holds a slight lead over Albies in SBs, total base hits, and runs, with a higher AVG and OBP through the month of June as well.

While both finalists have certainly been exceptional players this season, Marte at least has a case to be considered alongside them, for both his defensive work--despite recent mental errors--and his regained offensive power.

Marte finished 6th in all-star voting, with 218,916 total votes.

While each of these Diamondbacks' infielders may have missed the all-star game, on the bright side, the D-backs went from Joe Mantiply being their sole representation in the 2022 ASG to having two highly-qualified finalists in Carroll and Gurriel.

One could make an all-star case with a myriad of other position players and pitchers. It's a good time to be a Diamondback fan.

And keep an eye out for twin aces Zac Gallen and Merrill Kelly, as pitchers will be selected through player ballots and the commissioner's office in the coming weeks.

The All-Star Game will be played on July 11th, at T-Mobile Park in Seattle.