Zack Wheeler’s agent, B.B. Abbott, has sharply criticized Major League Baseball for not selecting the Philadelphia Phillies pitcher for the 2026 MLB All-Star Game. Abbott described the decision as "tone deaf" and "ludicrous," particularly given Wheeler’s successful return from thoracic outlet syndrome surgery.
Wheeler, who missed the end of the 2025 season and the start of 2026 following surgery in September, returned to the mound on April 25. Since his return, the 36-year-old pitcher has posted an 8-1 record with a 2.36 earned run average and a 0.93 walks plus hits per inning pitched across 13 starts. He has also recorded 84 strikeouts in 80 innings pitched, holding opponents to a .580 OPS, which ranks fourth in the National League.
Despite his strong performance, Wheeler was not named to the National League’s All-Star roster. Abbott expressed frustration that MLB did not recognize Wheeler’s remarkable comeback from an injury that significantly impacts many players. "Everybody knows what he's been through. And to not do what you needed to do to let this guy be honored in his home ballpark, it's ludicrous," Abbott told The Athletic.
Abbott suggested that the league's decision demonstrated a "real lack of acknowledgement" of Wheeler's achievements. "To be able to come back from something that not a lot of players can come back from – and certainly can’t return to the level of excellence that he has – it shows a real lack of acknowledgement by Major League Baseball to what he’s done up to this point."
The Phillies still have five representatives in the All-Star Game: Bryce Harper, Kyle Schwarber, Brandon Marsh, Christopher Sánchez, and Jhoan Durán. These players, along with Wheeler, have been key contributors to the Phillies' turnaround this season, helping the team recover from a 9-19 start to achieve a 50-41 record, good for second place in the NL East entering Monday's games.