The 2026 MLB All-Star Game is in Philadelphia this year. The Pittsburgh Pirates have had a solid season so far with a 46-45 record, but their All-Star representation didn’t show that.
The Pirates have just one player headed to the 2026 All-Star Game on July 14 at Citizens Bank Park, in right-handed starting pitcher Paul Skenes, who has a spot with the National League for the third straight season.
The Bucs have the third highest scoring offense in baseball and are off to their best start in over a decade.
Yet they have the same amount of players selected than they did in last year’s All-Star Game.
Outfielder Bryan Reynolds is off to a strong start that deserved a selection. Reynolds has slashed .284/.395/.470 for an OPS of .865 in 90 games, with 93 hits, 21 doubles, two triples, 12 home runs, 55 RBI and 57 walks to 88 strikeouts so far this season.
The 31 year old had a strong month of June hitting 293/.386/.525 for an OPS of .911. He also had a strong May slashing .313/.422/.510 for an OPS of .932.
He also had the longest on-base streak in the Major Leagues at one point, 34 games from May 23 to June 29, plus a 17-game hitting streak from June 9 through June 27, which is tied for the second-longest of his career.
Another major snub for Pittsburgh is second baseman Brandon Lowe. Lowe leads the Pirates and all second baseman’s with 20 home runs on the season.
Lowe has 60 RBIs on the season which is first for second basemen and his slugging percentage of .494 is also first for that position. He is also third in second basemen’s in OPS with .812.
Lowe’s production has been massive for the Pirates, his power is something Pirate fans haven’t seen from that position. The Bucs also finished in last place last season in home runs hit, so the power that Lowe has brought in his first season in Pittsburgh has been huge.
There is a strong second baseman pool in the NL, with the likes of Luis Arraez (San Francisco Giants) and Ozzie Albies (Atlanta Braves) having good seasons themselves. With Albies being named the starting second basemen for the national league.
It’s unfortunate for Lowe, who easily would’ve made the American League All-Star team, as they have a much weaker second base group. The 32-year-old has been incredibly important for the Bucs above .500 start to the season.
It’s disappointing not seeing a lot of players in the black and gold represented in the mid summer classic but the Pirates are in the middle of a playoff race and that’s more important at this point.
