Cristopher Sanchez won’t be in Atlanta for the 2025 All-Star Game — and now we know exactly why. Despite a breakout season that places him among the National League’s top starters, the Philadelphia Phillies left-hander was officially ruled out from participating in the Midsummer Classic, prompting widespread confusion and backlash from fans and teammates.
On Saturday, The Athletic’s Matt Gelb reported that MLB did offer Sanchez a spot on the All-Star roster, but with a condition: he had to waive the league’s built-in pitching restrictions and make himself available for an inning just two days after his scheduled start. Citing an earlier injury scare this season, Sanchez and the Phillies chose not to accept.
“MLB told them a replacement player can only be named to the All-Star roster if he agrees to pitch in the game,” Gelb wrote. “Sanchez, by rule, cannot make the team.”
A quiet snub despite elite numbers
The decision not to waive those restrictions — while medically and logically sound — effectively cost Sanchez the official honor. He is now ineligible to be named an All-Star, even though his performance in the first half of 2025 stands alongside the league’s best.
Cristopher Sánchez #61 of the Philadelphia Phillies delivers a pitch in the first inning during game two of a doubleheader against the San Diego Padres at Citizens Bank Park on July 2, 2025 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Hunter Martin/Getty Images)
Through 18 starts, Sanchez is 7–2 with a 2.59 ERA, ranking fourth-best in the National League and 10th in all of MLB. His 116 strikeouts and 4.1 WAR place him among Cy Young contenders like Zack Wheeler, Paul Skenes, and Tarik Skubal. With a WHIP of 1.13 and just 29 walks in 107.2 innings pitched, his efficiency and consistency have been key to the Phillies’ NL East dominance.
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Yet, the league’s technical rule — that a pitcher scheduled to start on Sunday can only be added if he agrees to pitch in the All-Star Game — closed the door, despite the original offer.
A star without the label
For Phillies fans, this outcome feels like a technicality robbing a deserving pitcher of due recognition. Even with the formal offer from MLB, Sanchez will not be listed as a 2025 All-Star, and will not be honored in Atlanta — simply because he prioritized health and routine over a midseason showcase.
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It’s a reminder of the blurred lines between celebration and caution, and how All-Star honors are sometimes dictated more by scheduling than performance. Cristopher Sanchez may not get the title this year, but his work on the mound tells a different story — and the league, his teammates, and opponents know it.
