Logan Webb Says He’d Give Up His All-Star Spot for a Snubbed Zack Wheeler

Zack Wheeler isn’t at the All-Star Game. He could have been. He said no. But the conversation around why he was left off the initial roster isn’t going anywhere, and it just got a lot more interesting thanks to Logan Webb.

The San Francisco Giants pitcher was asked about Wheeler’s situation during All-Star festivities on Monday. Jason Martinez of Fox 29 caught up with Webb and asked what he thought about Wheeler declining a replacement invitation. Webb didn’t hesitate. He said Wheeler belongs at the game and that he’d personally give up his own roster spot if he could.

“I just asked Logan Webb about Wheeler declining an All-Star invitation. He said Zack should be here and would give up his roster spot for Wheeler if he could. Pretty classy answer I think,” Martinez posted on X, formerly Twitter.

Why Wheeler turned down the MLB

Wheeler has been one of the best pitchers in baseball this season. For the Phillies, he’s got a 2.13 ERA, 108 strikeouts, a 10-1 record over 15 starts and 93 innings. Those numbers usually get you a first-class ticket to the Midsummer Classic. This time, they didn’t.

The league eventually offered him a spot as a replacement. Wheeler declined. According to The Athletic, he felt the MLB had “disrespected” him with the initial snub.

Some folks pointed to the fact that Wheeler didn’t pitch until April because he had thoracic outlet decompression surgery last September. Maybe that played into the voting. Wheeler isn’t buying excuses.

“I don’t need a pity party,” Wheeler said. “I don’t need somebody saying, ‘He’s had major surgery. Look at him now.’ I don’t need that. It was my plan to come back as who I was, or even better.” He added that the All-Star nod matters for a player’s legacy, especially when it comes to future Hall of Fame voting. “I feel if somebody deserves it, then they deserve it. Guys do take a lot of pride in having that All-Star nod next to your name during your career and after your career. People who vote on stuff after your career might look at that, too.”

Wheeler’s decision to sit this one out might be a statement. It might just be him being tired of the whole thing. Either way, the snub is now a bigger story than the actual game in some corners. And Webb’s offer — genuine as it probably was — only adds to the noise.