Jacob Misiorowski All-Star controversy, explained: Why Brewers pitcher made NL roster over Phillies, others

Pirates ace Paul Skenes pulled off an incredible feat by starting the All-Star Game for the National League just two months into his career last season, but Brewers rookie Jacob Misiorowski is redefining what it means to rise from prospect to All-Star.

Misiorowski was named to the NL All-Star roster despite debuting in June, just 33 days before the Midsummer Classic. In that time, the lanky right-hander has wowed in every way possible, starting his career with 11 consecutive no-hit innings and striking out 12 Dodgers when the reigning champions came to town.

Still, Misiorowski's late addition to the team isn't sitting well with everyone — and some players are even joining in on the criticism.

Here's what you need to know about the controversy surrounding Misiorowski's All-Star selection. 

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Jacob Misiorowski All-Star controversy, explained

As dominant as Misiorowski has looked at times in the first month of his MLB career, many believe he just doesn't have a large enough sample size to justify an All-Star selection over other NL pitchers. Misiorowski has thrown 25.2 innings over five starts since debuting on June 12, while starters who have put in a full season to this point have made 18 or 19 starts.

Misiorowski had had some terrific moments over those five starts, but he isn't unblemished. The Mets hit him hard on July 12, with Misiorowski exiting after allowing five earned runs over 3.2 innings. With that start in mind, the 23-year-old has a 2.81 ERA across 25.2 innings — an excellent mark over a full season, but in the minds of many, not enough to separate him from pitchers who have three or four times the body of work this season.

The burning question created — or reignited — by Misiorowski's selection is whether the All-Star Game is supposed to be a showcase of the league's biggest attractions or a reward for the players who had the best first half of the season. In theory, it's supposed to be the latter. By selecting Misiorowski, some wonder whether the league is valuing the idea of the All-Star Game being a showcase over a reward. 

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Phillies players took issue with the selection of Misiorowski over Cristopher Sanchez and Ranger Suarez, with Trea Turner tearing into the league's process. 

"What a joke," Turner said. "That's f—ing terrible. I mean, that's terrible, dude. It's not the All-Star Game in the sense that the best players go there, or people who have had the best season. It's whoever sells the most tickets or has been put on social media the most.

Nick Castellanos, meanwhile, eloquently said the All-Star Game was "turning into the Savannah Bananas."

Here's a look at Misiorowski's stats compared to some of the NL starters not heading to the All-Star Game. 

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Jacob Misiorowski stats vs. All-Star snubs

The comparison is that there is no comparison. There isn't much of a way to justify Misiorowski as an All-Star when his five starts are put up against Sanchez and Nick Pivetta's 19, Senga's 14 or Suarez's 13.

There are caveats to the choice, though. Suarez declined an invitation to be a late addition to the NL roster, while Senga pitched Friday but is just getting back from an injury. Pivetta and Sanchez pitched against one another on Sunday and likely wouldn't be able to pitch in the All-Star Game on Tuesday. MLB said it offered Sanchez the chance to be an All-Star if he was able to throw an inning or two in the game, a claim Sanchez's team refutes.

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That begs another question: if an All-Star selection is a reward and the accolade is supposed to mean something, should it matter that Sanchez wouldn't be able to pitch? Why should the day of his final start before the break impact whether he has a star next to the year 2025 on his Baseball-Reference page when all is said and done?

Of course, these aren't the only NL starters who might believe they have more of a claim to be an All-Star than Misiorowski. Any pitcher who has thrown 80, 90, 100 or more innings with respectable numbers could have a case over someone who has thrown 25.2 innings, but it's Misiorowski who will draw eyeballs even while wearing the uniform of one of the league's small-market franchises.

MORE: Complete list of every MLB All-Star Game MVP in history