Atlanta, GA – The roster for the 2025 Major League Baseball National League All-Star team was officially announced today, featuring a significant milestone for Chicago Cubs left-handed pitcher Matthew Boyd. At 34 years old, Boyd has earned his first career selection to the prestigious midsummer classic, a testament to his strong performance throughout the first half of the season.
Boyd’s inclusion recognizes his impactful contributions to the Cubs’ rotation this year. As of the announcement date, the veteran southpaw has posted an impressive 2.65 ERA over 98.2 innings pitched, establishing himself as a reliable and effective arm for the team. His selection adds him to an esteemed list of Cubs pitchers who have represented the National League on the All-Star stage.
Mixed Fortunes for Cubs Stars
While Boyd’s selection is a cause for celebration within the Cubs organization and among its fanbase, the announcement also brought disappointment for two other prominent members of the team: outfielder Seiya Suzuki and center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong. Despite their significant roles and contributions, neither Suzuki nor Crow-Armstrong were named as pitchers or reserves alongside Boyd on the National League roster selected by players and league officials.
This news arrives with particular nuance for Crow-Armstrong, who had previously been elected by fans as an All-Star starter. The complex selection process involves multiple phases, including fan balloting for starters and player/manager/league office selections for pitchers and reserve position players. While fan support secured Crow-Armstrong a starting spot, he was not chosen by his peers or league officials for one of the additional roster spots.
Seiya Suzuki’s omission, particularly from the reserve positions, was immediately a subject of considerable discussion among fans and baseball analysts, with many considering him a “snub.” Suzuki has been a key offensive force for the Cubs, and his performance has garnered attention throughout the season. Notably, following the All-Star roster announcement, Suzuki reportedly performed well, potentially fueling further debate about his exclusion from the reserve list.
Understanding the All-Star Selection Process
The composition of the MLB All-Star rosters is a multi-faceted process. Fan voting determines the starting position players for both the American and National Leagues (with the exception of the designated hitter in the NL). Following the fan vote, active players vote for the remaining starting position players (where applicable), as well as the pitchers and reserve position players. Finally, the league offices, in conjunction with the All-Star managers, fill out the remaining spots to ensure every team is represented and to add additional players deemed deserving.
Boyd’s selection falls into the category of pitchers selected either by player vote or by the league office/managers, recognizing his statistical performance as a pitcher. Crow-Armstrong’s status as a fan-elected starter is confirmed by the original information. The lack of selection for Suzuki and Crow-Armstrong in the pitcher/reserve categories highlights the competitive nature of these remaining spots and the varying criteria considered by different voting bodies.
Cubs Representation in Atlanta
Despite the mixed results from the selection process regarding individual roster spots, the Chicago Cubs will indeed be well-represented at the 2025 MLB All-Star Game, which is set to take place in Atlanta. Including Matthew Boyd, the Cubs are officially sending three players to the event. This confirms that, in addition to Boyd and the fan-elected starter Pete Crow-Armstrong, at least one other player from the Cubs roster will be participating in the festivities in Atlanta, bringing the team’s total representation to three.
While the identity and method of selection for the third Cubs All-Star were not detailed alongside Boyd’s announcement and the discussion of Suzuki and Crow-Armstrong’s non-selection as pitchers/reserves, the fact remains that three members of the North Siders will be participating in the midsummer classic. This level of representation underscores the team’s overall performance and the individual achievements of its top players during the 2025 campaign, even as the selection process sparked debate regarding who was included and who was left off the final rosters.
Significance of All-Star Honors
An All-Star selection represents a significant personal achievement for any player, marking them as among the league’s best during that particular season. For a veteran like the 34-year-old Matthew Boyd, earning his first nod is a career highlight and a recognition of his perseverance and effectiveness. His 2.65 ERA over nearly 100 innings is a strong indicator of his dominance on the mound this season.
For players like Suzuki and Crow-Armstrong, being bypassed for pitcher/reserve spots, especially after Crow-Armstrong secured a fan-elected starting role and Suzuki was widely seen as deserving, can be disappointing but also serves as motivation. The “snub” narrative often follows players who perform at a high level but miss the roster, and it can sometimes propel them to even greater heights in the second half of the season, as reportedly seen with Suzuki immediately after the announcement.
Ultimately, the presence of three Cubs players in Atlanta signifies the team’s competitive status in the National League. While the focus remains on the full season and the pursuit of postseason success, the All-Star game provides an opportunity for these players to be recognized on a national stage and represent their club among the league’s elite.
The selections, while celebrating Boyd’s well-deserved honor, also highlight the perennial challenges and subjective nature inherent in compiling All-Star rosters, inevitably leading to discussions and debates over deserving players who do not make the final cut.
