Phillies All-Star Report

by Marc Narducci | Jul 9, 2025

The Phillies had two players named to the all-star game, which is scheduled for July 15 in Atlanta, and there certainly could have been an argument for more.

Righthander Zack Wheeler and designated hitter Kyle Schwarber each earned their third all-star selection.

Wheeler has earned all three all-star selections with the Phillies, with the others coming in 2021 and 2024. Schwarber was selected as a member of the Phillies in 2022 and the year before in 2021 as a member of the Washington Nationals.

Through Sunday, Wheeler was 9-3 with a 2.17 ERA. In 116 innings, he has struck out 148 and walked just 25. His WHIP (walks and hits per innings pitched) was a miniscule 0.84.

With the Phillies, Wheeler has finished runner-up in the Cy Young voting, in 2021 and last season. This could be the year that he wins his first Cy Young award.

Wheeler said in an earlier interview with the Athletic that he plans to retire after his contract expires in 2027. If he is pitching anywhere near this level, there is no doubt the Phillies will make an all-out attempt to have him change his mind.

One thing they can appeal to him is that if he keeps pitching like this, the Hall of Fame could be a possibility.

Through Sunday, the 35-year-old Wheeler was 112-73 with a 3.26 ERA.

In addition, he is 4-3 with a 2.18 ERA in eight postseason starts.

Through Sunday, Schwarber was batting .251 with 27 home runs and 63 RBI. He had a .383 on base percentage, a .541 slugging percentage for a .924 OPS.

The 32-year-old Schwarber can become a free agent after the season and even though he adds little defensively, there are likely more than a few teams that would be interested in him as a DH.

He also has 311 home runs and a career .841 OPS.

More importantly, he has been to the postseason nine different times, including all three of his Phillies seasons. He has 21 career postseason home runs.

It wouldn’t be surprising if another Phillies starting pitcher, either Cristopher Sanchez or Ranger Suarez is named because there are always pitchers who back out. In fact, Chris Sale of Atlanta was selected, and he is out with a rib injury. Other starting pitchers who throw the Sunday before the All-Star game, are also ineligible to pitch.

Sánchez began the week 7-2 with a 2.68 ERA and 108 strikeouts over 100 2/3 innings. Suárez was 7-2 with a 1.99 ERA. He did miss the first month of the season due to a back injury.

There could also be a case for shortstop Trea Turner earning an all-star nod. Francisco Lindor was selected as the starter and the Reds Elly De La Cruz is the reserve shortstop.

So, it came down to Turner and De La Cruz. Through Sunday, De La Cruz was batting .277 with 18 home runs, 60 RBI, and an .836 OPS. He has 22 stolen bases in 28 attempts.

A switch-hitter, the 23-year-old De La Cruz has earned his second straight all-star berth and is considered among the top young players in the game.

Turner began this week batting .299 with 11 home runs and 39 RBI along with an .802 OPS. He also has 22 stolen bases in 28 attempts

If one makes the argument for Turner, it would be at the expense of De La Cruz.

It also must be noted that each team must have a representative and De La Cruz was the only Reds player selected.

Turner has had a fine first half and who knows if he can still be picked as a replacement, but De La Cruz has a definite all-star case to make whether he was the lone selection of the Reds or not.

Photo: Zack Wheeler / Marc Narducci

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Author: Marc Narducci

Phillies All-Star Report

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