DETROIT — Zack Wheeler declined to be added to the National League All-Star team when approached by the league on Friday, he said.
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“Because they disrespected me, so I’m not going to participate in it. I’m not going to be disrespected,” Wheeler said.
The Dodgers’ Justin Wrobleski was named a replacement instead on Saturday for Reds pitcher Chase Burns.
Despite a 2.28 ERA in his first 14 starts, Wheeler was not named to the initial roster through the player vote. Nor was he included in the first round of player replacements for pitchers who opted out of appearing in the game.
Wheeler was almost certainly left off because of the Phillies’ rotation schedule, which has him starting Sunday’s series finale in Detroit. Typically, pitchers who start the final game before the All-Star break are unable to appear in the All-Star game.
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However, following his start Tuesday in Cincinnati, Wheeler said he would be willing to throw an inning anyway.
Since the league didn’t approach him until Friday, however, Wheeler said he felt like their “fifth option.”
“There’s other years where they ask me to be in it, and I said no, but I was maybe struggling through some stuff or whatever it may be, but this time it’s pure disrespect,” he said.
Baseball’s biggest stars are descending on Philadelphia for the 96th All-Star Game at Citizens Bank Park on July 14. Follow all of The Inquirer’s coverage here.
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