Byron Buxton makes the roster but this Twins All-Star snub is brutal

Despite being snubbed when it comes to the voting for the starting outfield for the American League in Major League Baseball’s All-Star game next week, Byron Buxton was selected to the team on Sunday.

Buxton, as it stands, is the lone Twins representative in this summer’s All-Star game. Before we get to an egregious snub, we do need to appreciate the season that Buxton is having.

Finally healthy, Buxton enters Monday with a slash line of .270/.334/.544/141 wRC+ with 20 home runs. Buxton’s fWAR, 3.3, remains the second-highest among American League outfielders with only Aaron Judge ahead of him.

Meaning, in terms of value on the field, only the American League MVP favorite is ahead of Buxton.

Yet, Buxton isn’t starting in the All-Star game because of fans falling in love with the story that is Javier Baez’s comeback.

In the biggest sign that roles on the American League All-Star roster should be reversed between Buxton and the Detroit Tigers’ outfielder, Baez enters Monday with a slash line of .280/.316/.445/114 wRC+ with 9 home runs. Considering how lost Baez has looked in recent seasons, his turnaround this season is truly incredible, but that doesn’t justify the fact he is starting in the outfield for the American League.

Nevertheless, at the very least, Buxton will play in the All-Star game.

Byron Buxton makes the cut but MLB’s latest All-Star snub is indefensible

While Buxton made the American League roster, there were two notable snubs when it came to the pitching staff.

As ESPN’s Bradford Doolittle pointed out, starting pitcher Joe Ryan should have made the American League roster. Ryan has been one of the best pitchers in the American League this season, posting an ERA of 2.63 in 99 1/3 innings pitched.

Despite the losing ways of the Twins this month, Ryan is still carrying a 2.5 fWAR. Seattle’s Bryan Woo, who made the roster, has an ERA of 2.77 in 107 1/3 innings pitched this season, but his 2.1 fWAR falls quite short of Ryan’s.

The other Twins’ snub is closer Jhoan Duran. Considering where the Twins are in their season, Duran was facing an uphill climb to make the roster, as his save total doesn’t rival the total that closers have for contending teams.

That said, Duran was named the American League’s best relief pitcher in May, and still sports a 1.56 ERA while striking out just under 27 percent of the hitters he has faced. Depending on injuries and availability, there remains an outside chance that Duran makes the roster as a replacement.