CHICAGO – In the recently announced 2025 MLB All-Star roster, Chicago Cubs fans were stunned when Seiya Suzuki was completely absent. Despite having the most explosive season in MLB, the Japanese star was still left out – causing a fierce debate on social media.
The “cruel” truth from the statistics table
At the time of the lineup announcement, Suzuki owned:
Batting Average: .285
OPS: .885
Home Runs: 18
WAR: 2.8
These numbers are superior to many selected players – especially Kyle Schwarber, who was selected as the DH (Designated Hitter) for the National League despite only achieving .250 AVG, .822 OPS and 0.7 WAR.
“The only way Suzuki can make it to the All-Stars is if the selectors… look at the stats.” – An angry fan on X.
Japanese and Cubs fans are outraged
It’s not just Cubs fans, fans from Japan are also outraged that Suzuki – one of their baseball icons – is not being recognized as he deserves.
The hashtag #SuzukiWasRobbed is trending nationwide in Japan, while ESPN Tokyo calls it “an unacceptable shock”.
Who deserves it, who doesn’t? Schwarber, Ohtani and the big question
Kyle Schwarber’s selection despite his lackluster performance, and Shohei Ohtani’s inclusion through fan votes, raise the question:
Is the All-Stars still a place to honor performance… or just a game of fame?
Seiya Suzuki may not be an All-Star, but he’s giving MLB a second look
If the Cubs go far this season – and Suzuki continues to explode like he’s been doing – the decision to leave him out of the All-Star lineup could be one MLB will regret.