The MLB All-Star Game showcased the star power of the New York Yankees and Mets, with Aaron Judge and Pete Alonso leading their respective teams. Judge, making his seventh All-Star appearance, currently leads the major leagues in several key hitting metrics that keep his performance in the spotlight. Alonso, a four-time All-Star, is focused on helping his team win, opting out of the Home Run Derby this year. Both teams sent four players each to Atlanta, with newcomers like Jazz Chisholm Jr. and David Peterson adding fresh energy to the rosters.

Max Fried's candid conversation with Tarik Skubal led to Skubal starting the game, showcasing camaraderie among all-stars. Meanwhile, Francisco Lindor's first All-Star selection as a Met reignites his form after a hiatus since 2019. The game also highlights the disappointment of Juan Soto's omission despite impressive stats. With players overcoming adversity, the All-Star Game serves as a celebration of talent and resilience in the league.

Juan Soto's performance continues to strengthen despite the swirling rumors and critiques surrounding him. The Mets right fielder hit his 23rd home run of the season in a recent game against the Kansas City Royals, tying his career-high for first-half homers. Soto expressed his frustration at not making the All-Star roster but remains focused on improving his swing and contributing to the Mets' success. Manager Carlos Mendoza praised Soto's impressive ability to control the strike zone, emphasizing that his underlying numbers support his status as one of the game's elite players.

The Mets' triumph over the Royals, marked by solid pitching from Michael Lorenzen and a clutch performance from Pete Alonso, reinforces their competitive edge as they head into the All-Star break. With Soto's power evident and the team's overall performance improving, the Mets seem poised to make a strong second-half push.

The New York Mets recently explored the possibility of reacquiring former top prospect Pete Crow-Armstrong from the Chicago Cubs. This comes in light of PCA's impressive emergence as a budding superstar in MLB, currently boasting a .269 batting average and an .862 OPS for the 2025 season. The Mets originally selected Crow-Armstrong in the first round of the 2020 MLB Draft, but traded him to the Cubs in a deal for Javier Baez two years ago. With Baez's departure from the Mets shortly after, the trade is now viewed as one of the franchise's biggest 'what ifs'. The Mets, under the direction of former GM Billy Eppler, made a brief inquiry to the Cubs about a potential trade involving Pete Alonso, but the Cubs declined, focusing instead on PCA's star potential, which they weren't willing to part with.

While the Mets made significant moves in 2023 to improve their minor league system through trades involving veterans like Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander, the desire to bring back PCA reflects a shift in their long-term strategy. Given PCA's performance and the need for a young, dynamic player, the Mets' missed opportunity may haunt them as they look to build a competitive future.

The anticipation surrounding MLB All-Star selections has reached a peak as fans eagerly await the final roster announcements. After two rounds of voting, fans selected the starting players while players and coaches chose the reserves. With injuries and personal decisions influencing the final lineups, players such as David Peterson of the New York Mets have stepped up, earning their spot as an All-Star replacement.

Peterson showcased his potential with a stellar performance against the Baltimore Orioles, pitching seven innings and allowing just one run while striking out six batters. Despite a tough loss for the Mets, his consistency throughout the season, a 3.06 ERA, and impressive ground ball rate solidified his selection. He will join fellow Mets Francisco Lindor, Pete Alonso, and Edwin Díaz in Atlanta, aiming to maintain his momentum into the second half of the season.

The 2025 MLB All-Star Game is set to air next Tuesday, July 15th, and excitement is building as fans eagerly anticipate the festivities. The MLB has announced the starting players, but our Rotoworld Baseball Staff has shared their personal selections for who they believe should take the field. In the American League, Seattle Mariners' Cal Raleigh stands out as the unanimous choice for catcher, while Tampa Bay Rays' Jonathan Aranda and Detroit Tigers' Gleyber Torres highlight a competitive infield. Notably, Bobby Witt Jr.'s impressive season with the Kansas City Royals solidifies him as a strong choice at shortstop.

On the National League side, the Los Angeles Dodgers' Will Smith is also a unanimous pick behind the plate, with Pete Alonso of the New York Mets showing tremendous power at first base. The Arizona Diamondbacks duo of Ketel Marte and Eugenio Suárez is recognized for their contributions, while Francisco Lindor from the Mets adds strength to the shortstop position.