Philadelphia Phillies ace Zack Wheeler rejected a Friday invitation to join the National League All-Star roster as an injury replacement, telling reporters he felt "disrespected" after being passed over for the initial squad and multiple replacement waves. "They disrespected me, so I'm just not gonna participate in that thing," Wheeler said, adding he would not be "the fifth option." The 36-year-old right-hander owns a 9-1 record with a 2.28 ERA, 0.91 WHIP, and 4.3 WAR across 14 starts since returning from thoracic outlet surgery that cost him April.

Wheeler's case intensified Tuesday when he tied a career high with 14 strikeouts against Cincinnati hours after learning he'd been bypassed again. He called the performance a "reminder for whoever needs to be reminded." A three-time All-Star the past two seasons, Wheeler insisted his comeback narrative shouldn't factor into the vote: "I don't need someone to say, 'Oh, he's had major surgery. Look at him now.'"

The All-Star Game takes place Tuesday at Citizens Bank Park, where six Phillies — Kyle Schwarber, Bryce Harper, Cristopher Sanchez, Jhoan Duran, Brandon Marsh, and Jesus Luzardo — will represent the host club. Wheeler said fans would make the event special for those attending.

Wheeler makes his 15th start Sunday against Detroit Tigers ace Tarik Skubal in a matchup of the sport's premier pitchers before the break. His absence from the Midsummer Classic underscores a growing tension between player perception and MLB's selection mechanics.