In Unprecedented Selection, Jacob Misiorowski Named to NL All-Star Roster After Five Starts

[Jack Stern]

Image courtesy of © Benny Sieu-Imagn Images

Veterans Freddy Peralta and Trevor Megill will be joined by one of their youngest teammates in Atlanta next week, as the Brewers and MLB announced on Friday night that Jacob Misiorowski has been named to the NL All-Star roster, replacing Chicago Cubs starter Matthew Boyd. Pat Murphy said Misiorowski will pitch in the Midsummer Classic.

Misiorowski has taken the league by storm five starts into his big-league career, pitching to a 2.81 ERA and 33.7% strikeout rate while outdueling household names in Paul Skenes and Clayton Kershaw. He's showcased electric stuff in that brief sample, including his triple-digit fastball, and has been at the center of the Brewers' recent evolution into a high-octane pitching staff.

"He's kind of our version of Forrest Gump," Murphy joked while making the postgame announcement.

The 23-year-old said the manager gave him the news shortly before first pitch against the Washington Nationals, forcing him to keep it to himself until the wide reveal a few hours later.

"I got called into Murph's office, sitting in there, and he said, 'Hey, close the door. Come on. Get in here.' Basically broke it to me, and I had to sit there the whole game and not tell anyone."

The right-hander, who addressed the team after the game, was emotional and surprised by the recognition.

"I'm speechless," he said. "I mean, it's awesome. It's very unexpected, and it's an honor."

It's an unprecedented decision, as the league itself is promoting that Misiorowski's five big-league appearances are easily the fewest by a first-time All-Star. For that reason, the move figures to inspire debate over how rosters should be assembled.

On one hand, if MLB wants the All-Star Game to showcase the league's best talent, it's hard to argue against Misiorowski's inclusion. Since his debut on June 12, his 123 Stuff+ leads all starting pitchers. His fastball is an outlier for its combination of velocity and movement from his low release height and 7.5-foot extension. So is his curveball for its average spin-induced drop of 9 inches at 87.4 mph.

On the other hand, there are plenty of deserving candidates with longer track records who have not received due recognition. Philadelphia Phillies starter Cristopher Sanchez, for example, has pitched to a 2.59 ERA and 2.75 FIP in 107 2/3 innings this year but is not on the NL roster.

"At first I thought, 'This is not going to be fair,'" Murphy said. "Like, this kid, it's not the same way the other guys have to go out and pitch, whoever it might be."

That's to take nothing away from Misiorowski, whose talent warrants national cognizance. He'll get that attention next week.

"This is the entertainment business," Murphy said. "This is what MLB wants. This is what people want to see, and the kid can't say no to that."

The All-Star Game currently exists in a strange space, its purpose ambiguous since 2017, with home-field advantage in the World Series no longer tied to its outcome. At some point, MLB must define its vision more clearly. Is the game meant to honor the best performers of the current season, showcase the most popular and marketable of established players, honor legends at the twilight of their careers, or amplify young talent just breaking onto the big-league scene? Is it all of the above? Can all of those goals coexist?

Setting that larger debate aside, Misiorowski's selection is an opportunity for one of baseball's most talented arms to shine on one of the game's brightest stages.

"I was really fired up for him," said Quinn Priester, whose locker is stationed along the same corner as Misiorowski's in the Milwaukee home clubhouse. "It's electric to watch. I'm excited for those guys. We get to see it from a dugout view, like I've been able to, and he's going to represent us really well."

"It's been a long time coming," Misiorowski said. "I just want to honor the guys around me and be a Brewer."

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[Sixtolezcano]

Called this one on Wed.

[cragi]

"its been a long time coming" ouch :D

[BrewerFan]

This is a problem with tying incentives to the ASG.

Misiorowski doesn't "deserve" to be an AS based on 5 starts... but it's an exhibition and he's one of the most entertaining pitchers in the game. 

I personally wish he wouldn't pitch in it, but think it's cool he's been named to the team. 

 

[WAN2]

I'm from the old school.  I say nay.