Zack Wheeler was offered a spot on the National League All-Star roster. He said no.
The Philadelphia Phillies ace declined the late invitation and made clear why, according to ESPN. Wheeler said he felt disrespected after being passed over multiple times before the team came back to him as an option.
Wheeler said he was "not gonna be the fifth option."
He also described the process of being repeatedly snubbed before receiving the call as disrespectful. The right-hander did not elaborate further on the specific circumstances that led to the offer coming when it did, but his refusal was direct.
Wheeler is one of the best starting pitchers in the National League. His decision to turn down the invitation rather than accept a roster spot he felt should have been offered earlier drew significant attention across the league.
No additional details about Wheeler's season statistics or the specific players selected ahead of him were immediately available. The All-Star Game is scheduled to be played this week.
