Each year, around half of the All-Star roster is made up of players who feature in the Midsummer Classic every single year. There are always a few surprises that play their way onto a roster, though, and that's often where the conversation gets much more interesting.
Here are 10 lesser-known players who could make a surprise All-Star appearance in 2026.
Jake Bauers, Brewers
Bauers is tied for the 14th-best wRC+ in the majors this year. A journeyman before landing in Milwaukee, Bauers had an 80 OPS+ between 2018 and 2023. He had a breakout of sorts in 2025, but hasn't taken that to a new level in 2026.
A good eye and elite bat speed have always given Bauers a chance of being a truly great hitter. This is the first year he's realized that potential, and he could end the campaign with 30-plus homers.
Miguel Vargas, White Sox
Vargas has the same wRC+ as Riley Greene and Junior Caminero. Included in the Michael Kopech trade, Vargas was a top 30 prospect three years ago, but has taken a while to find his swing in the big leagues.
It appears he's reached that point. He's in the 96th percentile in xwOBA with 16 home runs and 10 stolen bases. It should be a straight shootout between Vargas and Caminero for the starting third base spot in the American League.
Davis Martin, White Sox
There's been some inevitable regression from Martin, with 15 runs allowed over his last three starts. Chicago's right-hander still has a 2.90 FIP and a 3.18 ERA.
Yes, Martin has been riding some batted-ball luck, but his expected metrics are still markedly better than they were in 2025. He's striking more batters out, walking fewer, and excels in chase rate.
Bryce Elder, Braves
Elder's defining trait is his impressively low barrel rate. Elder isn't going to finish the year with a 3.15 ERA, yet there's no denying how effective he's been thus far.
A soft thrower who uses a slider as his primary pitch, Elder hasn't had the best run in June, but his overall numbers are strong enough to warrant All-Star consideration.
Bryan Baker, Rays
It's not just the 18 saves. Baker has emerged in a big way with a 1.91 ERA. In true Rays fashion, the team identified the slider as a weakness and replaced its usage with a much more effective changeup.
Boasting above-average command for a reliever, along with one of the nastiest changeups in the sport, Baker has been outstanding. The combination of a high whiff rate and a lot of soft contact is hard to beat.
Curtis Mead, Nationals
Mead's path mirrors Vargas'. Formerly a top prospect, Mead has taken a few years to find his footing at the big-league level. In 2026, he has a 131 OPS+, with a career-low whiff rate and a much lower swing rate.
Increased selectivity has driven the turnaround. He's walking at an elite level and doing plenty of damage when he gets the pitch he's been waiting for.
Michael McGreevy, Cardinals
McGreevy, if anything, has regressed since last year. That's what the underlying numbers suggest, anyway, but his results are excellent, with a 2.99 ERA.
By the time pitchers are selected for the Midsummer Classic, there's a real chance McGreevy's numbers will have come back to earth. If not, his low ERA is worth some All-Star discussion.
Otto Lopez, Marlins
Leading the majors in batting average and in the top 10 in fWAR, Lopez has struggled against breaking pitches, but his exceptional bat-to-ball skills have been on full display against fastballs.
An .844 OPS is not going to push Lopez into MVP talks. Given his passable shortstop defense, though, it's certainly enough to land him on the All-Star roster.
Parker Messick, Guardians
Worth 1.9 fWAR and in the top 20 among pitchers with 50-plus innings in ERA, Messick is rightly in the Rookie of the Year conversation. He's also in the mix to be selected as an All-Star and could be Cleveland's strongest candidate.
Without the sharpest stuff, Messick's success is built on the depth of his arsenal. He throws six different pitches at least 8 percent of the time.
Carlos Cortes, Athletics
After impressing in 42 games last year, Cortes has maintained those standards across 59 games in 2026. He's walked 21 times against 22 strikeouts and sits in the 83rd percentile in xwOBA.
His swing rate has dropped dramatically. Cortes has become a different hitter, favoring patience to aid his walk rate and cutting his chase rate by seven percentage points. A lack of speed and negative defensive value shouldn't have too much impact on his All-Star chances.
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