Royals’ Maikel Garcia has three-word response to second All-Star Game snub in a week
While thrilled that Bobby Witt Jr. and Kris Bubic were selected for the All-Star Game, Royals fans were not happy Maikel Garcia was passed over in favor of the Yankees’ Jazz Chisholm.
But there was some hope that Garcia, who is batting .305 with 18 stolen bases, eight home runs and a 131 OPS+, would get a second chance if a third baseman missed the game because of injury.
That door opened because Boston’s Alex Bregman is hurt and won’t play in the game.
Bregman’s replacement was announced Tuesday: Tampa Bay Rays third baseman Junior Caminero.
Garcia apparently got the news after the Royals’ 4-3 win over the Pirates at Kauffman Stadium. He took to X with a message that seemed to be about being passed over for the All-Star Game for the second time in a week.
“It’s what it’s,” Garcia wrote with a fist emoji.
I think we can all relate to that because who hasn’t thought “It is what is” at some point in our lives?
The All-Star Game is July 15 in Atlanta.
More third basemen picked
Detroit’s Zach McKinstry was picked Wednesday to replace injured Astros shortstop Jeremy Peña. McKinstry has played at six positions this season but has started 40 games at third base.
Also, Houston’s Isaac Paredes was chosen to replace Guardians third baseman José Ramírez, who was voted as the starter.
How are replacements chosen?
Here is what it says on the MLB website: “If a fan-elected starter is unable to play, they are replaced in the starting lineup by the player on the roster who received the next most votes on the player ballot at their position. The roster replacement is then chosen by the league.”
The top two vote-getters in player balloting at third base were Ramírez and Bregman. But the league didn’t release the entire list. Paredes likely was third on the list.
This story was originally published July 9, 2025 at 9:57 AM.
