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Los Angeles Dodgders starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw was named to the NL All-Star roster on Sunday evening as the “Legend Pick” from Major League Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred.
It's the 11th All-Star selection of Kershaw's decorated career. This one is intended to be a "recognition of his illustrious career," which is fitting after he recorded his historic 3,000th career strikeout last week.
An All-Star selection like this is not totally unheard of. In 2022, Miguel Cabrera and Albert Pujols were each added to the All-Star rosters as "Legacy Selections" by Manfred.
There is a clause in the 2022 Collective Bargaining Agreement that allows Manfred to add up to one player to each league’s All-Star Game roster to honor their career achievements.
With this in mind, Kershaw being added to the National League roster makes a ton of sense. 2025 has been monumental year for Kershaw's career, making it a fitting time to celebrate him. Kershaw is also having a respectable season on the mound with a 3.38 ERA.
Nobody should have a problem with Clayton Kershaw's All-Star selection, but somehow Pittsburgh Pirates fans are still finding ways to be upset.
Pirates fans are upset Dodgers' Kershaw was selected over Andrew McCutchen
Many Pirates fans took to social media to shame Major League Baseball for adding Kershaw to the NL All-Star Roster while excluding Andrew McCutchen from the team.
If this is it for Andrew McCutchen, Rob Manfred and MLB missed a great opportunity to select him to the All-Star Game as a special exception with Clayton Kershaw.
— Austin Bechtold (@AustinRBechtold) July 7, 2025
McCutchen has earned it, not to be selected over Kershaw, but to stand on his own as another worthy choice.
Clayton Kershaw will be a special commissioner’s selection for the MLB All-Star Game. Great. Tremendous pitcher. Zero issue.
— Jason Mackey (@JMackeyPG) July 7, 2025
But why not Andrew McCutchen?
Any Pirates fan that's upset about this is being absolutely ridiculous.
For starters, the clause in the CBA only allows for one player to be added per league. With both the Dodgers and Pirates repping the National League, Kershaw and McCutchen are not able to both be added as "Legend Picks” for the All-Star Game.
Statistically, Kershaw is more deserving. He has a 118 ERA+ this season, which means he is 18 percent better than league average, adjusted for ballpark effects. McCutchen's OPS+ is at 102 (2 percent above league average) while being used primarily as a designated hitter.
Even if we were to put 2025 aside, Clayton Kershaw and Andrew McCutchen are not in the same tier when it comes to their legendary status.
McCutchen is a Pirates legend and a former MVP ... but Clayton Kershaw is a first ballot Hall of Famer and probably the greatest pitcher of this generation. I don't think McCutchen will ever be inducted into Cooperstown.
Some people beleive that we will never see another pitcher record 3,000 strikeouts. But i can assure you that there will be more "Andrew McCutchen" type players coming down the pipeline.
I don't mean that to be disrespectful. I just say that because Pirates fans wanting McCutchen to get the same, or better treatment than Kershaw are comparing apples to oranges. These players are not in the same stratosphere and the commissioner's “Legend Pick” should be reserved for those who are the cream of the crop.