All-Star week in Philadelphia has an unbelievably wild storyline brewing: three players, who combined for a grand total of just 24 major league games in a Mets uniform, are rocking the All-Star roster this year. That's it! Twenty-four games for the team, but a huge impact on the sport, proving sometimes the paths to greatness are anything but straightforward.
Wacha's Unthinkable Comeback to Stardom
First up, let's talk about Michael Wacha. This guy is a two-time All-Star now, hitting it in 2015 and again in 2026. Can you believe it? Back in 2020, after signing as a free agent, he made just eight appearances, seven starts, for the Mets during that chaotic, covid-shortened season. His ERA was a rough 6.62, giving up nine homers in only 34 innings. It looked like his career was on a downward spiral. He was a first-round pick in 2012 and an All-Star at 24, but from 2016 to 2021, success was hard to find. A second All-Star nod felt completely unthinkable. But guess what? Since the start of 2022, pitching for the Royals, he's put up a fantastic 3.51 ERA over 720.1 innings, becoming a legit fixture in their rotation. Now, at 35 years old, with a 3.77 ERA in 119.1 innings, which is the most in the American League entering the second half, he's back! The Mets caught him at the absolute lowest point of his journey. What an incredible turn of events!Verlander's Legendary Pick, Plus a Glimpse of the Future
Then there's the legend, Justin Verlander. He's a three-time Cy Young winner, Rookie of the Year, MVP, and two-time World Series champion. This dude is now one of only 10 pitchers EVER to earn All-Star honors in 10 or more seasons, joining absolute giants of the game like Mariano Rivera and Tom Seaver. Chris Sale also hit that milestone this year, which is wild. Verlander, at 43 years old, returned to the Tigers this past offseason on a one-year deal, where he spent his first 13 seasons. It hasn't exactly gone to plan though, with just one start before hitting the injured list, where he still is. But the commissioner stepped in and elected him as the American League's "Legend Pick." What a fitting way to get one last look at the midsummer classic for a sure-fire Hall of Famer. Only 16 of his incredible 556 career starts were in a Mets uniform, but they weren't too shabby either, with a 133 ERA+ and 2.2 bWAR. It's pretty wild to see these names, who barely donned the orange and blue, making such a massive splash on the All-Star stage. What a way for their careers to come full circle, or just get one last victory lap! And hey, Verlander is even representing the Mets in a way, because Ryan Clifford, one of the prospects acquired from Houston in the 2023 Trade Deadline deal for Verlander, was the Mets' sole representative. It just goes to show you, sometimes the biggest impacts come in the most unexpected forms.This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.