Orioles All-Star snub rightfully avenged after Rafael Devers drops out

Disappointment among the Orioles and their fans was palpable on Sunday evening, when Major League Baseball announced that the first-place Baltimore Orioles would only have three players representing them at the 2024 All-Star game in Texas.

While Adley Rutschman, Gunnar Henderson, and Corbin Burnes were all deserving of the spots they earned, several experts counted Jordan Westburg, Grayson Rodriguez, Crag Kimbrel, Ryan O'Hearn, and Anthony Santander among the biggest All-Star snubs.

On Tuesday, some of that disappointment receded just a little. Major League Baseball announced that Orioles infielder Jordan Westburg would join the American League All-Star squad as a replacement for Red Sox slugger Rafael Devers.

The nod is well-deserved, even if it's a bit late. Westburg, who is batting fifth and starting at second base in tonight's matchup against the Cubs, is hitting .281 with 14 home runs, 49 RBI's, and an .835 OPS. He has been a regular fixture in the Orioles' lineup, driving the ball all over the field and walking the Orioles off to wins on two separate occasions. He has been worth 2.8 WAR, a solid 0.4 ahead of Texas Rangers' infielder Marcus Semien who was selected over him.

All-Star snub Jordan Westburg has been added to the American League Roster, giving the Orioles their fourth representative.

Westburg not making the All-Star team never made sense. To be fair, the player he is replacing, Rafael Devers, has had an outstanding season in his own right. Devers was hitting .293 with 21 home runs, 55 RBIs, and a .971 OPS. His incredible play of late - which included a booming home run to center on Sunday night to help Boston sweep the Yankees - is a big reason why the Red Sox are hanging around in the playoff picture.

So while it is a shame that Devers, who had to drop out due to a left shoulder injury, will not be playing in the Midsummer Classic, the disappointment Orioles fans felt when only three Orioles got the nod on Sunday night is somewhat alleviated.

Westburg's versatility should hopefully help him get on the field a week from tonight in Arlington. Westburg has played both second and third base for the Orioles this year, and came up as a shortstop. Should he play, he would likely replace starters Jose Ramirez (3B), Jose Altuve (2B), or Baltimore's own Gunnar Henderson (SS). Westburg will have to contend with Twins shortshop Carlos Correa, Royals shortstop Bobby Witt Jr., Rays' third baseman Isaac Paredes, and Semien to get on the field.

A dream scenario of seeing Henderson and Westburg on the left side of the infield cannot be ruled out.

While Rodriguez, Kimbrel, Santander, and O'Hearn remain as snubs, this is a reminder that any of these four is only an injury away from joining Henderson, Rutschman, Burnes, and Westburg in Arlington next week.