Pirates’ Bryan Reynolds and Brandon Lowe left out of the 2026 All-Star Game, despite standout production

With the 2026 MLB All-Star Game in Philadelphia, the Pittsburgh Pirates will head to Citizens Bank Park with only one player selected among position players. Bryan Reynolds and Brandon Lowe, both key parts of Pittsburgh’s offense, were notable omissions from the initial All-Star rosters.

By The Apex Times Newsroom3 min readAI-assisted Apex article

The Pittsburgh Pirates’ run at their best season in over a decade will come without the kind of marquee All-Star acknowledgment the franchise expected. Two of the club’s most productive everyday hitters, Bryan Reynolds and Brandon Lowe, were left off the initial 2026 MLB All-Star Game roster, even as Pittsburgh’s season has trended upward offensively and the game itself is being staged at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia on July 14.

According to reporting tied to the Pirates’ season and All-Star selections, the Pirates have just one player going to the Midsummer Classic: right-handed starting pitcher Paul Skenes, who received a spot with the National League for the third straight season. That detail matters because it frames the core complaint from Pittsburgh fans, and it also highlights the contrast between the team’s offensive momentum and the lack of position-player representation in the initial cut.

The most prominent snub is Reynolds, an outfielder whose first half has featured consistent on-base production and meaningful extra-base damage. Bucs Dugout cited a July 7 snapshot of Reynolds’ line through 90 games, including a.284 batting average,.395 on-base percentage,.470 slugging percentage and an.865 OPS, along with 12 home runs and 55 RBI. The same report also pointed to 93 hits, 21 doubles, two triples, and a walk total (57) that sits in a strong balance with his 88 strikeouts.

Reynolds’ early season form, as characterized in that Pirates-focused analysis, also included multiple hitting streaks and a long stretch of reaching base. The report noted a 34-game on-base streak at one point from May 23 through June 29, plus a 17-game hitting streak from June 9 through June 27 that was described as tied for the second-longest of his career. It also highlighted month-by-month production, including a June slash line of 293/.386/.525 (an OPS of.911) and a May line of.313/.422/.510 (OPS.932).

The other omission was Brandon Lowe, Pittsburgh’s second baseman, whose power production has stood out not only for the franchise but for the position. In the same July 7 write-up, Lowe was described as leading the Pirates and all second basemen in home runs with 20, while also adding 60 RBI. The report further stated that his slugging percentage of.494 leads second basemen and that his OPS at.812 ranks third among players at the position.

The All-Star roster process also comes with built-in limits and replacement rules that can make even widely recognized candidates vulnerable. After starters, reserves and pitchers are announced, replacements can follow if players become unavailable, and at least some replacements are tied to voting mechanics. The Athletic’s analysis of the broader All-Star snub conversation emphasized that limited roster spots, plus late changes and league rules on how replacements are determined, can reshape who ultimately appears in Philadelphia.

For Pittsburgh, the practical storyline is that one of its most reliable offensive profiles and one of its leading power bats will begin the break watching from the outside. Reynolds and Lowe’s absence does not change the underlying reality that both have been central to the Pirates’ scoring, but it does leave Skenes as the sole All-Star representative on the roster as of the initial announcements. The next question for fans is whether either Reynolds or Lowe lands on the All-Star replacement list if injuries or other availability issues open spots after rosters finalize.

In the bigger picture of this year’s midseason showcase, snubs are usually not the headline for a team’s playoff picture, but they can reflect how league-wide perceptions diverge from what a club is doing well. Pittsburgh’s offense, highlighted by the very production Reynolds and Lowe have provided, will now be tested through the second half without that extra spotlight, while attention in Philadelphia will concentrate on the Pirates’ lone representative, Skenes, and whether additional Pirates get called in before first pitch.

Why It Matters

All-Star selections are a form of league-wide validation, and Pittsburgh will be sending fewer offensive representatives than its early production suggests.
With the game in Philadelphia, Pittsburgh’s absence from the position-player side affects how Pirates star hitters are showcased during the midseason spotlight.
The snub conversation also underscores how crowded All-Star roster spots are, especially at hitter-heavy positions like second base and among high-volume outfield bats.
If replacements are made due to late unavailability, Reynolds and Lowe remain potential names to watch as the rosters are finalized.

Sources

Key Facts

The 2026 MLB All-Star Game is in Philadelphia at Citizens Bank Park on July 14.
Pittsburgh is reported to have only one initial All-Star selection, right-handed starter Paul Skenes, for the National League.
Bryan Reynolds is reported as one of two Pirates position-player snubs from the initial 2026 All-Star roster.
Bucs Dugout cited Reynolds’ first-half line through 90 games:.284/.395/.470 with 12 home runs and 55 RBI.
The other Pirates snub is second baseman Brandon Lowe, reported to have 20 home runs and 60 RBI as of the cited snapshot.
Brandon Lowe was reported in that Pirates analysis as leading all second basemen in home runs and slugging percentage, with.812 OPS ranking third at the position.