Michael Wacha joins rare company with second All-Star selection

Kansas City Royals pitcher Michael Wacha. Denny Medley-Imagn Images

Royals' Michael Wacha joins rare company with second All-Star selection

By Mike J. Asti | Last updated Jul 5, 2026 11:53 PM ET

Lost in the debate about who was snubbed, Kansas City Royals right-hander Michael Wacha's All-Star selection serves as a reason for everyone to celebrate.

Fulfilling the angle of perseverance and never giving up, attributes that everyone can appreciate, Wacha made MLB history by earning a spot on the American League's All-Star team.

And Wacha's 2026 bid to the All-Star Game in Philadelphia may result in flashbacks to the first honor of his now 14-year career from a decade ago. Because just getting back to the Midsummer Classic 11 years following his initial All-Star appearance in 2015 places him among rare company.

Michael Wacha joined rare company with his second-career All-Star selection

Wacha is one of only three players with a gap of 10 or more years between their first and second All-Star selections, joining Bert Blyleven (1973, 1985) and Schoolboy Rowe (1936, 1947).

Now at 35, Wacha has a 5-6 record in his third season with the Royals. He also carries a 3.45 ERA, 91 strikeouts and a 1.27 WHIP in 114.2 innings.

Michael Wacha has earned his second career All-Star roster selection! pic.twitter.com/qNvQKNPtPs
— Kansas City Royals (@Royals) July 4, 2026

Wacha was once the talk of St. Louis as MLB's top young arm

But while Wacha has managed to put together a long career as a reliable journeyman, he was once the talk of St. Louis and viewed as one of the top young arms in the game.

That was back in 2015 when Wacha, then coming into his own in his third season with the Cardinals and two years after being named the 2013 National League Championship Series MVP, finished his first All-Star season with a 17-7 record, 3.38 ERA, 153 strikeouts — he would surpass that total two years later in 2017, and a 1.21 WHIP in 181.1 innings.

Wacha back in the All-Star Game will be one of the top stories of the weekend

Wacha's overall career arc may look like a disappointment based on the hype of his initial tenure in St. Louis, but finding his way back to another All-Star Game 11 years later is a feel-good story fans everywhere can appreciate, no matter what happened in the middle.

Mike J. Asti

Mike Asti is an experienced media personality and journalist with a vast resume and skillset, most notably from time with TribLIVE Radio and WPXI-TV. Asti now serves as the Managing Editor of WV Sports Now, where he leads the coverage of WVU sports. He has also covered the Steelers, Penguins, Pirates and other teams within the Pittsburgh market

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