10 All-Stars who no one saw coming in Spring Training

Making predictions in Spring Training is a rite of passage for all baseball fans.

And it is, of course, impossible to foretell how the season will unfold.

For proof, just look at the rosters for the 2025 All-Star Game. In February, how many people would have said that Kris Bubic and Pete Crow-Armstrong would be among the most deserving candidates heading to Atlanta for the 95th Midsummer Classic?

Here are 10 All-Stars who no one saw coming in Spring Training, just a few months ago.

All stats are updated through Monday.

Javier Báez, INF/OF, Tigers
Báez’s resurgence is one of the best stories in baseball, even if it will be a little strange to see him starting the All-Star Game in the outfield -- where he last played on June 4. Over a two-year span from 2023 to ’24, only Tim Anderson and Martín Maldonado had a lower OPS than Báez (.566), who slashed .208/.251/.315. After offseason hip surgery, Báez showed up to Spring Training and auditioned all over the diamond, partially because of his natural athleticism, but also out of necessity. Amid a glut of talented position players, where would the Tigers find a role for Báez? Sure enough, four months later, he’s a productive bat (115 wRC+) and a linchpin on a legitimate World Series contender.

Kris Bubic, SP, Royals
The past year has been a whirlwind for Bubic, who returned from Tommy John surgery shortly before the All-Star break last season and became a high-leverage weapon out of the bullpen -- a development that even surprised Bubic himself. He hasn’t slowed down since, winning a job out of Spring Training and pitching his way into the AL Cy Young Award race. In his most recent healthy season in ’22, Bubic went 3-13 with a 5.58 ERA, the fourth-worst mark among starting pitchers (min. 120 IP). Now, thanks to a revamped changeup and two new breaking balls, he sports a 2.36 ERA with 3.4 fWAR -- higher than his career total (2.5) entering the season.

Kyle Stowers, OF, Marlins
After hitting .175 in Spring Training -- and .186 in 50 games with the Marlins last season, following a midseason trade -- Stowers was nervous that he wouldn’t make Miami’s Opening Day roster. Not only did the 27-year-old make the team, but he’s also developed into a potential franchise cornerstone. His 19.0% barrel rate is seventh highest among qualified hitters, while his slugging percentage (.510) ranks inside the top 20. With elite power to all fields, he’s smacked 16 home runs, nearly tripling his career total entering the season.

Randy Rodríguez, RP, Giants
It’s an impressive feat for a relief pitcher to make the All-Star team, and it’s even more impressive for non-closers. So, how about a non-closer who pitched to a 4.30 ERA as a rookie last season, struggling to throw strikes along the way? Enter Rodríguez, who is Atlanta-bound thanks to a gaudy 0.69 ERA and 1.34 FIP -- the lowest marks among all qualified relievers. He’s posted a 12.5 K/9 ratio behind a wipeout two-pitch mix, with a rising fastball that averages 97.3 mph and a slider with exceptional horizontal break.

Shane Smith, SP, White Sox
Smith’s improbable All-Star selection will go down in history: He joins Dan Uggla as the only players in the last 40 years to be an All-Star in their first season in the Majors after being selected in the Rule 5 Draft, per Elias. Just four years ago, the right-hander was a non-drafted free agent out of Wake Forest in the 2021 Draft. After winning a rotation spot in Spring Training, Smith has certainly held his own, thanks mostly to a four-seam fastball-changeup combo that can baffle hitters.

Pete Crow-Armstrong, OF, Cubs
Sure, Crow-Armstrong hit .500 in Spring Training, aided by a few significant changes in the batter’s box. And yes, he was worth 2.6 fWAR in 2024, even with a .237/.286/.384 slash line, thanks to superb defense. But no one saw this coming. In his second full season in the Majors, Crow-Armstrong is a deserving All-Star starter thanks to an elite bat that has caught up with his sublime glove. He’s bashed 23 home runs and is slugging .550, a top 10 mark in the Majors, among qualified hitters. His 4.8 fWAR is the third most of any player in baseball, behind only Aaron Judge and Cal Raleigh.

Ronald Acuña Jr., OF, Braves
Acuña wouldn't be on this list had he not suffered a torn ACL last season. While the Braves anticipated the former MVP’s return sometime in May, no one knew for sure: The organization approached Acuña’s rehab a little more cautiously than they did a few years ago, when Acuña returned less than 10 months after his first ACL tear -- only to deal with lingering discomfort throughout the ’22 season. Patience has certainly paid off: Since his season debut on May 23, Acuña has torn the cover off the ball, running a .331/.561 BA/SLG combo. He’s back to doing what he does best, and he’ll start the All-Star Game in front of his home crowd as a result.

Jonathan Aranda, 1B, Rays
Aranda entered the season with a career .692 OPS in parts of three seasons with Tampa Bay, though he did close the 2024 season strong -- blasting five home runs in his final 20 games. He carried over that production into ‘25, becoming an impact bat in the middle of the Rays’ lineup. Aranda is hitting .319 -- fifth best among qualified hitters -- with a .396 on-base percentage that is tied with Juan Soto for the third-highest mark in MLB. Only Aaron Judge and Will Smith are getting on base at a higher clip than the sweet-swinging lefty.

Matthew Boyd, SP, Cubs
Health is always paramount for Boyd, who returned from Tommy John surgery late last season and pitched well into the postseason for the Guardians. The left-hander has already started more games this year (18) than he has in any single season since 2019, and he’s been marvelous, pitching to a 2.52 ERA. The 34-year-old has stabilized the Cubs’ rotation amid injuries to Shota Imanaga and Justin Steele, and he'll be rewarded with a trip to his first All-Star Game.

Hunter Goodman, C, Rockies
Goodman entered the 2025 season with a .192/.233/.409 slash line in 93 games across his first two years in the Majors, accumulating -1.5 fWAR. He was versatile but also position-less, rotating between corner outfield, first base and catcher. So, in the offseason, the Rockies told Goodman to concentrate only on catching, and, while there may not be any correlation, his bat woke up: He hit .444 in Spring Training and carried that momentum over into the regular season. Among primary catchers with at least 200 plate appearances, Goodman ranks third in home runs (16), RBIs (50), and slugging percentage (.516).