3 surprising Padres players who deserve serious All-Star consideration

The Padres have their superstars, that's for sure. But beyond the faces of the franchise in Fernando Tatis Jr. or Manny Machado, San Diego has a rather hefty list of players who deserve All-Star consideration this season.

Jason Adam has been one of the top relievers in the game, Nick Pivetta has been the biggest steal among free-agent pitchers, and Gavin Sheets has kept the Padres' lineup intact amidst several injuries.

Jason Adam

Only two pitchers in Major League Baseball have more holds than Adam this season. With 15 holds, a 1.45 ERA, and a .165 batting average against, the 33-year-old has been as reliable as they come. Across his last 12 appearances, Adam has surrendered one earned run.

Adam has also compiled five wins, one save, and a league-high 31 appearances. There's a reason why the Padres elect to bring in him just about every other night. He's an All-Star.

Nick Pivetta

Despite his worst start of the season on June 4, Pivetta's ERA is still a glistening 3.16. That's how good he's been this year. He can afford a clunker and still be in the mix atop the National League in starter ERA.

Pivetta has delivered seven quality starts in a dozen outings, which is the 11th most in the NL. That's not bad for a guy signed at the last second ahead of the 2025 campaign. If Pivetta can keep it going over the next month, he can expect some major consideration for an All-Star nod.

Gavin Sheets

Despite slamming his face into the wall this week, Gavin Sheets did not miss any time. That's the type of warrior mentality that Sheets possesses, and with other hitters sustaining longer-term injuries like Jackson Merrill and Jake Cronenworth this year, Sheets has provided a consistent presence to the lineup.

It's understood that Sheets will probably be snubbed as an All-Star this season, but he is still worth the consideration. He's well on track to career-highs in home runs (second on San Diego) and RBIs (first on San Diego).