Ken Rosenthal drew backlash during the All-Star Game for his in-game interview with Brewers rookie Jacob Misiorowski. Photo Credit: Fox
By Sam Neumann on

Unlike the Home Run Derby, there wasn’t much to complain about when it came to Major League Baseball’s production of the All-Star Game.

That is, unless you’re talking about Ken Rosenthal.

The veteran Fox reporter found himself in hot water during the bottom of the eighth inning when he conducted an awkward in-game interview with Brewers fireballer Jacob Misiorowski. The 23-year-old right-hander — with just five career big-league starts — was a surprise addition to the Midsummer Classic, and his selection sparked some backlash. Not necessarily because of Misiorowski himself, but because he was picked over deserving Phillies starters Ranger Suárez and Cristopher Sánchez.

Ron Darling called it a “joke.” Tony Kornheiser defended the pick. And Misiorowski? He didn’t exactly back down from the moment.

He threw 18 pitches. Nine of them hit triple digits. One slider clocked in at 98.1 mph — a pitch that looked straight out of a video game. Even the dugouts couldn’t believe what they were seeing.

He looked like an All-Star. But was he treated like one?

Rosenthal wanted to know.

“As you know, some players were upset by the fact you were selected, but how were you treated by the players on the team?”

“And the National League All-Stars, how did they treat you?”

Those questions were enough to set Eric Hosmer off. The former Royals first baseman turned podcaster called it “disgusting” that Rosenthal was still allowed in the dugout, asking what he called “ridiculous” questions.

It’s unclear if Hosmer has a long-standing grudge against Rosenthal or if this was a one-off reaction. What we do know is that this isn’t Rosenthal’s first time being persona non grata in an NL dugout.

Last postseason, Rosenthal was effectively banned from the Padres’ dugout after writing a column in The Athletic that labeled Manny Machado “punkish” and Fernando Tatís Jr. a “peacock.” That led to a full-blown media freeze from San Diego players during Game 3 of their NLDS clash with the Dodgers.

Tatís and Machado have long been targets of Rosenthal’s columns in The Athletic. And whether intentional or not, the tension between player and press once again bubbled to the surface. Only this time, it wasn’t two established superstars in his crosshairs, but a 23-year-old throwing 98-mph sliders in his All-Star debut.

Ken got his answer. So did everyone watching.

And apparently, so did Hosmer.

About Sam Neumann

Since the beginning of 2023, Sam has been a staff writer for Awful Announcing and The Comeback. A 2021 graduate of Temple University, Sam is a Charlotte native, who currently calls Greenville, South Carolina his home. He also has a love/hate relationship with the New York Mets and Jets.

View all posts by Sam Neumann