When the 2025 MLB All-Star rosters were unveiled on Sunday evening, only two Philadelphia Phillies made the National League roster. While there were certainly some alarming snubs, like shortstop Trea Turner and left-handers Cristopher Sánchez and Ranger Suárez, the Phillies have added a third All-Star who will be heading to Atlanta next week.
Adam Crognale, the Phillies' "Bat Man," has been voted in by fans, along with the Detroit Tigers' Frankie Boyd, as a member of the All-Star Ball Crew. He will join ace Zack Wheeler and slugger Kyle Schwarber representing the Phils at the Midsummer Classic.
⭐ Adam is an All-Star! ⭐ https://t.co/FcwLMB5EgV
— Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies) July 9, 2025
Phillies fans vote Adam Crognale onto All-Star Game Ball Crew
Crognale, who is well-known and popular among Phillies fans, has been plying his trade as a clubhouse staff member and bat boy with the Phillies for five seasons now. He spoke to MLB.com's Todd Zolecki after he was nominated and explained how his love for the All-Star Game dates back to his childhood.
"I’m trying not to get my hopes up too much, but I’m hoping to get enough votes because it would be a great experience,” Crognale said, per Zolecki. “I’ve always loved the All-Star Game. The first thing I think I ever watched – I think I started watching baseball around ‘06. The first thing I can remember is [Ryan] Howard winning the [Home Run Derby] in Pittsburgh. I remember thinking back then, 'I can’t wait until it’s in Philadelphia.'"
Known for his incredible barehanded catches, the Phillies made a phenomenal hype video to help his cause of getting the votes to go to the All-Star Game. The fans came through.
The best Bat Man in the biz is on the All-Star ballot! Vote and let's send Adam to ATL 🤩
— Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies) July 6, 2025
VOTE: https://t.co/vtcaziBvLx pic.twitter.com/gJUxOQr26l
Phillies' 'Bat Man' has a feel-good origin story
Crognale's spectacular on-field efforts are eclipsed only by his fundraising endeavors off the field to help the fight against cancer. He battled and beat lymphoma as a 15-year-old, watching Phillies games from his hospital room (subscription required), as documented by The Philadelphia Inquirer's Matt Breen in 2024.
Crognale now works to raise money for leukemia and lymphoma, raising over $80K, which led to his nomination as a Visionary of the Year for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.
“Everything that I’ve done here has never been with the intention of getting attention,” Crognale told Zolecki. “I’m all for it if it’s for the right reasons.”
But now he's getting plenty of attention for his skills and hard work on the field. And he'll get to do it all over again when the Phillies host next year's All-Star Game at Citizens Bank Park as the country celebrates its 250th birthday.