In a thrilling display of fan support, Aaron Judge and Bryce Harper have been voted as starters for the July 16 All-Star Game at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas. Both players have once again solidified their status as fan favorites and elite athletes in Major League Baseball.
Aaron Judge, a staple in the All-Star lineup, led the major leagues with a staggering 3,425,309 votes in the first round of balloting. This marks Judge's sixth American League start in seven All-Star appearances, underscoring his consistent performance and popularity. Last year, a sprained right big toe sidelined Judge from participating in the All-Star Game, despite his leading the first phase of fan voting in 2022. His dominance in this year's fan voting makes him the 11th player to lead the majors in votes on multiple occasions since fan balloting resumed in 1970.
Bryce Harper, representing the National League, finished a close second overall in the voting with 3,277,920 votes. This will be Harper's eighth appearance in an All-Star Game, with seven of those as a starter. Both Judge and Harper's selections highlight their prominence and the high regard in which they are held by fans across the league.
The Voting Process
The journey to these starting spots began on June 5 with the commencement of the first phase of online voting, which concluded last Thursday. In this phase, fans were permitted to vote once every 24 hours, ensuring widespread participation and making the voting a major talking point amongst baseball enthusiasts.
The second phase of voting runs from noon EDT on Sunday to noon EDT on June 30. It's important to note that votes from the first phase do not carry over to the second phase, creating a fresh opportunity for fans to influence the final lineup.
Top Contenders
The competition was fierce, and several teams saw a significant number of their players advancing to the second phase. Notably, the Baltimore Orioles and the Philadelphia Phillies each have six players who made it through, underscoring the depth and talent within their rosters.
One of the standout movements in the voting saw Kyle Schwarber overtaking Marcell Ozuna for the second spot among designated hitters in the National League. Similarly, Ryan O’Hearn moved ahead of Giancarlo Stanton for second place among designated hitters in the American League. Such shifts exemplify the dynamic nature of fan voting as preferences evolve during the voting process.
Position Finalists
The finalists for various positions have also been set, with several notable names competing for starting spots:
- American League Catcher: Salvador Perez and Adley Rutschman
- American League First Base: Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Ryan Mountcastle
- American League Second Base: Jose Altuve and Marcus Semien
- American League Third Base: Jose Ramirez and Jordan Westburg
- American League Shortstop: Gunnar Henderson and Bobby Witt Jr.
- American League Outfield: Steven Kwan, Anthony Santander, Juan Soto, and Kyle Tucker
- American League Designated Hitter: Yordan Alvarez and Ryan O'Hearn
The National League's list is equally star-studded:
- National League Catcher: William Contreras and J.T. Realmuto
- National League Second Base: Luis Arraez and Ketel Marte
- National League Third Base: Alec Bohm and Manny Machado
- National League Shortstop: Mookie Betts and Trea Turner
- National League Outfield: Nick Castellanos, Teoscar Hernandez, Brandon Marsh, Jurickson Profar, Fernando Tatis Jr., and Christian Yelich
- National League Designated Hitter: Shohei Ohtani and Kyle Schwarber
The remaining starters will be officially announced on June 30, followed by the unveiling of pitchers and reserves on July 7. As the anticipation builds, the All-Star Game promises to be a celebration of baseball's finest talents, driven by the unwavering support of fans across the globe.