Early All-Star Voting Results Reveal Surprising Leaders and Intense Battles

Phase 1 of the 2026 Major League Baseball All-Star Game voting is rapidly approaching its conclusion, and the latest results offer a compelling look at who fans are backing for starting roles. With familiar superstars and a few surprising names making significant noise, the early returns suggest several intriguing storylines will carry over into Phase 2 of the balloting.

Dominance from Last Year’s World Series Teams

Unsurprisingly, members of last year’s World Series participants, the Los Angeles Dodgers and Toronto Blue Jays, are heavily represented in the early voting. Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani is the leading vote-getter among all players, a testament to his continued impact on the game. However, the most unexpected surge comes from Toronto’s second baseman, Ernie Clement. Clement has amassed over 2 million votes, making him the only American League player to break that mark and the second player overall behind Ohtani. His strong showing is largely attributed to his record-breaking performance in the 2025 postseason, where he recorded 30 hits and batted .411 across three series, leaving a lasting impression on fans.

Intense Outfield Battles Expected

The outfield positions in both leagues are proving to be exceptionally competitive, with a wealth of MVP candidates and former award winners vying for starting spots. The race for the final outfield berths in each league is expected to be a major focus as voting progresses. In the AL, the Mariners’ Randy Arozarena holds a slim lead of approximately 11,000 votes over the Blue Jays’ Daulton Varsho for the sixth and final spot, which would place him alongside teammate Julio Rodríguez. Other AL outfielders like Toronto’s Jesus Sanchez and Detroit’s Riley Greene are also within striking distance.

The National League outfield race is equally compelling. The Mets’ Juan Soto has climbed to sixth place, surpassing the Diamondbacks’ Corbin Carroll, the Nationals’ James Wood, and the Cardinals’ Jordan Walker. Wood, in particular, is making a strong push, trailing Soto by only about 32,000 votes in what has been a standout season for him in Washington.

Potential Comebacks in Phase 1 Finale

As the top two vote-getters at each position (and the top six outfielders) advance to Phase 2, the final days of Phase 1 could see some dramatic shifts in the standings. One of the most interesting races outside the outfield is at second base in the NL. The Phillies’ Bryson Stott is currently in line to advance, but Brice Turang of the NL Central-leading Brewers is making a late charge, sitting just over 60,000 votes behind. Turang, who received MVP consideration last season, is hoping for another strong finish to potentially overtake Stott.

Sluggers Lead the Designated Hitter Race

The designated hitter position features some of the league’s most potent offensive threats. Entering the latest voting update, 11 DHs had an OPS of .826 or higher, with six exceeding .905. Ohtani, the Phillies’ Kyle Schwarber, and the Astros’ Yordan Alvarez are leading the charge at DH. Schwarber led MLB in home runs with 29, while Alvarez topped the league in OPS at 1.068. Ohtani’s .969 OPS ranks third among primary DHs. Ohtani leads all players in total votes, with Schwarber second in the NL DH race and Alvarez the clear leader in the AL.

First-Time All-Stars on the Horizon

This year’s voting also presents opportunities for several players to earn their first career All-Star selections. Beyond Clement, the Rangers’ Ezequiel Duran is a strong contender for second base. In the AL, the Yankees’ Ben Rice, who boasts a 1.004 OPS, and A’s catcher Shea Langeliers, with 19 home runs, are also in position to make their debut. The NL could see first-time selections in Braves catcher Drake Baldwin, Nationals shortstop CJ Abrams, and Phillies second baseman Bryson Stott if he holds off Turang. Outfielders Andy Pages (Dodgers), Brandon Marsh (Phillies), and Michael Harris II (Braves) are also potential first-time All-Stars.

Key facts
| Player | Position | Current Status | Notes |
|——————–|————–|————————————-|——————————————|
| Shohei Ohtani | DH/Pitcher | Leading vote-getter overall | Strong showing in DH voting |
| Ernie Clement | 2B | Leading AL vote-getter | Impressive postseason performance |
| Randy Arozarena | OF | Narrow lead for final AL OF spot | Battling Daulton Varsho |
| Juan Soto | OF | Climbing in NL OF voting | Now in 6th position |
| Bryson Stott | 2B | Positioned to advance in NL | Facing challenge from Brice Turang |

The ongoing All-Star voting provides a fascinating snapshot of player popularity and performance as the season progresses. Fans have until Thursday, June 27, 2026, at noon ET to cast their ballots for Phase 1, after which the top vote-getters will advance to Phase 2.

Source: MLB Official News RSS – https://www.mlb.com/news/mlb-all-star-voting-early-takeaways

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