Aaron Judge and Bryce Harper Headline All-Star Game Starters
Baseball fans are eagerly anticipating the July 16 All-Star Game at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas, as Aaron Judge and Bryce Harper have been elected to start, highlighting their stellar seasons and immense fan support.
Judge Receives Top Honors
Aaron Judge, a dominant force in the American League, led the major leagues with an impressive 3,425,309 votes during the first round of balloting. This marks Judge’s sixth starting appearance in seven All-Star Games, a testament to his consistent excellence and popularity among fans. Last year, Judge was sidelined from the All-Star Game due to a sprained right big toe, but he has bounced back in remarkable fashion, securing the highest number of votes once again. This distinction places Judge among an elite group of players, making him the 11th player to lead the majors in votes on multiple occasions since fan balloting resumed in 1970.
Harper Leads the National League
Joining Judge at the All-Star Game is Bryce Harper, who led the National League and came in second overall in votes with a substantial 3,277,920. This year marks Harper’s eighth All-Star Game appearance, his seventh as a starter. Harper’s unwavering performance and appeal have solidified his reputation as one of baseball's premier talents, ensuring his place on the sport’s grandest stage.
Fan Balloting Process
The path to becoming an All-Star starter is through a rigorous fan voting process. This year, the first phase of online voting began on June 5 and concluded last Thursday. Fans had the opportunity to vote once every 24 hours, with the top vote-getter in each league during this phase earning an automatic starting spot. The remaining starters will be announced on June 30, with pitchers and reserves revealed on July 7.
As the first phase concluded, the second round of voting commenced, running from noon EDT on Sunday to noon EDT on June 30. Importantly, votes from the first phase do not carry over, giving players another chance to secure their spot through a fresh round of fan engagement.
Teams and Players Advancing
The Baltimore Orioles and the Philadelphia Phillies have shown strong representation, each advancing six players to the second phase. Notable movements include Kyle Schwarber overtaking Marcell Ozuna for the second spot among designated hitters in the National League, while Ryan O’Hearn moved ahead of Giancarlo Stanton for second among designated hitters in the American League.
Finalists by Position
The competition for the starting spots is intense, with a host of talented players vying for fan votes. In the American League, the finalists for the catcher position are Salvador Perez and Adley Rutschman, while Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Ryan Mountcastle compete for first base honors. At second base, fans must choose between Jose Altuve and Marcus Semien, and at third base, the contenders are Jose Ramirez and Jordan Westburg.
The shortstop finalists include Gunnar Henderson and Bobby Witt Jr., with Steven Kwan, Anthony Santander, Juan Soto, and Kyle Tucker representing the outfield positions. For designated hitter, the choices are Yordan Alvarez and Ryan O’Hearn.
In the National League, William Contreras and J.T. Realmuto are the finalist catchers, with Luis Arraez and Ketel Marte vying for second base. Alec Bohm and Manny Machado are the third base finalists, while the competition at shortstop is between Mookie Betts and Trea Turner.
The outfield finalists in the National League include Nick Castellanos, Teoscar Hernandez, Brandon Marsh, Jurickson Profar, Fernando Tatis Jr., and Christian Yelich. Meanwhile, Shohei Ohtani and Kyle Schwarber are the heavy hitters contending for the designated hitter spot.
With voting in the second phase heating up, fans are engrossed in the process, eager to see their favorite players secure starting positions. The All-Star Game promises to be a thrilling showcase of baseball talent, thanks to the enthusiastic participation of fans and the extraordinary performances of players like Aaron Judge and Bryce Harper.
As we approach the big day, the excitement continues to build, with the final lineups set to reflect the collective passion and support of baseball’s devoted fan base. The All-Star Game not only highlights the best in the sport but also underscores the critical role fans play in celebrating the game’s top talents.