By Manny Randhawa and David Adler | before an hour
Phase 1 of the 2023 MLB All-Star Vote has concluded. Here are the finalists moving on to Stage 2, which begins Monday at 12 p.m. ET — and who just secured a spot at the Midsummer Classic.
The top overall voters are no surprise: National League leader Ronald Acuña Jr. of the Braves also led overall, and Shohei Ohtani of the Angels was the American League leader.
As the winners of the Phase 1 vote, Ohtani and Acuña will automatically receive spots in the July 11 All-Star Game in Seattle. Ohtani will be the starting DH for the AL and Acuña will be one of the three starting outfielders for the NL.
THE BEST VOTING WINNERS
AL: Shohei Ohtani, DH, Angels – 2,646,307 votes
NL: Ronald Acuña Jr., OF, Braves – 3,082,600 votes
This browser does not support the video element.
As for the rest of the voting, the top two voters at each position and the top six outfielders enter Phase 2 of the voting, which determines the All-Star Game starters. (Since Acuña is already an outfielder in the Netherlands, only the top four voters after him made it into phase 2.)
Phase 2 voting begins Monday at 12:00 p.m. ET and continues through Thursday at 12:00 p.m. ET. Fans can only vote who they want to see at the Midsummer Classic once per 24 hours on MLB platforms. The total number of votes from phase 1 will not be carried over.
The All-Star starters will be announced on ESPN on June 29 at 7pm ET.
Here are all of the players who advance to each position in AL and NL in Stage 2 of the All-Star Vote. (Season stats apply until the end of Phase 1 voting.)
This browser does not support the video element.
AMERICAN LEAGUE
Catchers: Adleyrutschman (Orioles), Jonah Heim (Rangers)
In his sophomore season,rutschman has firmly established himself as one of the game’s top catchers and the 25-year-old could be on his way to his first All-Star Game. rutschman hits .272 with 10 homers and 32 RBIs and leads the AL with 49 walks with just 44 strikeouts. Heim, also a potential rookie All-Star, is enjoying a groundbreaking offensive season with 10 homers and a career-best 117 OPS+ alongside his usual elite pitch-framing skills.
First base: Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (Blue Jays), Yandy Díaz (Rays)
Vlad Jr. is seeking his third straight All-Star selection and third straight start for the AL at first base. The 24-year-old is batting .275 with nine homers and 42 RBIs for the Blue Jays this season. Díaz was great for the MLB-best Rays, hitting .303 with 12 homers, 38 RBIs and a .909 OPS. At the age of 31 he was able to reach the All-Star Game for the first time.
This browser does not support the video element.
Second base: Marcus Semien (Rangers), Whit Merrifield (Blue Jays)
Rangers’ two key signings ahead of the 2022 season, Semien and Corey Seager have been a dynamic duo for the AL West leaders in 2023. Semien, 32, who leads the AL with 61 runs scored, could be a second-time All-Star. Fellow veteran Merrifield is hoping for his third All-Star nomination. The 34-year-old hits .298 with 18 stolen bases.
Third Base: Josh Jung (Rangers), Matt Chapman (Blue Jays)
The 25-year-old Jung really did his best in his second season. The 2019 Rangers first-round draft pick is .275 with 15 homers and 44 RBIs. Jung could be an All-Star for the first time. Chapman’s hot start to 2023 could take him to his second All-Star Game of his career and his first All-Star start. The 30-year-old has 10 home runs and 25 doubles for Toronto at the highest level in the major leagues.
This browser does not support the video element.
Shortstop: Bo Bichette (Blue Jays), Corey Seager (Rangers)
Bichette could be a second All-Star and a first starter. The 25-year-old leads the American League for the third straight season with 101 hits while hitting .317 with 14 homers. Seager has missed some time this season but has been a monster when on the lineup. The 29-year-old three-time All-Star hits .358 with 10 homers and a 1,060 OPS. Seager is targeting his second straight All-Star nomination in Texas and the first All-Star start of his career.
Outfield: Aaron Judge (Yankees), Mike Trout (Angels), Randy Arozarena (Rays), Yordan Alvarez (Astros), Kevin Kiermaier (Blue Jays), Adolis García (Rangers)
Judge and Trout are back at the top of the All-Star voting. Judge could be in line for his fifth All-Star Game start and third straight. After his historic 62-home run season, the reigning AL MVP has 19 home runs, an MLB-best slugging percentage of .674 and an OPS of 1.078 in 2023, despite missing some time due to a toe injury. Trout is hoping for his 11th straight All-Star title. He has been selected as a starter every year since 2013 and could become one of only nine players to be selected as an All-Star starter in ten straight years.
One of MLB’s most fun players, Arozarena could be an all-star for the first time. The 28-year-old bats .292 with 14 homers and 50 RBIs and leads the AL with a .409 on-base percentage. Alvarez was an All-Star in 2022 as a DH but is on the ballot as an outfielder this year. The Astros hitter is on the injured list with right oblique complaints but still has 17 homers, 55 RBIs and a .978 OPS. Kiermaier is a three-time Gold Glover and arguably one of the best defensive outfielders of all time, but he never made an all-star team. García could return to the All-Star Game with 16 homers and 58 RBIs, which are MLB-leading, after making it as a rookie in 2021.
This browser does not support the video element.
BUNDESLIGA
Catchers: Sean Murphy (Braves), Will Smith (Dodgers)
Murphy was a revelation in his first season at Atlanta, and the reward could be his first All-Star start of his career. The 28-year-old hits .287 with 12 homers and a .919 OPS and was arguably the best defensive catcher in the game. Meanwhile, Smith is up front on a Dodgers team with superstar hitters Freddie Freeman and Mookie Betts, batting .293 with 10 homers and a .908 OPS while also trying to make his first All-Star game .
First base: Freddie Freeman (Dodgers), Matt Olson (Braves)
Freeman is the same elite hitter as always, with a .323 batting average, 14 homers, an MLB high of 25 doubles and a .961 OPS for LA. The six-time All-Star is looking for his seventh and fifth straight selections, as well as his fourth start. Olson, who replaced Freeman in Atlanta, has 21 homers and 52 RBIs in 2023.
This browser does not support the video element.
Second base: Luis Arraez (Marlins), Ozzie Albies (Braves)
Arraez’s drive to reach the .400 makes him the favorite for his second straight All-Star game – albeit first as a NL player – in his debut season in Miami. His .398 batting average is by far the best in the majors, and he also leads the MLB with 105 hits. Albies, a two-time All-Star, is also having a great season with 17 homers and 53 RBIs, leading in the National League.
This browser does not support the video element.
Third Base: Nolan Arenado (Cardinals), Austin Riley (Braves)
After a slow start this season, Arenado has steadily returned to the hitter we’re used to. By the end of April he was .600 OPS with just two homers, but as of May 3 he’s hit .299/.348/.599 with 13 homers. Riley continues to help solidify the Braves’ middle lineup, cutting .262/.327/.431 with 12 homers.
Shortstop: Orlando Arcia (Braves), Francisco Lindor (Mets)
Arcia, 28, is seeking his first All-Star selection in his eighth MLB season, and he’s making a strong case for it. His .333/.392/.478 slash promises him a career year. Lindor, meanwhile, is eyeing his sixth All-Star appearance. At the plate, he has a .740 OPS with 14 homers and eight steals and continues to provide a strong defense for the Mets at the premium shortstop position.
This browser does not support the video element.
DH: JD Martinez (Dodgers), Bryce Harper (Phillies)
Martinez looks rejuvenated with the Dodgers as the veteran DH has 16 homers, a .571 slugging percentage and an .870 OPS. He is seeking his fifth straight All-Star nomination and sixth of his career. Harper has come a long way since returning to the Phillies’ roster in early May, batting .301 in his 41 games. He could be an all-star for the second consecutive year in Philadelphia and the eighth of his career.
Outfield: Mookie Betts (Dodgers), Corbin Carroll (D-Backs), Lourdes Gurriel Jr. (D-Backs), Michael Harris II (Braves)
In addition to Acuña, there are four outfield players in the squad who will secure the remaining two starting spots in the NL.
The first is a consistent All-Star nominee in Betts who has earned six straight All-Star Games and is on the hunt for seven. Betts has 17 home runs and an .861 OPS this season. Carroll is an MVP contender – and potential All-Star – in his first full season. The 22-year-old is batting .298 with 16 home runs, 21 steals and an NL leader’s .581 slugging percentage and .962 OPS. With the surprising D-Backs in first place in the NL West, Carroll’s teammate Gurriel is also an All-Star finalist and would make the team for the first time. Acuña’s teammate Harris, the reigning NL Rookie of the Year, could follow suit and make the All-Star Game for the first time.