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Early fan returns for this year’s All-Star ballot are underscoring a familiar tension: popularity often outweighs performance when starters are chosen. That matters now because the midseason showcase shapes narratives, playing time and even postseason attention for dozens of players.
National League snapshot
The first wave of ballots paints a mixed picture for the NL. At catcher, Atlanta’s Drake Baldwin is comfortably in front—by roughly 310,000 votes—despite missing time to injury. His offensive line (.303/.389/.543) and 13 homers through 48 games help explain why voters have rallied behind him.
First base looks cleaner: Dodgers veteran Freddie Freeman leads Matt Olson by about 70,000 votes. Both have been among the league’s best at the position, so the fans’ choice and the on-field performance are largely in sync here.
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Second base is messier. Ozzie Albies holds the lead over the Phillies’ Bryson Stott by something in the neighborhood of 118,000 votes, but underlying metrics point to other contributors—seasoned role players and a couple of surprise rookies—doing some of the heaviest lifting at the position.
At shortstop, Washington’s CJ Abrams is the top vote-getter. The margin isn’t massive, and several more established shortstops sit close behind; a swing in form or an injury could easily reshuffle the starters.
Third base has become a fan-driven contest, with Max Muncy drawing the most support. His ballot dominance is clear, though availability for the rest of the month remains the key variable.
Designated hitter voting favors one of the game’s biggest names: Shohei Ohtani is leading by roughly 300,000 votes, with Kyle Schwarber in second. Both are performing at levels that justify fan attention, even if the gap is smaller than it looks.
The outfield vote highlights the biggest disconnect between popularity and advanced metrics. Fan leaders include Dodgers prospect Andy Páges, Braves star Ronald Acuña Jr. and Phillies outfielder Brandon Marsh. By WAR and other measures, however, younger players such as Pete Crow-Armstrong, James Wood and Corbin Carroll rank higher—yet none sit in the top three of the current ballot counts. Expect more debate and little alignment before voting closes on June 25.
- Catcher: Drake Baldwin leading; strong offensive numbers despite missed time
- First base: Freddie Freeman edging Matt Olson; both strong performers
- Second base: Ozzie Albies ahead, but several candidates close in production
- Shortstop: CJ Abrams tops early returns; narrow margins behind him
- Third base: Max Muncy is the fan favorite; health will determine final impact
- Designated hitter: Shohei Ohtani leads; tight gap with Kyle Schwarber
- Outfield: Fan choices favor familiar names; WAR leaders remain lower on the ballots
Why this matters: starting spots give players national exposure, influence All-Star innings and can shape lineup cards for the showcase. More practically, they affect end-of-season narratives, award conversations and a player’s market profile heading into trade deadlines.
American League — still taking shape
The early data released so far leaves the AL picture less settled in the public record. Ballot dynamics are expected to mirror some NL trends: established stars and big-market players attracting attention, while several statistically strong performers lag behind in vote totals.
Final rosters will depend on the remaining voting window and the managers’ selections that follow. Until the next tally, the likely outcome is familiar: a mix of deserving names and fan favorites shaping a starting nine that reflects popularity as much as, if not more than, the season-to-date performance.
Whatever the final starting lineup looks like when voting closes, the midseason selections will be a reminder that the All-Star Game remains as much a celebration of fan engagement as it is a barometer of on-field excellence.
