Harper tops NL in Phase 1 of All-Star voting, earns starting nod

PHILADELPHIA -- At this time a year ago, Bryce Harper had never started a professional game at first base. Now, he's been named the starting first baseman for the National League in the 2024 All-Star Game.

? Finalists to start All-Star Game set; voting resumes Sunday

Harper received the honor on Thursday night when it was revealed that he was the top vote-getter among all NL players in Phase 1 of All-Star voting. Harper’s 3,277,920 votes trailed only Yankees center fielder Aaron Judge (3,425,309) overall.

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As the top vote-getters in their respective league, Judge and Harper automatically bypass Phase 2 of the voting process, which begins on Sunday. Even without Harper, Phase 2 will still feature six other Phillies players -- including third baseman Alec Bohm, who was the only other NL player to receive more than three million votes.

While this marks the eighth career All-Star selection for Harper, it would be the first time he's actually played in the Midsummer Classic since 2018. Due largely to injuries, Harper was named an All-Star just once from 2019-23 -- and that came in 2022, when he missed the game due to a fractured left thumb.

Unfortunately for Harper, the All-Star nod came on the same night that he injured his left hamstring on the final play of the Phillies’ 7-4 loss to the Marlins. While no update was available on his status following the game, he will undergo further testing on Friday to determine the extent of the injury.

Harper would be making his sixth career All-Star start for the July 16 game at Globe Life Field in Arlington. He previously made three starts in right field and two in center.

If he’s able to make his All-Star start at first base, Harper would join Hall of Famers Henry Aaron, Stan Musial and Carl Yastrzemski as the only players to make five ASG starts in the outfield and at least one in the infield.

Harper's latest All-Star nod comes with the two-time MVP slashing .303/.399/.582 with 20 home runs and 58 RBIs (through Thursday's games). He also ranked third among all first basemen with five outs above average in his first full season at his new position.

While Harper will skip over Phase 2 -- which will determine the remaining All Star starters -- a number of his teammates are still in the running to play alongside him on July 16 in Arlington. The top two vote-getters at each position (and top six in the outfield) from Phase 1 advanced to Phase 2.

Bohm was by far the leader at third base in Phase 1, while three other Phillies finished second at their position: shortstop Trea Turner, catcher J.T. Realmuto and designated hitter Kyle Schwarber. Brandon Marsh and Nick Castellanos ranked fifth and sixth, respectively, among outfielders.

All vote totals will reset for Phase 2, which begins at noon ET on Sunday and continues until noon ET on Wednesday. The winner at each position (and top three in the outfield) for each league will be revealed as the remaining starters at 7 p.m. ET on Wednesday. The full All-Star rosters -- including reserves and pitchers -- will be announced on July 7.