Phils hoping to send 6 with Harper to All-Star Game

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PHILADELPHIA -- After dominating the initial round of All-Star voting, the Phillies sent a National League-best six players through to Phase 2.

And that’s not even including Bryce Harper, who automatically bypassed Phase 2 and was named a starter after receiving more votes than any other NL player in Phase 1. Whether he will be available for the Midsummer Classic remains to be seen after he was placed on the 10-day IL on Friday with a strained left hamstring.

But six other Phillies still need help in their quest to start the 2024 All-Star Game on July 16 in Arlington: third baseman Alec Bohm, shortstop Trea Turner, catcher J.T. Realmuto, designated hitter Kyle Schwarber and outfielders Brandon Marsh and Nick Castellanos.

Phase 2 of voting will run from noon ET on Sunday until noon ET on Wednesday. The All-Star Ballot will continue to be available exclusively online and via mobile devices at MLB.com/vote, Phillies.com, the MLB App and the MLB Ballpark App. Fans may vote once per day during Phase 2, with the daily voting limit resetting each day at 12 a.m. ET.

Though Bohm was the runner-up to Harper in the NL -- and received nearly 2.2 million more votes than fellow third-base finalist Manny Machado -- voting totals reset in Phase 2. So, while Bohm will be starting from scratch in his head-to-head showdown with Machado, the fresh start helps the rest of the Phillies’ finalists.

Turner, Realmuto and Schwarber finished second at their respective positions in Phase 1, and Marsh and Castellanos finished fifth and sixth, respectively. (The top two players at each position and top six outfielders advanced to Phase 2.)

Before Phase 2 gets underway, let’s take a closer look at each of the Phillies’ finalists and who they are competing against to start the All-Star Game:

Third base: Bohm
Other finalist: Machado (Padres)

Yes, all votes from Phase 1 reset for this round, but it’s worth noting again just how big the gap was between Bohm (3,175,134) and Machado (991,703) -- and for good reason.

Bohm leads all NL third basemen in batting average (.300), slugging percentage (.484), OPS (.835), extra-base hits (38) and RBIs (65). His 28 doubles are the most across the Majors. Machado is slashing .266/.318/.391 (.709 OPS) with eight home runs, 13 doubles and 40 RBIs.

Bohm has as strong a case as anyone for not only his first career All-Star selection, but to start the Midsummer Classic on July 16 in Arlington.

"I'm really proud of Alec for how far he's come in the last couple years," manager Rob Thomson said. "He's matured physically, mentally and emotionally -- and he deserves to be where he's at [in All-Star voting].”

Shortstop: Turner
Other finalist: Mookie Betts (Dodgers)

This was shaping up to be the best All-Star battle before injuries to Turner and Betts. Turner was off to a hot start before he missed six weeks with a strained left hamstring. He’s picked up right where he left off since his return, hitting .331 with 10 stolen bases in 43 games this season. Betts, meanwhile, has the edge in nearly every category, but he’s out until August with a fractured left hand and won’t be available for the All-Star Game.

Turner is a two-time All-Star, including earning the NL starting nod in 2022 as a member of the Dodgers.

Catcher: Realmuto
Other finalist: William Contreras (Brewers)

It’s very unlikely Realmuto would play in the All-Star Game if elected. He underwent a right knee meniscectomy on June 12 and was expected to miss “about a month.” Realmuto hasn’t ruled out a return in the days leading up to the All-Star Game, but it’d be surprising to see him play in the Midsummer Classic if he’s just recently returned from such a major injury.

Realmuto is a three-time All-Star, though his lone start for the NL came in 2021. Contreras started his lone All-Star Game as the designated hitter in '22, while his brother, Willson, has started behind the dish in three of the past five years for the NL.

Designated hitter: Schwarber
Other finalist: Shohei Ohtani (Dodgers)

Schwarber has had a solid campaign -- even before his annual June heater. He’s slashing .250/.373/.447 (.820 OPS) with 17 home runs and 49 RBIs. He’s even swiped four bases. But he obviously has his hands full going up against one of the best players in the world in Ohtani. The Dodgers superstar leads all NL players in average (.321), slugging percentage (.641), OPS (1.042) and home runs (25).

An All-Star in 2021 and '22, Schwarber’s status is also up in the air after he was placed on the 10-day IL on Friday with a left groin strain.

Thomson said there’s a “good chance” Schwarber could return in the week leading up to the All-Star break, but he’d likely use those days for recovery even if he was selected.

Outfielders: Castellanos and Marsh
Other finalists: Jurickson Profar (Padres), Christian Yelich (Brewers), Teoscar Hernández (Dodgers), Fernando Tatis Jr. (Padres)

Castellanos is seeking his second consecutive All-Star selection (and third overall). He was an All-Star reserve last season, while he previously started in right field in 2021 -- his final season with the Reds.

Marsh, meanwhile, is seeking his first career All-Star nod.

Profar and Tatis rank first and second, respectively, in OPS among NL outfielders while Hernández and Profar pace the group in slugging percentage. Still, Castellanos has been heating up over the past few weeks and Marsh has turned in solid all-around production while playing left and center field this season.