Vote tightens across All-Star ballot leaderboards
Multiple positions hotly contested in latest update; Bellinger overall vote leader
Read our FAQ on this year¡¯s revamped balloting format, which includes two phases of fan voting to determine the All-Star starters, and the ability to vote through Google Search.
Cody Bellinger has put together one of the best two-and-a-half month starts to a season in recent memory, and now he¡¯s in line to add another feather to his cap by the midsummer break.
The latest update of the 2019 Google MLB All-Star Ballot released Monday sees the Dodgers¡¯ star as baseball¡¯s overall leading vote-getter with 2,184,251 votes, followed closely by fellow National League MVP candidate Christian Yelich at 2,065,382. Meanwhile, with the top three vote-getters at each position -- or top nine in the outfield -- advancing to the next round of voting for next month's All-Star Game presented by Mastercard, the Astros, Braves and Cubs are all in position to send seven players through to the Starters Election, which will take place over a 28-hour period starting at noon ET on June 26.
This update -- the last one before the Primary Round polls close Friday at 4 p.m. ET -- also saw several hotly contested positions see new potential finalists: the Indians' Carlos Santana (AL 1B), Houston's Robinson Chirinos (AL C), the Brewers' Yasmani Grandal (NL C), the Braves' Josh Donaldson (NL 3B) and Nick Markakis (NL OF). There are also six races where the difference between making the Starters Election and not advancing is only about 55,000 votes.
Bryce Harper and Manny Machado, the pair of superstars who dominated the offseason headlines, remain outside Starters Election contention -- though Harper is knocking right on the door of that top-nine cutoff in the outfield.
Here's a position-by-position breakdown of the second balloting returns for each league:
AL CATCHERS
- Gary Sanchez, Yankees -- 1,357,340
- James McCann, White Sox -- 580,394
- Robinson Chirinos, Astros -- 487,868
- Jason Castro, Twins -- 444,533
- Christian Vazquez, Red Sox -- 302,686
- Jonathan Lucroy, Angels -- 268,710
- Roberto Perez, Indians -- 176,976
- Josh Phegley, Athletics -- 151,679
- Mike Zunino, Rays -- 128,345
- Martin Maldonado, Royals -- 113,525
NL CATCHERS
- Willson Contreras, Cubs -- 1,555,490
- Brian McCann, Braves -- 725,484
- Yasmani Grandal, Brewers -- 513,412
- J.T. Realmuto, Phillies -- 438,390
- Yadier Molina, Cardinals -- 375,690
- Austin Barnes, Dodgers -- 344,745
- Tony Wolters, Rockies -- 204,641
- Wilson Ramos, Mets -- 167,879
- Buster Posey, Giants -- 146,905
- Yan Gomes, Nationals -- 101,584
Both catcher slots are straight runaways, with Contreras and Sanchez¡¯s leads representing the second- and third-largest margins at any position in either league. The two backstops have combined for 33 homers, and each of them sport an OPS well north of .900. But one of the AL¡¯s more intriguing races lie behind the plate, where Chirinos has passed former Astro Castro since the first ballot update and now holds a roughly 43,000-vote lead for that crucial third spot. Since the last update, Grandal leapfrogged both Realmuto and Molina for a potential spot in the Starters Election.
AL FIRST BASE
Luke Voit, Yankees -- 696,164
C.J. Cron, Twins -- 586,303
Carlos Santana, Indians -- 560,836
Jose Abreu, White Sox -- 517,473
Yuli Gurriel, Astros -- 433,692
Albert Pujols, Angels -- 384,322
Miguel Cabrera, Tigers -- 362,659
Edwin Encarnacion, Mariners -- 205,040
Mitch Moreland, Red Sox -- 193,609
Ji-Man Choi, Rays -- 168,723
NL FIRST BASE
Josh Bell, Pirates -- 1,106,186
Freddie Freeman, Braves -- 1,022,535
Anthony Rizzo, Cubs -- 948,047
Max Muncy, Dodgers -- 446,704
Pete Alonso, Mets -- 319,256
Rhys Hoskins, Phillies -- 249,341
Paul Goldschmidt, Cardinals -- 234,176
Jesus Aguilar, Brewers -- 188,332
Eric Hosmer, Padres -- 149,749
Daniel Murphy, Rockies -- 112,317
Bell¡¯s breakout has been one of the best stories of the first half, but Freeman has closed the gap at first base after gaining more than 130,000 votes on the Pirates star since the first update. Each of them look assured to make the top three, but there¡¯s a shakeup in the AL, where Santana passed Abreu and now has a chance to play in front of his home fans in Cleveland. With roughly 43,000 votes separating Santana and Abreu, that race for third place could come down to the wire.
AL SECOND BASE
- Tommy La Stella, Angels -- 1,020,912
- Jose Altuve, Astros -- 923,117
- DJ LeMahieu, Yankees -- 739,074
- Jonathan Schoop, Twins -- 362,504
- Whit Merrifield, Royals -- 247,903
- Brandon Lowe, Rays -- 237,277
- Michael Chavis, Red Sox -- 236,526
- Jason Kipnis, Indians -- 137,724
- Dee Gordon, Mariners -- 119,799
- Yolmer Sanchez, White Sox-- 110,786
NL SECOND BASE
- Ozzie Albies, Braves -- 1,011,132
- Mike Moustakas, Brewers -- 966,391
- Ketel Marte, D-backs -- 554,524
- Enrique Hernandez, Dodgers -- 455,704
- Cesar Hernandez, Phillies -- 424,379
- Daniel Descalso, Cubs -- 410,122
- Robinson Cano, Mets -- 179,750
- Kolten Wong, Cardinals -- 163,237
- Brian Dozier, Nationals -- 156,129
- Ryan McMahon, Rockies -- 109,692
Altuve¡¯s four-year starting streak at second base for the AL continues to be in jeopardy thanks to La Stella¡¯s incredible breakout season. The Halos¡¯ second baseman has already hit 50% more homers this year than he did over the first five seasons of his career. The injured Altuve (left hamstring strain) has not taken the field for Houston since May 10. Moustakas continues to give Albies a good push atop the NL standings in his first qualifying season at second base.
AL THIRD BASE
- Alex Bregman, Astros -- 1,322,935
- Gio Urshela, Yankees -- 502,614
- Hunter Dozier, Royals -- 424,028
- Rafael Devers, Red Sox -- 335,635
- Marwin Gonzalez, Twins -- 290,264
- Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Blue Jays -- 269,492
- Matt Chapman, Athletics -- 267,590
- Yoan Moncada, White Sox -- 262,416
- David Fletcher, Angels -- 192,712
- Jose Ramirez, Indians -- 136,766
NL THIRD BASE
- Nolan Arenado, Rockies -- 1,475,825
- Kris Bryant, Cubs -- 850,758
- Josh Donaldson, Braves -- 550,947
- Justin Turner, Dodgers -- 512,237
- Anthony Rendon, Nationals -- 378,761
- Manny Machado, Padres -- 207,354
- Eduardo Escobar, D-backs -- 185,561
- Travis Shaw, Brewers -- 148,322
- Maikel Franco, Phillies -- 138,948
- Matt Carpenter, Cardinals -- 132,248
Donaldson hopped past Turner for the third and final hot corner spot in the NL, but the gap between those two remains one of the smallest of any top-three battle across both leagues. Meanwhile, Bregman¡¯s roughly 820,000-vote lead over Urshela is the largest at any position in either league, another marker of the Astros third baseman¡¯s rising star in the game. Arenado has widened his lead over Bryant by nearly 250,000 votes since the first ballot update.
AL SHORTSTOP
- Jorge Polanco, Twins -- 818,082
- Carlos Correa, Astros -- 656,995
- Gleyber Torres, Yankees -- 565,728
- Tim Anderson, White Sox -- 510,337
- Francisco Lindor, Indians -- 460,952
- Xander Bogaerts, Red Sox -- 410,134
- Andrelton Simmons, Angels -- 274,181
- Elvis Andrus, Rangers -- 166,275
- Adalberto Mondesi, Royals -- 148,843
- Willy Adames, Rays - 126,583
NL SHORTSTOP
- Javier Baez, Cubs -- 1,672,062
- Dansby Swanson, Braves -- 764,663
- Corey Seager, Dodgers -- 494,546
- Trevor Story, Rockies -- 457,159
- Jean Segura, Phillies -- 286,287
- Fernando Tatis Jr., Padres -- 246,374
- Orlando Arcia, Brewers -- 233,953
- Paul DeJong, Cardinals -- 195,357
- Trea Turner, Nationals -- 150,392
- Jose Iglesias, Reds -- 134,143
Lindor still needs some help from the Cleveland faithful if they want to see him suit up at Progressive Field as a starter, but time remains for the superstar to close the gap. Seager¡¯s placement on the injury list could also help Story close his roughly 37,000-vote deficit for the third and final spot.
AL OUTFIELD
- Mike Trout, Angels -- 1,904,273
- George Springer, Astros -- 1,495,817
- Michael Brantley, Astros -- 924,173
- Austin Meadows, Rays -- 887,946
- Mookie Betts, Red Sox -- 777,642
- Eddie Rosario, Twins -- 687,515
- Aaron Judge, Yankees -- 577,640
- Joey Gallo, Rangers -- 537,934
- Josh Reddick, Astros -- 511,903
- Max Kepler, Twins -- 435,789
- Byron Buxton, Twins -- 418,287
- Brett Gardner, Yankees -- 259,179
- Andrew Benintendi, Red Sox -- 258,476
- Jackie Bradley Jr., Red Sox -- 234,302
- Tommy Pham, Rays -- 223,250
- Aaron Hicks, Yankees -- 221,578
- Trey Mancini, Orioles -- 206,620
- Shin-Soo Choo, Rangers -- 194,328
- Kole Calhoun, Angels -- 168,971
- Kevin Kiermaier, Rays -- 158,609
NL OUTFIELD
- Cody Bellinger, Dodgers -- 2,184,251
- Christian Yelich, Brewers -- 2,065,382
- Ronald Acuna Jr., Braves -- 1,229,200
- Albert Almora Jr., Cubs -- 645,291
- Jason Heyward, Cubs -- 614,823
- Nick Markakis, Braves -- 614,358
- Joc Pederson, Dodgers -- 598,909
- Kyle Schwarber, Cubs -- 585,997
- Charlie Blackmon, Rockies -- 530,342
- Bryce Harper, Phillies -- 498,100
- Alex Verdugo, Dodgers -- 437,115
- Ender Inciarte, Braves -- 332,134
- Juan Soto, Nationals -- 302,375
- Lorenzo Cain, Brewers -- 282,069
- Marcell Ozuna, Cardinals -- 275,590
- Melky Cabrera, Pirates -- 252,384
- Scott Kingery, Phillies -- 233,131
- Andrew McCutchen, Phillies -- 224,871
- Ryan Braun, Brewers -- 221,172
- Jeff McNeil, Mets -- 205,542
Harper is roughly 32,000 votes shy of Blackmon for that ninth and final outfield spot in the NL, marking the closest battle across the Majors for any Starters Election spot. Meanwhile, Markakis has surged up to sixth in the Senior Circuit to boot the rookie Verdugo outside the top nine. The MVP race between Bellinger and Yelich has been one of the storylines of the first-half, and they¡¯re fittingly the Majors¡¯ top two vote-getters.
In the AL, Brantley has jumped past Meadows for the No. 3 spot, and the Astros currently boast three potential starters within the league¡¯s top nine. Trout remains the AL¡¯s leading vote-getter, with Springer holding strong behind him despite being out of action since May 24.
DESIGNATED HITTER
- J.D. Martinez, Red Sox -- 893,689
- Hunter Pence, Rangers -- 602,766
- Nelson Cruz, Twins -- 506,211
- Shohei Ohtani, Angels -- 362,947
- Aledmys Diaz, Astros -- 353,015
- Giancarlo Stanton, Yankees -- 295,326
- Avisail Garcia, Rays -- 282,170
- Khris Davis, Athletics -- 251,191
- Daniel Vogelbach, Mariners -- 237,238
- Yonder Alonso, White Sox -- 147,177
Martinez has opened up his lead on the resurgent Pence as the Red Sox star seeks a second straight All-Star Game selection. Ohtani recently dazzled with his first career cycle, but he still has work to do to catch up to Cruz for the third and final Starters Election spot.
Fans may vote in "The Primary" at MLB.com and all 30 club sites, the MLB At Bat and MLB Ballpark apps up to five times in any 24-hour period. Fans in the US and Canada can also vote on Google Search for every position, or up to 17 unique players per day, by searching "MLB Vote" or the names of their favorite players. Primary voting ends at 4 p.m. ET on Friday.
The top three vote-getters at each position (including nine outfielders) per league will move on to "The Starters Election," which begins at noon ET on Wednesday, June 26. The votes will reset for a 28-hour voting window that ends at 4 p.m. ET on Thursday, June 27. Starters for the 2019 Midsummer Classic will be unveiled on ESPN that night at 7 ET. The pitchers and reserves will be announced on Sunday, June 30, at 5:30 p.m. ET.
Then on Tuesday, July 9, during the 2019 All-Star Game presented by Mastercard, fans may visit MLB.com and the 30 club sites to submit their choices for the Ted Williams Most Valuable Player Award presented by Chevrolet.
The 90th Midsummer Classic, at Progressive Field in Cleveland, will be televised nationally by FOX Sports; in Canada by Rogers Sportsnet and RDS; and worldwide by partners in more than 180 countries. FOX Deportes will provide Spanish-language coverage in the United States, while ESPN Radio and ESPN Radio Deportes will provide exclusive national radio coverage. MLB Network, MLB.com and SiriusXM also will provide comprehensive All-Star Week coverage. For more information about MLB All-Star Week and to purchase tickets, please visit AllStarGame.com and follow @MLB and @AllStarGame on social media.