Jun 16, 2026; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Braves catcher Drake Baldwin (30) hits a home run against the San Francisco Giants in the first inning at Truist Park. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images If fans really wanted the All-Star Game to showcase the best players as of mid-July, then Major League Baseball should have someone like me pick the team. A well-informed and well-intentioned sportswriter would do a bang-up job selecting starters and picking teams.
Fat chance of fans wanting that!
Fans just pick whom they want to see, no matter the reason. It’s a popularity contest, like most elections. And elections have consequences: mostly that sometimes the wrong players start the All-Star Game. No matter: The customer is always right, as the dubious saying goes.
What can we do — other than complain? That’s where being a sportswriter still helps. Let’s evaluate how the fans are doing in picking the All-Star starters after the early results were announced Monday.
National League
At catcher, Drake Baldwin of the Atlanta Braves leads the next man up, Will Smith of the Dodgers by about 310,000 votes. Even if you account for Baldwin missing significant time because of an injury, he’s the best player at his position so far, slashing .303/.389/.543 with 13 home runs in 48 games.
At first base, Freddie Freeman of the Dodgers leads Matt Olson of the Braves by nearly 70,000 votes. Braves and Dodgers again, hmm? Olson has been the best first baseman in the NL so far, and Freeman could be the second best, so this also works. Fans are 2-for-2 so far.
At second, Ozzie Albies of the Braves is about 118,000 ahead of Bryson Stott of the Phillies. Brice Turang of the Brewers and rookie JJ Wetherholt of the Cardinals have been the best at second base, but the margins are narrow here. Brandon Lowe, Xavier Edwards and Luis Arraez also deserve love.
At shortstop, leader CJ Abrams of the Nationals has been the best, with Mookie Betts (who has been struggling and hurt) trailing by about 12,000 votes.
Max Muncy is killing it at the ballot box and he’s 100% the best player at third. Just stay healthy for another month.
Shohei Ohtani leads the vote at DH by about 300,000 over Kyle Schwarber they deserve to be 1-2 — although the margins are closer than many probably realize.
Voting in the outfield does not yet match up with results, with Andy Páges of the Dodgers, Ronald Acuña of the Braves and Brandon Marsh of the Phillies standing 1-2-3. The best performers by Fangraphs WAR are Pete Crow-Armstrong of the Cubs, James Wood of the Nationals and Corbin Carroll of the Diamondbacks. None of them are higher than seventh in the voting, with Wood the closest but still 230,000 behind third place. This is the one position where we should expect little justice before this phase ends June 25.
American League
Jun 4, 2026; Cumberland, Georgia, USA; Toronto Blue Jays first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (27) celebrates with teammates in the dugout after scoring a run against the Atlanta Braves in the ninth inning at Truist Park. Mandatory Credit: Mady Mertens-Imagn Images Shea Langeliers of the Athletics, who is more than 400,000 ahead of the next catcher, is going to reach the finals. And he’s been the best in the AL so far. It’s just a matter of Dillon Dingler of the Tigers getting to the finals. He’s had almost as good of a first half.
Despite a disappointing first half, Vladimir Guerrero of the Blue Jays leads Ben Rice of the Yankees by about 90,000 votes. Rice and Nick Kurtz of the Athletics are the most deserving, but Kurtz seems unlikely to reach the finals being 330,000 down to Guerrero. Blue Jays fans are voting like Braves fans.
Speaking of which, Ernie Clement of the Blue Jays leads Ezequiel Duran of the Rangers by just over 600,000 votes at second base. This pair actually makes for an appropriate final vote.
Bobby Witt of the Royals is running away with the lead at shortsop, but if rookie Kevin McGonigle can overcome Andrés Giménez of the Blue Jays, the right pair will reach the finals.
Junior Caminero of the Rays and rookie Japanese import Kazuma Okamoto of the Blue Jays are 1-2 at third base. Miguel Vargas of the White Sox deserves to reach the finals but Sox fans need to stuff the ballot boxes in Chicago to overcome a 230,000-vote deficit. In the name of Mayor Daley, they know what needs to happen.
Yordan Alvarez of the Astros is the righteous leader at DH, with Yandy Díaz of the Rays within a 65,000-vote striking distance of overtaking George Springer of the Blue Jays to create a righteous final.
Injured Aaron Judge of the Yankees and rejuvenated Mike Trout are way out in front among AL outfielders, with Cody Bellinger of the Yankees about 36,000 in front of Byron Buxton of the Twins. Bellinger is not undeserving, but Buxton deserves the final more. Judge won’t play in the All-Star Game, but he’s going to be named.
Overall, the NL Fans are doing a better job than the AL Fans, but the only AL players who are really short-changed are Kurtz and Vargas. Lots of complaints, but it’s been worse. Fans, you win again.
