As Phase 1 of the 2024 MLB All-Star Ballot, presented by BuildSubmarines.com, reaches its conclusion at noon ET on Thursday, the latest update on how the process is going reveals many positional battles that could end with very narrow margins.
Of course, the margin that matters here is not between the players who occupy the first two spots at each position. That margin is largely irrelevant, as the top two players at each position (and top six outfielders) will advance to Phase 2 of voting with a chance to start in the All-Star Game on July 16 at the Globe Arlington Life Field. Vote totals from Phase 1 will not carry over to Phase 2, which will begin at noon on Sunday, June 30 and continue until noon on Wednesday, July 3.
The battle in question is between positions #2 and #3 (or #6 and #7 for patrollers) as the players fight to get into position to advance. With that in mind, here’s a look at the closest fights as we approach the end of Phase 1:
Designated hitter, LA: Giancarlo Stanton (NYY) vs. David Fry (CLE)
717,023 votes vs. 706,262 votes
Let’s talk about an unexpected story on the ballot. Only 10,761 votes, but more than 400 home runs, separate Stanton (in second place) and Fry (in third), representing by far the narrowest difference of any positional fight for last place (no other battle is below 50,000 votes). Stanton has had a rebound season (18 homers, .492 SLG) after the worst season of his career in 2023, although he was recently placed on the disabled list with a hamstring strain and could be out. out until after the All-Star break. Fry, for his part, has had an outstanding year (.950 OPS in 56 games) and is a key factor in Cleveland being at the top of the American League Central Division.
Leader among DHs in the AL: Yordan Álvarez (HOU)
Third base, NL: Manny Machado (SD) vs. Joey Ortiz (MIL)
545,259 votes vs. 486,267 votes
About 60,000 votes separate two third basemen at very different points in their careers. Machado is already a six-time All-Star, is playing in his 13th major league season and is having a subpar year (.691 OPS) compared to his career numbers (.691 OPS). 823). Ortiz, 25, is showing off in his first full season in the Major League (.831 OPS) after being a key piece in the Corbin Burnes trade last winter.
Leader among the 3B of the NL: Alec Bohm (FIL)
Designated hitter, NL: Marcell Ozuna (ATL) vs. Kyle Schwarber (FIL)
940,851 votes vs. 880,794 votes
This race is Shohei Ohtani’s (he nearly doubles Ozuna’s vote total), but there’s certainly a battle for second place. Ozuna has a lead of just over 60,000 votes, meaning Schwarber has considerable ground to make up this week. While Ozuna has shined all season with a .985 OPS and 21 homers, Schwarber has been in top form in June. The Phillies slugger has six homers and a .544 SLG this month, but he’s actually lost ground to Ozuna since the first update.
Leader among NL DHs: Ohtani (LAD)
Catcher, LN: JT Realmuto (FIL) vs. Will Smith (LAD)
1,081,907 votes vs. 955,726 votes
Realmuto will likely be unable to participate in this year’s event due to surgery on his right knee that is expected to keep him out until mid-July. Although Realmuto has produced well for a catcher (104 OPS+ in 51 games), he is also below his usual level. Smith, on the other hand, is doing what he’s always done: Producing as one of the best hitters in the game, with an .817 OPS and 11 home runs. Despite that, he has more than 126,000 votes to make up to catch Realmuto.
Leader among the C of the LN: William Contreras (MIL)
Gardeners, LA: Colton Cowser (BAL) vs. Alex Verdugo (NYY) vs. Cedric Mullins (BAL)
649,710 votes vs. 512,766 votes vs. 512,352 votes
It’s a battle of AL East outfielders for the sixth and final spot in Phase 2, with Cowser holding a roughly 137,000-vote lead over Verdugo and Mullins, who are separated by just over 400 votes. After Cowser hit six home runs with a 1.004 OPS through the end of April, he has cooled off with a .584 OPS and three home runs since then. Still, Cowser has accumulated 2.0 WAR (FanGraphs) as he attempts to reach the Midseason Classic in his first full year in the Majors. To advance to Phase 2, he will have to hold his own against Mullins, his teammate, and also against Verdugo, who has a .708 OPS in his first season with the Yankees after arriving in a trade from the Red Sox.
It is important to note that if Aaron Judge maintains his position as the player with the most votes in the American League, he will receive an automatic spot in the circuit’s starting lineup for the All-Star Game, and only the next four finalist outfielders will advance to Phase 2 to determine who will occupy the two remaining positions. This means that Cowser would be left out, behind Venezuelan Anthony Santander, who currently holds the number 5 spot with 808,100 votes, a difference of about 158,000 votes over Cowser.
Leaders among AL outfielders: Judge (NYY), Juan Soto (NYY), Kyle Tucker (HOU)
