On July 16, Aaron Judge and Bryce Harper will be gracing the field as starters in the All-Star Game at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas. Their selections come as no surprise given their outstanding performances and immense popularity among fans.
Aaron Judge: A Fan Favorite
Aaron Judge has once again proven his star power, leading the major leagues with a staggering 3,425,309 votes in the first round of balloting. This will mark Judge's sixth American League start in seven All-Star Games, an impressive feat that underscores his consistent excellence.
Unfortunately, Judge was unable to participate in last year's All-Star Game due to a sprained right big toe. Nevertheless, he has bounced back strongly, once again captivating fans and leading the first phase of fan voting in 2022. Judge’s ability to lead the majors in votes on multiple occasions places him among the elite; he is the 11th player to achieve this since fan balloting resumed in 1970.
Bryce Harper: Commanding the National League
Bryce Harper, a perennial fan favorite, topped the National League voting and finished second overall in the big leagues with 3,277,920 votes. This selection marks Harper’s eighth All-Star Game appearance, with seven of those featuring him as a starter. Harper’s consistent presence in the All-Star lineup speaks volumes about his skill and popularity among baseball fans.
The Voting Process
Starting spots for the All-Star Game are awarded to the top vote-getter in each league during the first phase of online voting, which began on June 5 and concluded last Thursday. Fans were able to vote once every 24 hours, ensuring they had ample opportunity to support their favorite players.
The remaining starters will be announced on June 30, followed by the revelation of pitchers and reserves on July 7. The second phase of voting, which runs from noon EDT on Sunday to noon EDT on June 30, will determine the finalists. Notably, votes from the first phase do not carry over to the second phase, ensuring a fresh start for all candidates.
Teams and Players Advancing
The Baltimore Orioles and the Philadelphia Phillies have emerged as strong contenders, with six players from each team advancing to the second phase. In the National League, Kyle Schwarber has made significant strides, overtaking Marcell Ozuna for the second spot among designated hitters. Similarly, Ryan O'Hearn moved past Giancarlo Stanton for second place among designated hitters in the American League.
Key Matchups in the Finalists
The finalists feature some intriguing matchups. In the American League, Salvador Perez and Adley Rutschman will vie for the catcher position, while Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Ryan Mountcastle compete for first base. The second base spot will come down to Jose Altuve and Marcus Semien. Over at third base, it's a contest between Jose Ramirez and Jordan Westburg.
The shortstop position sees Gunnar Henderson up against Bobby Witt Jr., while the outfield finalists include Steven Kwan, Anthony Santander, Juan Soto, and Kyle Tucker. For the designated hitter role, Yordan Alvarez and Ryan O'Hearn will be battling it out.
National League Finalists
Over in the National League, it's William Contreras against J.T. Realmuto for the catcher role. The finalists for second base are Luis Arraez and Ketel Marte, while Alec Bohm faces Manny Machado for third base. The shortstop contest will feature Mookie Betts and Trea Turner.
Outfield positions are highly contested with Nick Castellanos, Teoscar Hernandez, Brandon Marsh, Jurickson Profar, Fernando Tatis Jr., and Christian Yelich all in the running. For designated hitter, the battle will be between Shohei Ohtani and Kyle Schwarber.
As the All-Star Game approaches, anticipation is building among baseball fans. The excitement is palpable as fans wait to see which players will emerge victorious in the final phase of voting and secure their spot in one of the most prestigious events in Major League Baseball.