New York Yankees outfielder Juan Soto is striving for a starting position in the All-Star Game, hoping to join his teammate Aaron Judge at Globe Life Field next month. Despite leading the fan vote after the initial results were released on Monday, Soto’s position is precarious. He holds 29% of the votes, with Cleveland’s Steven Kwan at 28% and Baltimore’s Anthony Santander at 26%, while Houston’s Kyle Tucker trails at 16%.
Judge has already secured a starting spot as the American League’s top vote-getter in phase one. Soto, the only other Yankees player in contention for a starting position, would likely make the team as a reserve if he doesn’t win the fan vote. Soto has previously made the All-Star Game three times in the National League, including last season for San Diego as a reserve.
Fan voting for phase two continues until noon Eastern on Wednesday and can be done online and via mobile devices at mlb.com/vote, with fans allowed to vote once per day. The reserves and pitching staff, selected through a player vote and by the MLB office, will be announced this weekend. Each team is guaranteed at least one All-Star.
Several voting races are highly competitive. For example, Houston’s Yordan Alvarez and Baltimore’s Ryan O’Hearn are close in votes for the designated hitter position, aiming to succeed Shohei Ohtani, who is expected to be the National League’s starter next month.
The Baltimore Orioles have significant representation in the voting. Shortstop Gunnar Henderson has 67% of the vote, leading Kansas City’s Bobby Witt Jr. by a 2-to-1 margin. Catcher Adley Rutschman is even more secure with 72% of the vote against Kansas City’s Salvador Perez. However, first baseman Ryan Mountcastle and third baseman Jordan Westburg are trailing Toronto’s Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Cleveland’s José Ramírez, respectively. The only position without an Orioles contender is second base, where Houston’s Jose Altuve leads Texas’ Marcus Semien with 56% of the vote.
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