Freeman, Braves lead way in 1st NL All-Star ballot update
The National League's lineup at this year's All-Star Game could have a distinct Atlanta feel to it.
Major League Baseball's first All-Star balloting update for the National League was released on Monday, and a trio of Braves - first baseman Freddie Freeman, second baseman Ozzie Albies, and outfielder Nick Markakis - are among the leading vote-getters at their respective positions.
Freeman, aiming to make his third All-Star appearance and his second as a starter, has garnered an NL-best 633,342 votes to date, and sits nearly 400,000 ahead of Chicago Cubs star Anthony Rizzo among first basemen. The 21-year-old Albies, meanwhile, holds a narrow lead on Chicago's Javier Baez at second base.
As for Markakis, he's comfortably ahead of the Los Angeles Dodgers' Matt Kemp for second place among NL outfielders, with only a few thousand votes separating him and the Washington Nationals' Bryce Harper. Despite tallying over 2,100 hits during his impressive 13-year career, the 34-year-old Markakis has never appeared in the Midsummer Classic.
Here's a look at the top vote-getters for each position in the National League:
| Pos. | Player | Votes | 2nd Place (Votes) |
|---|---|---|---|
| C | Buster Posey | 281331 | Willson Contreras (259427) |
| 1B | Freddie Freeman | 633342 | Anthony Rizzo (248275) |
| 2B | Ozzie Albies | 398816 | Javier Baez (360307) |
| 3B | Nolan Arenado | 527683 | Kris Bryant (305062) |
| SS | Brandon Crawford | 466021 | Dansby Swanson (225182) |
| OF | Bryce Harper | 498189 | Charlie Blackmon (309099) |
| OF | Nick Markakis | 494206 | Ronald Acuna Jr. (277077) |
| OF | Matt Kemp | 309099 | Ender Inciarte (225225) |
(Courtesy: MLB Communications)
The first American League voting update will be revealed by MLB on Tuesday.