Major League Baseball unveiled its finalists for the 2026 All-Star Game starting spots on Thursday following the first phase of voting.
Los Angeles Dodgers two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani and Toronto Blue Jays second baseman Ernie Clement both earned automatic starting spots in July's Midsummer Classic after leading their respective leagues in votes in Phase 1. Ohtani led all players with 3,341,257 votes, while Clement garnered an American League-high 3,232,932 votes.
Although this is the second consecutive season and third time since 2023 that Ohtani has led his league in voting through the first phase, it's the first time his vote total has topped the majors.
Ohtani earned his sixth consecutive All-Star start at DH by hitting .295/.414/.549 with 17 homers and 46 RBIs in 2026. He could also potentially start on the mound, as he owns a 1.58 ERA and 0.90 WHIP with 86 strikeouts across 13 outings as a pitcher.
Clement will be making his first career All-Star appearance after a runaway victory at second base in the Junior Circuit. He was the only AL player to receive 3 million votes.
Once a backup who was cut by multiple teams before landing in Toronto, Clement broke out last October with a remarkable playoff performance for the AL champion Blue Jays. In 77 games this year, the 30-year-old is hitting .292/.313/.437 with seven homers, 28 RBIs, and an AL-best 20 doubles.
"It's a really cool honor," Clement said, according to Sportsnet's Arden Zwelling. "I feel the love from Canada and all the Blue Jays fans. It means a lot."
The top two vote-getters from the first phase at all other positions (top six in the outfield) will now face off in Phase 2 for the right to start in this year's All-Star Game on July 14 at Philadelphia's Citizens Bank Park. All vote totals will be reset prior to Phase 2, which runs from Monday at noon ET until July 2 at noon.
Last year's World Series participants dominated Phase 1. Both the Dodgers and Blue Jays have at least one finalist at every position, with Toronto boasting a league-high seven finalists.
The starters for both leagues, as well as the All-Star reserves and pitchers, will be announced July 4.
* indicates player is currently injured
Catcher
AL
| Player | Team |
|---|---|
| Shea Langeliers | Athletics |
| Alejandro Kirk | Blue Jays |
NL
| Player | Team |
|---|---|
| Drake Baldwin | Braves |
| Will Smith* | Dodgers |
First Base
AL
| Player | Team |
|---|---|
| Vladimir Guerrero Jr. | Blue Jays |
| Ben Rice | Yankees |
NL
| Player | Team |
|---|---|
| Freddie Freeman | Dodgers |
| Matt Olson | Braves |
Second Base
NL
| Player | Team |
|---|---|
| Ozzie Albies | Braves |
| Bryson Stott | Phillies |
Third Base
AL
| Player | Team |
|---|---|
| Junior Caminero | Rays |
| Kazuma Okamoto | Blue Jays |
NL
| Player | Team |
|---|---|
| Max Muncy | Dodgers |
| Alec Bohm | Phillies |
Shortstop
AL
| Player | Team |
|---|---|
| Bobby Witt Jr. | Royals |
| Andrés Giménez | Blue Jays |
NL
| Player | Team |
|---|---|
| CJ Abrams | Nationals |
| Mookie Betts | Dodgers |
Outfield
AL
| Player | Team |
|---|---|
| Aaron Judge* | Yankees |
| Mike Trout* | Angels |
| Byron Buxton | Twins |
| Cody Bellinger | Yankees |
| Daulton Varsho | Blue Jays |
| Jesús Sánchez | Blue Jays |
NL
| Player | Team |
|---|---|
| Andy Pages | Dodgers |
| Brandon Marsh | Phillies |
| Ronald Acuña Jr.* | Braves |
| Teoscar Hernández* | Dodgers |
| Juan Soto | Mets |
| Michael Harris II | Braves |
Designated hitter
AL
| Player | Team |
|---|---|
| Yordan Alvarez | Astros |
| George Springer | Blue Jays |
