Early MLB All-Star voting is underway. As of today, Yankees slugger Aaron Judge leads all votes with 1,512,368 (and counting). He is followed by Mookie Betts of the Dodgers with 1,446,050 (and counting).
The 2022 Chevrolet MLB All-Star Ballot, which is available exclusively online and via mobile devices at MLB.com, all 30 Club websites and the MLB App, will be accessible until the voting period for Phase 1 concludes at 2:00 p.m. ET on Thursday, June 30th. During the initial voting period, fans can submit up to five ballots per 24-hour period on MLB platforms.
Let’s face it, there is no surprise that Judge is leading the voting. He is having a monster year. He leads all of baseball with 27 home runs. He is on pace to be the Yankees single-season leader, surpassing Roger “freakin” Maris. Judge also plays in the biggest media market in the land — Empire State — and for the most popular franchise in baseball history. It’s all lining up perfect for Judge right now. And rightfully so, the Yankess low-balled his contract offer in the offseason, now they are going to have to come off of their coins in a big way and make him the highest paid player in the history of the game to keep him in pinstripes.
Following behind Judge is Mookie Betts. The Dodgers outfielder, and BBM recognized best Black player in the game, is on the injured list right now with a cracked rib. Mookie being on the shelf may make the way for Braves outfielder Rondald Acuña Jr. to make up some ground. Acuña has approximately 1.4 million votes. If Betts makes the all-star team in 2022 it will be his sixth all-star game in the last seven years.
Other notable BBM players to watch in the early all-star balloting: Blue Jays George Springer (622,063, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (947,045 votes), Rafael Devers, Red Sox (727,669), Tim Anderson, White Sox (528,278), Giancarlo Stanton, Yankees (504,537), Byron Buxton, Twins (403,050), Michael Brantley, Astros (287,284), Shohei Ohtani, Angels (555,056), Jazz Chisholm Jr., Marlins (634,762), Ozzie Albies, Braves (589,804), Manny Machado, Padres (969,582), Juan Soto, Nationals (451,079) — also noted, the ultra-popular Fernando Tatis Jr, even being out all season with a fractured wrist, has over 165,000 votes, putting him fifth among NL shortstops.
The leading vote-getter in the American League and National League after Phase 1 — which ends on June 30 — will receive a spot in their All-Star team’s starting lineup. Aside from those two players, the top two vote-getters at every position, and the top six outfielders, will advance to the finals of voting. If an outfielder is a league’s leading vote-getter, only the next four outfield finalists will move on to Phase 2 to determine who starts at the two remaining spots.
So you know what they say: Vote Early, and Vote Often.
