We are only 41 days away from the 2025 MLB All-Star Game, which will take place on July 15 at Truist Park in Atlanta. Voting officially opened Wednesday at noon ET. Here’s a preview of the ballot — the frontrunners, the contenders and the likeliest outcomes to start the Midsummer Classic.
Remember, the starters are determined by fan vote. This is indeed a popularity contest.
National League
Outfield
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Statistical frontrunners: Pete Crow-Armstrong (CHC), James Wood (WAS), Corbin Carroll (ARI)
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Other contenders: Ronald Acuña Jr. (ATL), Kyle Tucker (CHC), Teoscar Hernández (LAD), Andy Pages (LAD), Juan Soto (NYM), Oneil Cruz (PIT), Fernando Tatis Jr. (SD), Jackson Merrill (SD), Heliot Ramos (SFG), Jung Hoo Lee (SFG), Lars Nootbaar (STL)
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Likely outcome: Crow-Armstrong, Carroll, Acuña
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This group is significantly stronger, deeper and more interesting than what the American League has to offer. Crow-Armstrong and Carroll feel like locks, PCA because of how good the Cubs have played and Carroll because he’s been a staple for a few years now. Wood, in his first full season, certainly deserves that last spot behind his 16 homers, but he’s fighting an uphill battle.
Acuña missed the first seven weeks of the season, but has looked spectacular since returning. The Nats might have a better record than the Braves right now (by a half game), but Acuña’s name recognition, injury comeback storyline and the fact that the All-Star Game is in Atlanta might just push him past Wood.
As for Soto, the $765 million man, the tide is starting to turn. It was an ugly start by his supersonic standards, one that has Soto working from a statistical deficit in regards to an All-Star starting spot. And yet, with three homers in his past four games heading into Wednesday, the Mets outfielder seems to be rounding into form. A classic Soto heater would put him right back in the mix.
Designated hitter
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Statistical frontrunner: Shohei Ohtani (LAD)
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Other contenders: Kyle Schwarber (PHI), Marcell Ozuna (ATL), Seiya Suzuki (CHC)
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Likely outcome: Ohtani
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The man who hit 54 bombs and swiped 59 bags last year hasn’t stolen a base since May 5. Thankfully, Ohtani, whose baserunning passiveness is probably related to his pitching comeback, is still cranking homers. Schwarber, Ozuna and Suzuki have all been outstanding and there’s a good shot they all make the team as reserves, but Ohtani’s numbers are just flat-out better. Oh, he’s also the most famous ballplayer on the planet who will once again dominate the fan vote.
Catcher
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Statistical frontrunner: Will Smith (LAD)
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Other contenders: Carson Kelly (CHC), Drake Baldwin (ATL), Sean Murphy (ATL), Ivan Herrera (STL), Gabriel Moreno (ARI)
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Likely outcome: Smith
Smith has elevated his offense this year, thanks to better health and more days off behind the dish. His numbers lap the rest of this group, but there’s a decent chance Smith decides to skip the festivities. The Dodgers finish the first half in San Francisco and start the second half in L.A., that’s a lot of travel for a player who needs every last bit of rest.
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The rest of this group is really fun, with exciting youngsters (Baldwin and Herrera), an emerging star (Moreno), an encouraging bounce-back (Murphy) and an out-of-nowhere ascension (Kelly).
First base
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Statistical frontrunner: Freddie Freeman (LAD)
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Other contenders: Pete Alonso (NYM), Bryce Harper (PHI), Michael Busch (CHC)
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Likely outcome: Freeman
Last week, I asked Freeman if he was excited to head back to Atlanta, where he spent 12 seasons, for the All-Star Game. He told me that he hadn’t thought about it because he hadn’t been voted in yet. I thought that was hilariously humble, considering how incredible the Dodger first baseman has been this year. Alonso has cooled off slightly after a stellar April, but should be in Atlanta as a reserve.
Second base
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Statistical frontrunner: Brendan Donovan (STL)
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Other contenders: Ketel Marte (ARI), Brice Turang (MIL), Nico Hoerner (CHC)
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Likely outcome: Donovan
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Numbers-wise, it’s not particularly close. Donovan laps all other NL second baseman (except Marte who missed a lot of time with injury) in most offensive categories. He’s been a massive part of St. Louis’ surprising first half. Marte is healthy now and could catch up to Donovan by the end of June. Turang and Hoerner are both amazing defenders with baserunning prowess, bat-to-ball mastery and paltry power numbers.
Shortstop
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Statistical frontrunner: Francisco Lindor (NYM)
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Other contenders: Geraldo Perdomo (ARI), CJ Abrams (WAS), Trea Turner (PHI),
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Likely outcome: Lindor
Somehow, Lindor has never appeared in an All-Star Game as a New York Met. Last season, his snub almost caused a rebellion in Queens. Rest easy, Mets fans, Lindor will run away with the starting spot this go-round. For a while, Perdomo’s stats were comparable to Lindor’s, but Arizona’s gregarious shortstop has cooled off somewhat over the past month.
Third base
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Statistical frontrunners: Manny Machado (SD), Matt Chapman (SF)
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Other contenders: Austin Riley (ATL), Max Muncy (LAD), Eugenio Suárez (ARI)
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Likely outcome: Machado
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This comes down to a matter of personal preference: offense or defense. Machado’s bat has kept San Diego right up there with the mighty Dodgers, while Chapman’s glove has kept San Francisco within striking distance. There’s no bad choice here, but Machado feels like the favorite considering voters dig the long ball.
American League
Outfield
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Statistical frontrunner: Aaron Judge (NYY)
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Other contenders: George Springer (TOR), Steven Kwan (CLE), Riley Greene (DET), Kerry Carpenter (DET), Byron Buxton (MIN), Lawrence Butler (ATH), Trent Grisham (NYY), Julio Rodríguez (SEA)
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Likely outcome: Judge, Kwan, Grisham
Let’s not waste time praising Judge, the best hitter on Earth.
Behind him, it’s a bit of a hodgepodge. Springer is having a fantastic bounce-back offensive campaign, but is such a blah defender now that he’s DH’ed almost as much as he’s been in the grass. Carpenter and Greene have helped propel Detroit to baseball’s best record. The über-talented Buxton has stayed healthy. Butler is an Atlanta native with a .976 OPS over the past month. Julio is still searching for an offensive explosion, but the floor remains high.
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But Kwan and Grisham should have the edge. Kwan led off last year’s All-Star Game and has been just as good this year. Grisham has sustained his shocking breakout and looks poised to ride the Yankee voting wave to a starting spot.
Designated hitter
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Statistical frontrunners: Rafael Devers (BOS), Ryan O’Hearn (BAL)
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Other contenders: Ben Rice (NYY), Brent Rooker (ATH)
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Likely outcome: Devers
The decision to make Devers a full-time DH has caused drama in Boston, but the man himself is thriving. With 12 homers and a .918 OPS, Devers is enjoying a career year. Chucking his glove into the dumpster has done wonders for the big-swinging, chaw-chomping slugger. He’ll cruise to a fan vote victory, but don’t overlook O’Hearn, who currently has the superior statline. The impending free agent has been one of the few bright spots on the catastrophically disappointing Orioles. Only five hitters have a higher OPS: Aaron Judge, Freddie Freeman, Shohei Ohtani, Cal Raleigh and Kyle Schwarber. He might be Baltimore’s lone All-Star.
Catcher
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Statistical frontrunners: Cal Raleigh (SEA)
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Other contenders: Carlos Narváez (BOS), Dillon Dingler (DET), Austin Wells (NYY)
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Likely outcome: Raleigh
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Raleigh is putting together one of the greatest offensive seasons we’ve ever seen from a backstop and is a near lock to start his first All-Star Game. As of Wednesday, his 23 homers were tied with Shohei Ohtani for the MLB lead. In a world without Aaron Judge, he’d be the runaway AL MVP favorite.
With All-Star stalwarts Adley Rutschman and Salvador Perez stuck in the muck, don’t be shocked if an under-the-radar name like Narváez or Dingler sneaks onto the roster.
First base
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Statistical frontrunner: Jonathan Aranda (TB)
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Other contenders: Spencer Torkelson (DET), Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (TOR), Paul Goldschmidt (NYY)
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Likely outcome: Guerrero
Aranda currently leads AL first basemen in OPS (.916) and OPS+ (162), a sentence no one expected to write this year. But he’s (1) not a big name (2) plays for the Rays (3) isn’t that far ahead of these other guys statistically. The narrative juice isn’t there for him to win the fan vote.
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Torkelson, a former No. 1 overall draft pick, was tracking like a bust for a long while. He’s been the best hitter on the team with the best record. At 37 years old, Goldschmidt appeared to be entering the decline phase of a legendary career. Instead, he’s turned back the clock to hit .327 for a Yankee team that tops the AL in most offensive categories.
Still, Guerrero’s fame — and that $500 million extension — will likely win out. Even if his season has been excellent rather than transcendent, the name carries weight and he’s only a few hot weeks away from reasserting himself as the AL’s best first baseman.
Second base
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Statistical frontrunner: Gleyber Torres (DET)
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Other contenders: Brandon Lowe (TB), Jackson Holliday (BAL)
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Likely outcome: Torres
Torres was an All-Star in 2018 and 2019, but spent his final five years in The Bronx failing to recapture that form. This season, his first outside New York, the now-bearded infielder is having an offensive renaissance. Gleyber’s glove is gold in a different way (it looks really heavy when he plays because, boy, he’s a rough defender), but the bat has been so good that it won’t matter. It’s been a nice sophomore year from the 21-year-old Holliday, who could leap into the starting conversation with a strong June.
Shortstop
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Statistical frontrunners: Jeremy Peña (HOU), Jacob Wilson (ATH)
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Other contenders: Bobby Witt Jr. (KC), Gunnar Henderson (BAL), Zach Neto (LAA)
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Likely outcome: Witt
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Right now, Peña vs. Wilson is a statistical toss-up. Peña looks like the dynamic force he teased during the 2022 postseason, while Wilson is a ball-in-play machine and the AL Rookie of the Year frontrunner. Neto, if not for an injury that kept him sidelined until April 18, would be right there.
But Witt’s stardom should win the day. After a runner-up MVP finish in 2024, Witt has taken a modest step back, and yet, still has a line that most players would kill for (.287/.346/.494 with 20 steals and elite defense). He’s a household name and should be the starter in Atlanta unless he forgets how to play baseball between now and then.
Third base
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Statistical frontrunner: José Ramírez (CLE)
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Other contenders: Maikel Garcia (KC), Isaac Paredes (HOU), Junior Caminero (TB), Zack McKinstry (DET), Alex Bregman (BOS)
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Likely outcome: Ramírez
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Had Bregman not gotten injured, he might have challenged Ramírez for this spot. Instead, it will be the Guardians’ talisman starting the All-Star Game at the hot corner for the fourth time. Ramírez currently has the highest OPS+ of his career, which is outrageous considering he’ll have a plaque in Cooperstown some day.
Among the other contenders, Caminero is the most intriguing name. The 21-year-old already has 14 long balls and would be an exhilarating presence in the Home Run Derby.
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