The MLB All-Star Game is just a few weeks away, with Coors Field in Denver, Colorado getting a chance to host the Midsummer Classic on July 13. In the first returns of voting, Shohei Ohtani and Mike Trout held clear leads at their positions with several other Los Angeles Angels players threatening to enter the top three. Nothing significant has changed between then and now.
The voting format has changed for the 2021 All-Star Game, as discussed with the prior returns. Currently, votes are being tallied to finalize a top three that will face off in a secondary voting process. From there, the winner of the top three will be the representative at the All-Star Game.
Angels are all over the place in the second voting returns, but it’s Trout and Ohtani that remain heads and shoulders above the rest, via Jeff Fletcher of The O.C. Register:
Shohei Ohtani and (injured) Mike Trout are still leading in All-Star voting. Jared Walsh still on the bubble for the 3-man run-off. pic.twitter.com/ROW1bC1yE2
— Jeff Fletcher (@JeffFletcherOCR) June 21, 2021
Ohtani appears to be a lock for the All-Star Game with his lead at the designated hitter position. He also may pitch, but that’s nothing more than rumors at this point. Meanwhile, if Trout is healthy in time, he will undoubtedly be the starting center fielder for the American League.
The closest Angels player to making the top three is — without surprise — Jared Walsh. Walsh currently sits in fourth place, just one spot out of the runoff vote, and is approximately 72,000 votes behind 2020 AL MVP Jose Abreu.
Meanwhile, Kurt Suzuki — the Angels only qualified catcher due to games played — is fifth among catchers. He is about 120,000 votes behind third place catcher and former Angel Martin Maldonado. David Fletcher is also in fifth place among qualified second basemen, and sits 104,000 votes behind DJ LeMahieu.
Continuing the trend, Anthony Rendon — who has missed a number of games due to injury — is in fifth place of a crowded third base group. He is likely out of the race, as he is 180,000 votes behind Yoan Moncada for third place. Jose Iglesias — who’s defensive highlights would be perfect for an All-Star Game — is sixth among shortstops, but is 210,000 votes behind Carlos Correa.
To round out the Angels appearing on the second voting returns, Justin Upton is ranked No. 14 among outfielders. For outfielders, the top nine get selected for the second voting round, meaning Upton is five spots and 170,000 votes behind Cedric Mullens, who currently occupies the No. 9 spot.
Even though only two Angels players are possibly going to be represented in the game itself, the team is certainly making their mark in voting.
Ohtani to compete in Home Run Derby
If the All-Star Game wasn’t enough of Ohtani for fans, he’ll also be competing in the Home Run Derby the day before. He announced the decision himself on his Instagram, making history in a number of different ways.
