Los Angeles Angels superstar Shohei Ohtani was named to the 2023 Major League Baseball All-Star Game after leading the American League following Phase one of fan voting.
Ohtani received 2,646,307 votes, earning the nod as the starting designated hitter for the AL squad. This is Ohtani’s third straight All-Star Game selection.
The 28-year-old is in the heart of one of his best offensive seasons, posting a .993 on-base plus slugging heading into play on June 23. Ohtani’s continued success on the field was recognized by the fans, who propelled him into the Midsummer Classic with his third straight fan vote selection.
“I would like to thank all the fans that voted for me,” Ohtani said. “This is a huge honor. I will use this as motivation and will continue to give it my all on the field.”
Ohtani joins fellow Angels Mike Trout in 2019 and Rod Carew in 1979, who also led the AL in fan voting. He’s the 10th Angels player in club history to earn three All-Star Game selections as a position player.
So far this season, Ohtani has racked up 2.9 fWAR, while currently leading MLB with a wRC+ of 168. His .616 slugging percentage is the top mark in the league, headed by his MLB-best 24 home runs, and 58 RBI.
Mike Trout leading outfielders alongside Shohei Ohtani
Trout is the second leading vote-getter among AL outfielders with 1,174,001 votes, which means he advances to Phase 2 of the voting. New York Yankees’ outfielder Aaron Judge leads the outfield group with 1,584,254.
The Angels center fielder is a regular name in the Midsummer Classic. Trout has made the All-Star Game in every season since becoming a full-time starter in 2012.
With another selection, he would become just the fourth player in AL history to earn 10 fan elections with one club, joining Hall of Famers Cal Ripken Jr. (BAL, 17), George Brett (KC, 11) and Ken Griffey Jr. (SEA, 10).
Phase 2 voting, which is available exclusively online and via mobile devices at MLB.com/vote, all 30 club websites, the MLB App and the MLB Ballpark App, will give fans the opportunity to vote among the finalists at each position during a four-day window that concludes at 9:00 a.m. PT on Thursday, June 29th.
Later that night, the winners will be announced at 4:00 p.m. PT on ESPN. Fans have the opportunity to vote once per day during this second phase of voting, with daily voting limits resetting each day at 9:00 P.m. PT.
During Phase 2, vote totals will reset (i.e., vote totals from Phase 1 do not carry over) and the winner at each position (including three outfielders in the AL; and two remaining outfielders in the NL) will be named a starting position player for the 2023 Midsummer Classic.
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