The Braves' Ozzie Albies leads the fan polling in the most-contested race of the NL All-Star ballot, the league revealed Tuesday.
Albies leads all second basemen with 424,467 votes. He’s followed closely by the Milwaukee’s Mike Moustakas (377,983), Arizona’s Ketel Marte (327,269), Philadelphia’s Cesar Hernandez (265,608) and L.A.’s Enrique Hernandez (244,589).
It is the only infield position in which five players have at least 200,000 votes.
At least four other Braves are among the top three vote-getters at their positions.
Catcher Brian McCann with 269,963 votes trails the Cubs’ Willson Contreras with 850,613 total votes.
The Pirate's Josh Bell is the leading contender (621,915) at first base over the Cubs' Anthony Rizzo (461,210) and Atlanta's Freddie Freeman (406,283), who started last year's midsummer classic.
Shortstop Dansby Swanson has the second most votes (286,802) behind the Cubs’ Javier Baez (861,496).
Reigning Rookie of the Year Ronald Acuna is a distant third in the outfield category behind the Dodgers’ Cody Bellinger (1,189,380) and Christian Yelich of the Brewers (1,057,855) — the only two players in either league to have received more than one million fan votes.
Third baseman Josh Donaldson and outfielder Nick Markakis and Ender Inciarte are outside the margin of having a starting chance.
First-round voting ends at 4 p.m. June 21.
The top three vote-getters at each position — including nine outfielders — will move on to the second-round of voting that runs from Noon Wednesday, June 26, to 4 p.m. Thursday, June 27. Starters will be announced the evening of June 27. Pitching selections will be made public Sunday, June 30.
The 2019 All-Star game will be played Tuesday, July 9, in Cleveland.
Four Braves made the All-Star roster in 2018. Freeman and Markakis were starters. Pitcher Mike Foltynewicz was the third hurler used by the NL, while Albies entered at second in the sixth inning.
Here are the leading vote-getters in 2019. (Braves players in BOLD):
CATCHER
1. Willson Contreras, Cubs, 850,613
2. Brian McCann, Braves, 269,963
3. J.T. Realmuto, Phillies, 206,442
4. Yadier Molina, Cardinals, 202,401
5. Yasmani Grandal, Brewers, 195,922
FIRST BASE
1. Josh Bell, Pirates, 621,915
2. Anthony Rizzo, Cubs, 461,210
3. Freddie Freeman, Braves, 406,283
4. Max Muncy, Dodgers, 232,583
5. Pete Alonso, Mets, 157,347
SECOND BASE
1. Ozzie Albies, Braves, 424,467
2. Mike Moustakas, Brewers, 377,983
3. Ketel Marte, D-backs, 327,269
4. Cesar Hernandez, Phillies, 265,608
5. Enrique Hernandez, Dodgers, 244,589
THIRD BASE
1. Nolan Arenado, Rockies, 783,684
2. Kris Bryant, Cubs, 404,855
3. Justin Turner, Dodgers, 273,586
4. Josh Donaldson, Braves, 206,588
5. Anthony Rendon, Nationals, 178,215
SHORTSTOP
1. Javier Baez, Cubs, 861,496
2. Dansby Swanson, Braves, 286,802
3. Corey Seager, Dodgers, 257,085
4. Trevor Story, Rockies, 243,550
5. Jean Segura, Phillies, 138,716
OUTFIELD
1. Cody Bellinger, Dodgers, 1,189,380
2. Christian Yelich, Brewers, 1,057,855
3. Ronald Acuna, Braves, 518,760
4. Joc Pederson, Dodgers, 344,440
5. Albert Almora Jr., Cubs, 294,445
6. Charlie Blackmon, Rockies, 278,070
7. Jason Heyward, Cubs, 270,745
8. Kyle Schwarber, Cubs, 252,557
9. Alex Verdugo, Dodgers, 242,988
10. Bryce Harper, Phillies, 242,719
11. Nick Markakis, Braves, 232,995
16. Ender Inciarte, Braves, 125,442
