NEW YORK — Aaron Judge being a runaway All-Star is hardly news for the Yankees. The captain leads his position in the polls even while hurt, as he does almost every year. The real intrigue this time lies everywhere else on the ballot.
The first update of the 2026 All-Star fan voting dropped on June 15, and it told a fascinating story about the rest of the Yankees roster. Some players are surging, one is being stunningly overlooked, and a few are lurking just outside the cutoff.
For a team carrying the best record in the American League, the voting reflects both deserved recognition and a head-scratching snub.
Judge leads the way as expected
Start with the obvious for the Yankees. Judge tops all American League outfielders with 977,460 votes, comfortably ahead of the field despite being sidelined by a rib injury.
His grip on a starting spot speaks to his stature in the game. Even an extended absence has not dented his standing among fans, and he remains the safest bet on the entire Yankees ballot to start in Philadelphia next month.
But Judge is only the beginning of the story, not the whole of it.
The Ben Rice snub that defies logic
Ben Rice has arguably been the best first baseman in the American League, yet he is not leading his position.
Rice sits second among AL first basemen with 509,830 votes, trailing Toronto’s Vladimir Guerrero Jr., who holds 603,014. That is a gap of more than 90,000 votes, and the production behind the two players makes it baffling.
Rice has been sensational, hitting .293 with 19 home runs, 47 RBIs, and a .998 OPS across 65 games. Guerrero, by contrast, is enduring a down year, batting .280 with just three home runs, 27 RBIs, and a .738 OPS.
The advanced metrics underline the divide. Rice carries a 2.3 WAR to Guerrero’s 0.7, a sizable difference for two players competing at the same position. The result has fueled debate about fan voting and the pull of larger market and fan bases.
Rice has only kept building his case in real time. His most recent highlight came on a go-ahead two-run homer that powered the Yankees to an 8-3 win over Guerrero’s Blue Jays, clinching a rare series victory in Toronto. He has been the Yankees’ best hitter throughout Judge’s absence, and he was arguably their top bat even before the captain went down.
Bellinger climbs the outfield ranks
Judge is not the only Yankees outfielder making noise on the ballot. Cody Bellinger has quietly built a strong case of his own.
Bellinger ranks third among American League outfielders with 533,842 votes, trailing only Judge and the Angels’ Mike Trout. Since the top three outfielders earn starting nods, Bellinger is currently in line to join Judge in the AL outfield.
That would give the Yankees two starting outfielders, a notable feat for a team that has leaned on Bellinger heavily during its injury crunch.
Bellinger has rewarded that trust with steady production at the plate and elite defense across the outfield. His climb up the ballot suggests fans have noticed how central he has been to keeping the Yankees afloat without Judge.
A crowded middle of the pack
Beyond the leaders, several Yankees are hovering in the thick of their position races. The names show just how deep the roster has voted.
Jazz Chisholm Jr. sits fifth among AL second basemen with 230,846 votes, in a group led by Blue Jays infielder Ernie Clement. Jose Caballero is ninth among shortstops at 127,115, a reflection of his popularity as a versatile spark plug.
On the infield corners, Ryan McMahon is 10th among third basemen with 92,275 votes. Behind the plate, Austin Wells ranks 10th among AL catchers at 96,365 as he works back from injury.
None of those players are positioned to start, but their presence on the leaderboard signals a fan base that is voting up and down the Yankees lineup.
Stanton and the DH race
The designated hitter race offers another Yankees name worth watching. Giancarlo Stanton appears despite barely playing this season.
Stanton is fourth among AL designated hitters with 160,727 votes, trailing runaway leader Yordan Alvarez of Houston. For a slugger who has been limited by a calf injury, simply ranking that high reflects his enduring popularity and reputation for power.
It is a reminder that name recognition carries weight in fan voting, the same dynamic that has helped Guerrero stay ahead of Rice.
What the ballot means for the Yankees
Put it all together, and the Yankees have a compelling voting story unfolding. Judge and Bellinger are positioned to start, while Rice has a strong case being undercut by the popularity contest.
There is still time for the standings to shift before voting advances to its next phase. A late push could lift Rice past Guerrero and pull some of the middle-tier Yankees closer to contention.
The bigger takeaway is that this Yankees team has earned widespread All-Star consideration, even with Judge missing time and injuries piling up. The depth that has kept them atop the division is now showing up on the ballot.
As the campaign rolls on, Yankees fans have plenty of reasons to keep voting. Judge may be a lock, but the most interesting races, especially the fight to get Rice the recognition he deserves, are only just heating up.
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