The new two-step voting process for the 2019 MLB All-Star Game starting position players is complete. First, a general election was held to select three finalists at each position in each league. Here are those results. A second vote then selected the starters at each position from the three finalists.
The second vote was a 28-hour dash from 12 p.m. ET Wednesday to 4 p.m. ET Thursday. MLB officially announced the voting results during a live ESPN broadcast Thursday evening. Here are the 2019 MLB All-Star Game starters as elected by the fans.
American League
Catcher: Gary Sanchez, Yankees
Leading all catchers in home runs -- by five! -- lands Sanchez his second career All-Star Game selection and his first start. He was picked for the 2017 All-Star Game as well.
Here are the catcher voting results:
- Gary Sanchez, Yankees: 47.1 percent
- James McCann, White Sox: 33.1 percent
- Robinson Chirinos, Astros: 19.8 percent
First base: Carlos Santana, Indians
The All-Star Game is in Cleveland this year and the Indians faithful will get to root for a hometown starter. Believe it or not, this is Santana's first career All-Star Game selection. Among active players, only Mark Reynolds, Rajai Davis, Gerardo Parra, and Kendrys Morales had played more regular season games without an All-Star Game selection than Santana.
Here are the first base voting results:
Second base: DJ LeMahieu, Yankees
Despite not starting on Opening Day, LeMahieu is an All-Star for the third time and an All-Star starter for the second time. He started at second base for the National League in 2015. LeMahieu is the fourth player to start the All-Star Game at second base in each league.
Having already started with the Rockies in 2015, DJ LeMahieu would be the fourth second baseman to start the All-Star Game for both leagues
— James Smyth (@JamesSmyth621) June 27, 2019
Johnny Temple CIN/CLE
Manny Trillo PHI/CLE
Steve Sax LAD/NYY
Kind of an odd group
Here are the second base voting results:
- DJ LeMahieu, Yankees: 38.0 percent
- Tommy La Stella, Angels: 31.5 percent
- Jose Altuve, Astros: 30.5 percent
Shortstop: Jorge Polanco, Twins
It has been a good few months for Polanco. He inked a five-year, $25 million extension in spring training, and he's currently enjoying a breakout season with the first place Twins. This is Polanco's first All-Star Game selection.
Here are the shortstop voting results:
- Jorge Polanco, Twins: 42.0 percent
- Gleyber Torres, Yankees: 31.2 percent
- Carlos Correa, Astros: 26.8 percent
Third base: Alex Bregman, Astros
Last year's All-Star Game MVP is heading to the All-Star Game as a starter this year. Four years into his career, Bregman has two All-Star Game selections, one World Series ring, and a $100 million contract. Things could be worse.
Here are the third base voting results:
- Alex Bregman, Astros: 49.1 percent
- Hunter Dozier, Royals: 27.6 percent
- Gio Urshela, Yankees: 23.3 percent
Outfield: Mike Trout, Angels; George Springer, Astros; Michael Brantley, Astros
Make it eight straight All-Star Game selections and seven straight starting assignments for Trout, the game's best player. Springer and Brantley are the third set of teammates to start in the AL All-Star outfield, joining Alex Gordon and Lorenzo Cain (2015 Royals), and Mookie Betts and Jackie Bradley Jr. (2016 Red Sox). Brantley played the first 10 years of his career in Cleveland and should get a warm reception.
Here are the outfield voting results:
- Mike Trout*, Angels: 25.5 percent
- George Springer, Astros: 15.7 percent
- Michael Brantley, Astros: 10.8 percent
- Aaron Judge, Yankees: 9.9 percent
- Mookie Betts, Red Sox: 9.1 percent
- Eddie Rosario, Twins: 8.9 percent
- Joey Gallo, Rangers: 7.8 percent
- Austin Meadows, Rays: 6.5 percent
- Josh Reddick, Astros: 5.9 percent
*Trout was the top MLB vote-getter during the 28-hour starters election.
Designated Hitter: Hunter Pence, Rangers
What a story. Pence looked completely done last season, then he went to winter ball and retooled his swing, won a roster spot as a non-roster invitee to spring training, and now he'll (deservedly) start the All-Star Game for the first time in his career. Incredible. This is the fourth All-Star Game for Pence.
Here are the designated hitter voting results:
- Hunter Pence, Rangers: 46.7 percent
- J.D. Martinez, Red Sox: 31.2 percent
- Nelson Cruz, Twins: 22.0 percent
National League
Catcher: Willson Contreras, Cubs
It has been nearly a century since a Cubs catcher started back-to-back All-Star Games. Contreras is the first to do it since Hall of Famer Gabby Hartnett in 1936-37. Contreras leads all NL catchers in OPS and is second in home runs.
Here are the catcher voting results:
- Willson Contreras, Cubs: 44.6 percent
- Brian McCann, Braves: 33.0 percent
- Yasmani Grandal, Brewers: 22.4 percent
First base: Freddie Freeman, Braves
Somehow this is only the fourth All-Star Game selection in Freeman's 10-year big league career. I would've guessed he had more. It is his second consecutive starting nod. Freeman is second among all first basemen in OPS.
Here are the first base voting results:
- Freddie Freeman, Braves: 38.5 percent
- Josh Bell, Pirates: 37.4 percent
- Anthony Rizzo, Cubs: 24.1 percent
Second base: Ketel Marte, Diamondbacks
A breakout power season lands Marte in the All-Star Game for the first time. Oftentimes the All-Star Game voting is a popularity contest and fans stuff the ballot for their favorite team's players. Hey, that's totally cool. That's what it's all about. Props to the fans for recognizing Marte's greatness and voting him into the All-Star Game though.
Here are the second base voting results:
- Ketel Marte, Diamondbacks: 39.2 percent
- Ozzie Albies, Braves: 34.3 percent
- Mike Moustakas, Brewers: 26.5 percent
Shortstop: Javier Baez, Cubs
One year after starting at second base, Baez starts at shortstop for the NL. He is fourth player to start the All-Star Game at second and short, and the first to do it in back-to-back years.
Javier Báez is currently leading NL SS in All-Star voting.
— Sarah Langs (@SlangsOnSports) June 11, 2019
He started at 2B for the NL last year.
Only 2 players have started an All-Star game at 2B & SS in their careers: Bobby Grich (2 at 2B, 1 at SS) and Granny Hamner (1 at each).
Neither did it in back-to-back years.
Here are the shortstop voting results:
- Javier Baez, Cubs: 43.3 percent
- Trevor Story, Rockies: 29.3 percent
- Dansby Swanson, Braves: 27.4 percent
Third base: Nolan Arenado, Rockies
Make it three consecutive All-Star Game starts for Arenado. He is the first NL third baseman voted into the starting lineup in three straight years since Scott Rolen started four straight All-Star Games from 2002-05.
Here are the third base voting results:
- Nolan Arenado, Rockies: 51.9 percent
- Josh Donaldson, Braves: 25.1 percent
- Kris Bryant, Cubs: 23.0 percent
Outfield: Christian Yelich, Brewers; Cody Bellinger, Dodgers; Ronald Acuna Jr., Braves
My goodness, what an outfield. That's the reigning NL MVP, the odds-on favorite for this year's NL MVP, and maybe the best young outfielder in baseball today. By age, this is the third youngest All-Star starting outfield in history.
From @EliasSports, the NL starting outfield of Yelich-Bellinger-Acuña Jr. will be the third-youngest starting outfield in the history of the All-Star Game (combined age on July 9). pic.twitter.com/7TykJftAIb
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) June 28, 2019
Here are the outfield voting results:
- Christian Yelich, Brewers: 22.3 percent
- Cody Bellinger, Dodgers: 21.0 percent
- Ronald Acuna Jr., Braves: 15.0 percent
- Charlie Blackmon, Rockies: 12.6 percent
- Nick Markakis, Braves: 8.0 percent
- Jason Heyward, Cubs: 6.5 percent
- Kyle Schwarber, Cubs: 5.3 percent
- Albert Almora, Cubs: 5.0 percent
- Joc Pederson, Dodgers: 4.0 percent
As a reminder, pitchers do not hit in the All-Star Game, though there is no fan voting for the National League DH. NL manager Dave Roberts is free to pick his starting DH from the players selected to the All-Star Game. Also, Roberts and AL manager Alex Cora will select the starting pitchers. Fans don't get to vote on those. The rest of the 2019 MLB All-Star rosters will be revealed Sunday night.
The 2019 All-Star Game will be played Tuesday, July 9, at Progressive Field in Cleveland. The Futures Game will be played Sunday, July 7, and the Home Run Derby will take place Monday, July 8.