The MLB All-Star game is all set to take off on 15th July in Atlanta. Fans have voted and can’t wait to see their favorite players on the diamond. The player ballot took place. Yes, the one in which MLB players, coaches, and managers select reserve players and pitchers. This side of voting showed a big difference. And you will be surprised to see the results!
Let’s get started with the NL first basemen choice. There were two players, NYM Pete Alonso and Dodgers Freeman. Do you know who got the most votes? It’s Alonso with 528 votes, while Freddie Freeman came in second with 362. In the fan poll, on the other hand, Freeman got 2,095,672 votes. While Alonso only got 1,536,04. Interesting, isn’t it? Well, there’s more.
When voting results were shared by an MLB insider on his X, we also got quite amused, like you. Pete Crow-Armstrong came in #1 among NL outfielders with 636 votes. Kyle Tucker was second with 471 votes, followed by James Wood with 451, Corbin Carroll with 418, and Acuna with 404. While fans ranked Ronald Acuna Jr. much higher, giving him 1,888,867 votes, making him a top outfielder. Even though he joined the Braves on May 23rd.
Player all-star voting results. Always interesting.
Why is Juan Soto not an all-star, for example? Wasn’t voted onto the team by either the players or the fans. pic.twitter.com/1g418s29ao
— Jayson Stark (@jaysonst) July 6, 2025
Jonathan Aranda received 653 votes in the player ballot to be named the best AL first baseman. And do you know who he surpassed? Vladimir Guerrero Jr. On the contrary, he was the fan favourite, which got him a place in the MLB All-Star AL roster. Well, this year’s voting for the MLB All-Star game has stunned baseball enthusiasts. Did you forget Seiya Suzuki’s not being part of the team?
He is the Cubs’ finest DH, led MLB with 77 RBIs and 25 home runs. And still, he is nowhere to be found in the NL team. Why? Fans chose Shohei Ohtani as the NL’s starting pitcher. And Kyle Schwarber as DH over Suzuki.
After all the commotion over fan and player voting. The focus turned to an even larger surprise… the “Legend Pick.”
MLB honors Kershaw’s legacy with Commissioner-chosen All‑Star spot
The MLB All-Star Game selection process highlights the differences between fans and players. So, Commissioner Rob Manfred’s “Legend Pick” of Clayton Kershaw was a pleasant surprise. It was a rare chance to honor true greatness at the right time.
Manfred used his extraordinary selection power to add Kershaw to the NL team. Even though he hasn’t played much this season. Kershaw has only started nine games, with a 4–0 record and has a 3.43 ERA. But there’s no doubt he has been one of the greatest pitcher on the mound.
And recently, a defining moment became a highlight reel of his career. Kershaw became the 20th pitcher in MLB history to achieve 3,000 career strikeouts on July 2, 2025. Yup! A milestone that puts him 4th in the list of left arm pitchers with 3000 strikeouts.
When asked about his MLB All-Star selection, he was grateful. He said, “I’m super honored to get to go… You never take for granted getting to go to an All-Star Game.” And not only him, but even Dave Roberts was quite happy about it, too. He said, “It’s something that’s earned over a long period of time… what he’s done for the game, on and off the field.”
This MLB All-Star reveals that fans, players, and even the Commissioner all have their own takes. But Rob Manfred’s Legend Pick of Kershaw brought them all together. By the way, who’s your All-Star player?
The post MLB All-Star Player Vote Snubs Ronald Acuna Jr. & Freddie Freeman as Peers Make Surprising Picks appeared first on EssentiallySports.
