Abrams atop All-Star voting ... but where's Wood? Nats pitch their OF star

*Read our story* on the balloting format, which includes two phases of fan voting to determine the All-Star starters.

WASHINGTON -- When the updated 2026 All-Star Game ballots were announced on Monday, Nationals manager Blake Butera was pleased to see CJ Abrams’ performance reflected in his leading National League shortstops in votes.

What did make Butera raise an eyebrow, though, was James Wood ranking seventh in NL outfielder voting. The top six outfielders advance to Phase 2 of the voting.

“It does not surprise me that CJ is leading for shortstops. I think it's very much deserved, and I think he should be in that position,” Butera said prior to the Nationals’ 7-3 win over the Royals on Monday at Nationals Park. “The surprise is Woody at seventh. I don't know what else he needs to do. [He has the] second-best OPS in baseball behind Shohei [Ohtani], I believe, at age 23. Defense has been better this year. That one, I don't really understand.”

Abrams (579,796) has a 12,230-vote lead over Dodgers shortstop Mookie Betts (567,566) in a close race. Abrams has separated himself on the statistical leaderboards, too.

Entering Monday, Abrams ranked first among NL shortstops in home runs, RBIs, OPS, weighted runs created plus (wRC+), weighted on-base average (wOBA), on-base percentage and slugging percentage. He ranked second in extra-base hits.

“To be leading the All-Star vote at the shortstop position is not easy,” Butera said. “And what he's done offensively has been unbelievable for that demanding of a position.”

Abrams has improved his walk rate from 5.8% last season to a career-best 9.7% this season. He also has posted a career-best barrel rate (10.5%) and airball rate (64.2%). Abrams’ 35.3% chase rate is tied with his career average.

“He's such a smart player that he kind of knows which at-bats he's going to get challenged and which ones maybe he needs to lay off some pitches,” said Butera.

With 431,607 votes, Wood trails the Dodgers’ Andy Pages (800,496), Braves’ Ronald Acuna Jr. (693,472), Phillies’ Brandon Marsh (668,191), Braves’ Michael Harris II (635,473), Dodgers’ Teoscar Hernandez (507,625) and Cardinals’ Jordan Walker (437,071).

His offensive numbers put him at the top. Wood entered Monday leading all players in runs scored, was first among all NL players in walks and first among NL outfielders in home runs, on-base percentage, OPS, extra-base hits, wRC+ and wOBA.

The 6-foot-6 Wood is the only player in baseball with 20 home runs and 10 stolen bases. He leads all players in barrels and ranks second in average exit velocity. Wood has appeared in every game this season, whether in the outfield or as the designated hitter.

“I think Woody is very, very much deserving to not only be a definite All-Star Game participant, but also he should be in the MVP conversation as well,” said Butera. “And anyone that's in the MVP conversation up there at the top should, I believe, be in the All-Star Game.”

Wood, who does not turn 24 until Sept. 17, is on pace for 45 home runs and 130 walks this season. Among the elite players who have achieved that mark, Babe Ruth was the youngest at age-25 in 1920 (54 home runs, 150 walks).

“I think when you just look across the league and the names that he's compared with, it seems like you always hear Ohtani and whoever it might be, Mike Trout, some of these really good hitters that have done some pretty incredible things in the game,” said Butera. “It’s always like he's in the top five, and the other four names are guys that have been in the big leagues for like 10 years or are eight years older than him.

“So when you see his name and you look at everybody else and you're like, ‘Wait a second, something's not the same here’ -- and it's, ‘James is only 23,’ it’s just amazing. It really is.”

The Nationals have not had an All-Star starter voted in by fans since Bryce Harper in 2018. Abrams and Wood are in contention to join Harper (2013, 2015-18), Ryan Zimmerman (2017), Daniel Murphy (2017) and Alfonso Soriano (2006).

Fans can submit up to five ballots per day on MLB platforms. Phase one voting ends June 25 at 12 p.m. ET. The finalists will be announced that night at 6 p.m. ET on MLB Network. Starters will be determined in the second phase of voting, which runs June 29-July 2. The All-Star starters will be announced July 4 at 7:30 p.m. ET on FOX.