Vlad Jr. among AL All-Star leaders in 1st update

June 10th, 2019

Read our FAQ on this year’s revamped balloting format, which includes two phases of fan voting to determine the All-Star starters, and the ability to vote through Google Search.

TORONTO -- There’s a different feeling when he walks to the plate.

Every time leaves the on-deck circle to make his way into the batter’s box, a sense of anticipation accompanies his stride. The 20-year-old has played in 36 games at the big league level, but he’s already shown why he belongs, and now he has a chance to bring that feeling to this year’s All-Star Game.

The rookie phenom is Toronto’s lone position player among the leaders in the first American League All-Star Game voting update, released on Monday. Guerrero ranked sixth among third basemen with 150,074 votes. The Astros' Alex Bregman is first with 630,159 votes.

Guerrero currently holds a slash line of .248/.313/.445, with seven homers, six doubles, 14 runs and 16 RBIs. He earned his first Major League accolade in mid-May when he was named AL Player of the Week.

Guerrero’s most recent home run was a game-changer for the Blue Jays, when he nabbed a Zack Britton sinker from below the strike zone and sent a three-run, go-ahead long ball out of the park at Rogers Centre against the division-leading Yankees in Toronto’s latest victory.

“That’s the feeling you have anytime he goes [to the plate] with the game on the line,” Blue Jays manager Charlie Montoyo said on Wednesday. “You always feel like he’s got a chance to do something like that. … That’s why Vladdy’s special. Not many guys can do that against Britton. I’ve seen Britton deal so many years with that bowling ball sinking action that he’s got.”

“We’re all chomping at the bit, like, ‘What’s going to happen now?’” Toronto starter Trent Thornton said of the feeling in the dugout when Guerrero steps to the plate. “So when he does stuff like that, it’s not really a surprise, but it’s always awesome.”

To see Guerrero in the All-Star Game, fans may vote in "The Primary" at MLB.com and all 30 club sites, the MLB At Bat and MLB Ballpark apps up to five times in any 24-hour period. Fans in the US and Canada can also vote on Google Search for every position, or up to 17 unique players per day, by searching "MLB Vote" or the names of their favorite players. Primary voting ends at 4 p.m. ET on Friday, June 21.

The top three vote-getters at each position -- including nine outfielders -- per league will move on to "The Starters Election," which begins at noon ET on Wednesday, June 26. The votes will reset for a 28-hour voting window that ends at 4 p.m. ET on Thursday, June 27. Starters for the 2019 Midsummer Classic will be unveiled on ESPN that night at 7 ET. The pitchers and reserves will be announced on Sunday, June 30, at 5:30 p.m. ET.

Then on Tuesday, July 9, during the 2019 All-Star Game presented by Mastercard, fans may visit MLB.com and the 30 club sites to submit their choices for the Ted Williams Most Valuable Player Award presented by Chevrolet.

The 90th Midsummer Classic, at Progressive Field in Cleveland, will be televised nationally by FOX Sports; in Canada by Rogers Sportsnet and RDS; and worldwide by partners in more than 180 countries. FOX Deportes will provide Spanish-language coverage in the United States, while ESPN Radio and ESPN Radio Deportes will provide exclusive national radio coverage.

MLB Network, MLB.com and SiriusXM also will provide comprehensive All-Star Week coverage. For more information about MLB All-Star Week and to purchase tickets, please visit AllStarGame.com and follow @MLB and @AllStarGame on social media.