Five Braves advance in All-Star voting

Media Reports

ATLANTA — Even amid a difficult stretch on the field, the Atlanta Braves continue to dominate in the voting booth.

Five Braves advanced to the final phase of fan voting for the 2026 Major League Baseball All-Star Game, highlighted by catcher Drake Baldwin and first baseman Matt Olson, as Phase 1 results were announced Thursday.

Joining Baldwin and Olson as finalists are second baseman Ozzie Albies and outfielders Ronald Acuña Jr. and Michael Harris II. Only the defending World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers placed more finalists in the National League.

The final round of voting begins Monday and runs through noon on July 2. Winners will be announced July 4, with the 2026 All-Star Game scheduled for July 14 at Philadelphia’s Citizens Bank Park.

Perhaps no Braves player has made a bigger leap than Baldwin.

Baldwin’s first half was good enough to withstand a rough finish. Before a strained oblique sent him to the injured list for nearly a month, the reigning National League Rookie of the Year had established himself as one of baseball’s top catchers. He’s hitting .268 with 14 home runs, 39 RBIs and an .835 OPS overall, though he’s still searching for his swing since returning on June 16.

Standing in his way is Los Angeles Dodgers catcher Will Smith, who remains on the injured list with a neck strain but still finished second in the voting.

Olson is looking for his fourth All-Star selection after putting together another power-filled season. The former Parkview High School standout has clubbed 20 home runs, driven in 52 runs and owns an .870 OPS, his best offensive numbers since his 54-homer campaign in 2023.

His competition is familiar.

Freddie Freeman, the longtime Braves star now with the Dodgers, led National League first basemen in Phase 1 voting after batting .282 with 13 home runs and 43 RBIs. Freeman has started five of the last seven National League All-Star Games at first base.

Albies also advanced after enjoying one of his best offensive seasons in recent years. The switch-hitting second baseman has raised his OPS by more than 100 points from last season while hitting 12 home runs and providing steady defense. He will square off against Philadelphia Phillies second baseman Bryson Stott for the starting job.

The Braves also have two outfield finalists, though only one appears likely to play.

Acuña finished among the top three National League outfield vote-getters despite suffering a Grade 1 left hamstring strain earlier this month. The five-time All-Star and 2023 National League Most Valuable Player is expected to remain sidelined through the All-Star break, making it unlikely he’ll participate even if fans elect him as a starter.

If Acuña is unable to play, it could open the door for Harris.

After struggling through an injury-plagued 2025 season, the former National League Rookie of the Year has bounced back impressively. Harris is batting .306 with 14 home runs, 42 RBIs and an .850 OPS while once again flashing Gold Glove-caliber defense in center field.

While Braves fans celebrated five finalists, National League designated hitter Shohei Ohtani of the Dodgers automatically earned a starting spot after receiving a league-high 3.34 million votes. Toronto Blue Jays second baseman Ernie Clement was the American League’s leading vote-getter and also secured an automatic starting berth.

Phase 1 vote totals no longer matter, however. Every finalist begins Phase 2 with zero votes, giving Braves fans another opportunity to send one of baseball’s largest contingents to the Midsummer Classic.