With the first phase of All-Star Game voting now closed, BSP baseball writers share who they voted for this year.
The 2025 MLB All-Star Game is only a few weeks away, and Phase One voting ended Thursday. Since ballots are now closed, we here at Back Sports Page, like last year, are sharing who we voted for this year. In the first phase, the official MLB ballot listed one player per team at each position, and fans could vote up to five times per day. As always, fans get to vote for position players but not pitchers. With the help of Nate Powalie and Joshua Ambroise, here are the players we voted for at each position.
American League
Catcher
Ben Schneider: Cal Raleigh
Joshua Ambroise: Cal Raleigh
Nate Powalie: Cal Raleigh
There is only one answer here. Raleigh is not only carrying the Seattle Mariners on his back, but he is also building an MVP case. He leads MLB with 32 home runs and 69 RBI.
First Base
Ben Schneider: Jonathan Aranda
Joshua Ambroise: Paul Goldschmidt
Nate Powalie: Yandy Diaz
The AL East has cornered the market on first basemen, and the Tampa Bay Rays are well represented. Aranda has finally broken out, while Diaz has become the veteran leader of the team. Goldschmidt is in the middle of a late-career resurgence with the New York Yankees.
Second Base
Ben Schneider: Gleyber Torres
Joshua Ambroise: Gleyber Torres
Nate Powalie: Daniel Schneemann
In both leagues, there aren’t many good options at the keystone. Torres is flourishing in his first season with the Detroit Tigers after leaving the Bronx. A late bloomer, Schneemann has turned into a quality hitter for the Cleveland Guardians.
Third Base
Ben Schneider: Junior Caminero
Joshua Ambroise: Jose Ramirez
Nate Powalie: Jose Ramirez
The hot corner is as exciting as ever, and Ramirez continues to build his Hall of Fame case. He has already made six All-Star teams, while Caminero is looking for his first. The young star has 20 homers and is only getting better.
Shortstop
Ben Schneider: Jacob Wilson
Joshua Ambroise: Bobby Witt
Nate Powalie: Jacob Wilson
The concentration of talent at short makes for a tough pick, but there is a new name in town. Wilson is running away with the Rookie of the Year award, currently hitting .345. Witt has taken a step back this year but still one of the biggest stars in the league.
Outfield
Ben Schneider: Byron Buxton, Riley Greene, George Springer
Joshua Ambroise: Aaron Judge, Byron Buxton, Riley Greene
Nate Powalie: Jake Meyers, Byron Buxton, Steven Kwan
Lots of outfielders leads to lots of options. Judge is the obvious choice since he leads the league in almost everything. Finally healthy, Buxton is playing like the stud we all know he can be, so he deserves a bid. The final starting spot is more split, though Greene is the worthiest of starting the All-Star Game.
DH
Ben Schneider: Ryan O’Hearn
Joshua Ambroise: Ben Rice
Nate Powalie: Rafael Devers
Since the Boston Red Sox traded Devers to the NL, he is no longer eligible. That leaves the race wide open, but his former division rivals are making their cases. Rice is breaking out in his second season, while O’Hearn has taken another step forward.
National League
Catcher
Ben Schneider: Will Smith
Joshua Ambroise: Will Smith
Nate Powalie: Hunter Goodman
If Raleigh wasn’t having a historic season, more people would be talking about how great Smith has been at the plate. Goodman will almost assuredly be the lone All-Star representative for the Colorado Rockies.
First Base
Ben Schneider: Pete Alonso
Joshua Ambroise: Pete Alonso
Nate Powalie: Josh Naylor
At the cold corner, Alonso is proving he deserves a long-term contract. Naylor, meanwhile, has been everything the Arizona Diamondbacks could have hoped for when they traded for him.
Second Base
Ben Schneider: Ketel Marte
Joshua Ambroise: Ketel Marte
Nate Powalie: Brendan Donovan
Marte has clearly been the best second baseman this season and deserves some MVP votes. At the same time, Donovan is part of the reason why the St. Louis Cardinals are overperforming.
Third Base
Ben Schneider: Eugenio Suarez
Joshua Ambroise: Manny Machado
Nate Powalie: Manny Machado
The NL West is the home of top third basemen, and Machado will likely add another All-Star Game to his resume. In the desert, Suarez is in the midst of his best season and leads the league in RBI.
Shortstop
Ben Schneider: CJ Abrams
Joshua Ambroise: Francisco Lindor
Nate Powalie: Elly De La Cruz
The most fun players play shortstop, and all three of these guys are fan favorites. Abrams, Lindor, and EDLC are all power/speed threats who could make it to Atlanta.
Outfield
Ben Schneider: Pete Crow-Armstrong, James Wood, Corbin Carroll
Joshua Ambroise: Pete Crow-Armstrong, Kyle Tucker, Teoscar Hernandez
Nate Powalie: Pete Crow-Armstrong, Sal Frelick, Heliot Ramos
On the grass, PCA has quickly become one of the most exciting and valuable players in baseball. But the corners are up in the air, since Carroll is now hurt. Tucker is absolutely worthy, but the third starter is anyone’s guess.
DH
Ben Schneider: Shohei Ohtani
Joshua Ambroise: Shohei Ohtani
Nate Powalie: Shohei Ohtani
Who else could it be?
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