TAMPA, Fla. — Ryan O’Hearn’s odds of starting the All-Star Game skyrocketed Sunday.
The only credible player standing between O’Hearn and an All-Star bid was Red Sox slugger Rafael Devers. But Boston on Sunday shockingly traded the superstar to the San Francisco Giants — a National League team — to give O’Hearn a clean shot at representing Baltimore at the Midsummer Classic.
That was proved true Monday afternoon when MLB released its first All-Star fan voting update with O’Hearn leading all American League designated hitters.
The first phase of fan voting ends June 26 at noon. The top two vote-getters at each position in each league — and top six outfielders — move on to the next phase to determine who starts the game. The only other Orioles player in the top two at his position is Jackson Holliday, who is second behind Detroit’s Gleyber Torres at second base.
O’Hearn leads the Yankees’ Ben Rice by more than 100,000 votes, while Holliday trails Torres by fewer than 100,000 votes.
After fan voting ends, the league’s coaches and players determine the remainder of All-Star rosters.
With Devers in the NL, O’Hearn leads all AL DHs in most key offensive categories. The 31-year-old is hitting .310 with an .893 OPS and 10 home runs. The castoff from Kansas City has never been an All-Star. Before arriving in Baltimore, he wasn’t even a starter for a struggling Royals team, but he’s since established himself as one of the best left-handed sluggers in baseball.
Holliday has established himself this season as the Orioles’ leadoff hitter and one of the best second basemen in the AL. A year ago, the 21-year-old was in Triple-A after struggling in his first stint in the big leagues. Now, he’s hitting .259 with 21 extra-base hits.
Catcher Adley Rutschman, shortstop Gunnar Henderson and first baseman Ryan Mountcastle (who is injured) are seventh in voting at their respective positions, while Ramón Urías is ninth among third basemen.
This article will be updated. Have a news tip? Contact Jacob Calvin Meyer at jameyer@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/JCalvinMeyer.
