Byron Buxton Surging Toward All-Star Start as Phase 1 Voting Enters Final Week

[Cody Christie]

The race to determine the starters for the 2026 MLB All-Star Game is entering its final stretch, and Byron Buxton is putting himself in position for a memorable milestone.

The first phase of fan voting opened on June 3 and will conclude on Thursday, June 25, at 11 AM CT. During this opening phase, fans can vote for the starting lineup in each league, selecting eight position players and one designated hitter. Ballots are available through MLB.com, all 30 club websites, the MLB app, and the MLB Ballpark app. Fans can vote up to five times every 24 hours.

When Phase 1 concludes, MLB Network will reveal the top vote-getters at every position. The leading vote-getter in each league automatically earns a starting spot, while the remaining finalists advance to Phase 2, where fans determine the rest of the starting lineup.

Buxton Climbs Into Prime Position

The latest voting update released Monday brought encouraging news for Twins fans. Buxton moved into third place among American League outfielders with 1,106,264 votes.

American League Outfield Voting Leaders (June 22 Update)

1. Aaron Judge, Yankees — 1,788,499
2. Mike Trout, Angels — 1,735,051
3. Byron Buxton, Twins — 1,106,264
4. Cody Bellinger, Yankees — 1,067,622
5. Julio Rodríguez, Mariners — 819,514
6. Randy Arozarena, Mariners — 793,017
7. Daulton Varsho, Blue Jays — 782,016
8. Jesús Sánchez, Blue Jays — 764,037
9. Riley Greene, Tigers — 751,512

Buxton's rise is notable because he sat fourth among American League outfielders in the previous update. A dominant stretch over the last few weeks has helped him leapfrog Cody Bellinger and move firmly into position to advance to Phase 2 voting.

His performance has backed up the support. Buxton enters the week ranked second in the American League with 24 home runs and third in slugging percentage at .591. After years of battling injuries, he has remained on the field and produced at an elite level, giving Twins fans a compelling case to rally behind during the final days of voting.

Injuries Could Change the Picture

The voting leaderboard may not tell the entire story. Judge currently leads all American League outfielders, but he is expected to miss the All-Star Game after suffering a rib stress fracture. Judge's absence would leave one of the outfield starting spots open regardless of where he finishes in the voting process.

Meanwhile, Trout's status has become less certain after he landed on the injured list last week with a right hamstring strain. Trout remains second in the voting, but his availability for the Midsummer Classic is now unclear.

If both stars are unable to participate, Buxton's chances of earning a starting assignment improve significantly. Even if Judge and Trout remain among the leading vote-getters, MLB would need replacements should either player be unavailable.

Final Week Push Ahead

Minnesota has not had many realistic candidates for fan-elected starting spots in recent seasons, but Buxton has changed that narrative in 2026. His combination of power, highlight-reel defense, and durability (knock on wood) has made him one of the American League's most valuable players through the season's first half.

The final days of Phase 1 voting will determine whether he advances comfortably to the next round, but his recent climb up the leaderboard shows that fans across baseball are taking notice. For a player who has spent much of his career battling injuries and unrealized All-Star potential, Buxton is now closer than ever to hearing his name announced as an All-Star Game starter.

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[Possumlad]