Byron Buxton Advances to Phase 2 of All-Star Voting, Fan Vote Opens Monday

[Cody Christie]

The Minnesota Twins have watched Byron Buxton put together plenty of memorable seasons throughout his career, but 2026 has been something different. Healthy (knock on wood), productive, and once again one of the game's most dynamic players, Buxton is now one step closer to receiving the recognition that has long felt overdue.

Major League Baseball announced the results of Phase 1 of All-Star voting on Thursday, and Buxton advanced to Phase 2 as one of six American League outfield finalists. Now, with the vote totals reset, Twins fans have one more opportunity to help send their center fielder to Philadelphia as a starting outfielder in the 2026 MLB All-Star Game.

Finally Getting the Recognition

Buxton's talent has never been questioned. Staying on the field has often been the only thing standing between him and national superstardom. This season, he's erased those questions.

After launching 35 home runs during his All-Star campaign in 2025, Buxton has somehow raised the bar even higher. Entering the final days before voting resumes, he is tied with Yordan Alvarez for the American League lead with 25 home runs, putting him on pace to eclipse the 50-homer mark for the first time in his career.

His .912 OPS ranks as the second-best mark of his career, trailing only his remarkable 2021 season, when injuries limited him to just 61 games despite producing like one of baseball's best hitters. It's the kind of production Twins fans have always believed was possible when Buxton is healthy. Now the rest of baseball is taking notice.

A Crowded Race in the AL Outfield

Phase 2 won't be easy. Buxton will compete with Aaron Judge, Mike Trout, Cody Bellinger, Daulton Varsho, and Jesús Sánchez for one of three starting outfield spots.

Judge and Trout remain two of the sport's biggest stars, but both enter the final round while on the injured list. Judge is recovering from a stress fracture in his ribs and is not expected back until after the All-Star break. Trout is dealing with a right hamstring strain but could return before the Midsummer Classic.

Meanwhile, Bellinger has enjoyed a strong bounce-back season after returning to New York, while Toronto teammates Varsho and Sánchez are both looking to earn the first All-Star selections of their careers.

Despite the talented field, Buxton has a compelling case that extends well beyond his home run total. He continues to provide strong defense in center field while serving as the centerpiece of Minnesota's offense nearly every night. That's the type of complete player deserving of an All-Star start.

Twins Fans Can Finish the Job

The biggest twist in MLB's voting process is that nothing from Phase 1 carries over. Although Buxton received more than 1.6 million votes to comfortably advance, every finalist now starts back at zero.

Phase 2 voting opens at 11:00 a.m. CT on Monday, June 29th, and runs through 11:00 a.m. CT on Thursday, July 2nd. Fans can cast one ballot every 24 hours through MLB's website, club websites, the MLB App, and MLB Ballpark App. The winners will be announced on July 4, with pitchers and reserves revealed shortly afterward.

Buxton has spent more than a decade giving Twins fans highlight-reel catches, breathtaking speed, and tape-measure home runs. This season has showcased everything that has made him one of baseball's most exciting players, only this time with the consistency that comes from being healthy.

Now comes the final push. Phase 1 showed that Buxton has earned national attention. Phase 2 will determine whether he takes the field at Citizens Bank Park as a starter.

If Twins fans want to see one of the franchise's best seasons in recent memory rewarded with a place in the starting lineup, voting begins Monday. With the totals reset, every vote matters once again, and Minnesota has four days to help send Byron Buxton where he belongs: the All-Star starting lineup.

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[Jacksson]

The Twins TIN MAN is ailing again with (fill in the blank) and just got plunked in his left shoulder by a pitched ball.  Just put him on the DL already and let him heal up.

[hlsballer318]

Need the MLB to add another Canadian expansion team. Can't let an entire country vote in their starting 9 every season

[Chembry]

35 minutes ago, hlsballer318 said:

Need the MLB to add another Canadian expansion team. Can't let an entire country vote in their starting 9 every season

It's pretty ridiculous that Alejandro Kirk made the final two catchers hitting .183 with a .547 OPS and only 17g played.  And it wasn't even close for 3rd place...Kirk had 350,000 votes over Dingler (who deserves to go).  

[The Great Hambino]

51 minutes ago, hlsballer318 said:

Need the MLB to add another Canadian expansion team. Can't let an entire country vote in their starting 9 every season

Using the baseball-reference calculation of WAR, there are three Blue Jay finalists with negative WAR (Kirk, Springer, and Jesus Sanchez), two more with WAR less than 1 (Vladdy Jr and Gimenez) and the overall vote leader that gets a starting spot automatically with WAR of exactly 1.0 (Ernie Clement)

For reference, Kirk and Sanchez have the same WAR as Tristan Gray, who is not an All-Star finalist

Could you imagine if they ever tried to put actual tangible meaning on the All-Star Game by, say, awarding homefield advantage in the World Series based on its result?  Wouldn't that be insanely stupid?  Good thing they'd never go and do something like that

[Twins GFP]

34 minutes ago, The Great Hambino said:

Could you imagine if they ever tried to put actual tangible meaning on the All-Star Game by, say, awarding homefield advantage in the World Series based on its result?  Wouldn't that be insanely stupid?  Good thing they'd never go and do something like that

I have been ok with most of the changes baseball has implemented over the years, but this decision is a train wreck. Taking a popularity contest and putting something so important as WS HFA as a result is truly sad.

[lecroy24fan]

3 hours ago, Chembry said:

It's pretty ridiculous that Alejandro Kirk made the final two catchers hitting .183 with a .547 OPS and only 17g played.  And it wasn't even close for 3rd place...Kirk had 350,000 votes over Dingler (who deserves to go).  

Sandy Alomar, Jr was voted in one year with 17 games played.

[The Great Hambino]

The early voting results have Buxton in and most of the Blue Jays imposters taking a shellacking - only Vladdy Jr is in a starting position (not counting Clement and his automatic spot)

While this system does add a level of protection from a fanbase from completely flooding the starting lineup 2016 Royals-style, it has resulted in a lot of boring, uncompetitive races.  They really ought to sub Dirk Diggler Dillon Dingler in for Kirk at the very least