Vladimir Guerrero Jr. surged to the top of the American League first‑base ballot on July 5, 2025, amassing 1,192,604 votes and overtaking Paul Goldschmidt. The surge puts the Toronto Blue Jays slugger on the brink of an automatic All‑Star Game start, the latest twist in the 2025 MLB All‑Star voting race.
What happened?
The 2025 PRO SPIRIT All‑Star Ballot update, released by MLB on July 5, shows Guerrero Jr. leapfroging seven‑time All‑Star Paul Goldschmidt, who sits at 1,118,501 votes. The shift happened during Phase 1 of fan voting, which runs until Thursday at noon Eastern. Fans can cast up to five daily votes on MLB platforms, with a sixth vote available through the PRO SPIRIT mobile game. Guerrero’s tally now leads the AL first‑base pack by 74,103 votes.
Why does it matter for Vladimir Guerrero Jr.?
Guerrero Jr. has been a fan‑favorite since his rookie season, winning the fan election at first base three of the last four years and earning the Ted Williams All‑Star Game MVP in 2021. Securing the top spot this year would give him his fourth career fan‑elected start, tying a Blue Jays franchise record. An automatic start also bypasses Phase 2 voting, guaranteeing his presence in the July 16 All‑Star Game in Atlanta, the host city for the 2025 edition.
Who are the other contenders?
While Guerrero leads the AL first‑base race, Jonathan Aranda of Tampa Bay trails with 879,030 votes, and Spencer Torkelson of Detroit follows at 797,210. In the outfield, Ronald Acuña Jr. of the Atlanta Braves and Javier Báez of the Detroit Tigers have climbed the standings, positioning themselves for the final six‑outfielder slots. Aaron Judge remains the overall voting leader with 2,699,483 votes, a figure that could cement his automatic start and add a third career lead‑vote title.
What’s next for the All‑Star selection?
Phase 1 concludes Thursday at 12:00 p.m. ET. The top two vote‑getters at each position, plus the top six outfielders, will be announced on MLB Network at 6:00 p.m. that evening. Those players advance to Phase 2, where the remaining starters are chosen. If Guerrero retains his lead, he will skip Phase 2 entirely and lock in his spot at first base for the midsummer classic.
How can fans influence the outcome?
Fans still have a window to shift the rankings. Each day, after the fifth ballot vote, they can jump into the PRO SPIRIT game for a sixth vote. The platform encourages daily engagement, meaning a surge of votes could still reshape the leaderboard before the Thursday deadline. For Guerrero, every additional vote narrows the margin over Goldschmidt and solidifies his claim to the AL’s top first‑base slot.
Historical context
Guerrero’s fan‑voting dominance echoes past legends. He joins a short list of players who have led the entire league in fan votes multiple times, a group that includes Ken Griffey Jr., Rod Carew, and Ichiro Suzuki. Should he win again, he will become the first player since the 1970s to lead the AL voting three times, underscoring his marketability and on‑field appeal.
The All‑Star voting drama continues to unfold, but as of July 5, 2025, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. sits firmly in the driver’s seat for the AL first‑base position, poised to add another star‑studded chapter to his burgeoning career.