Toronto Blue Jays infielder Ernie Clement leads all American League players in MLB All-Star Game voting, the league announced Monday. Clement, known for his contact hitting and defensive versatility, has amassed 2,054,130 votes, making him the only AL player to surpass two million votes. He is on track to start at second base in the July 14 game at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia.
Clement's voting surge driven by Blue Jays fan base
Ballot stuffing is common in baseball, and given the Blue Jays' national reach across Canada, Clement's rise to the top of the voting is unsurprising. He holds a comfortable lead over Texas Rangers' Ezequiel Duran, who trails by approximately 1.5 million votes. The only player in MLB with more votes is Los Angeles Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani (2,310,735).
Despite the fan-driven voting, Clement's performance this season warrants all-star consideration, though his defense has slipped recently. His contact ability and versatility have made him a valuable asset for the Blue Jays.
Other Blue Jays in all-star voting
Several other Blue Jays appear high on the ballot but may not merit selection. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. leads first basemen over New York Yankees' Ben Rice, but Guerrero has only four home runs this season and has not homered at home entering a 10-game homestand. Catcher Alejandro Kirk, third baseman Kazuma Okamoto (team-leading 16 homers), shortstop Andres Gimenez, and DH George Springer each rank second at their positions. Guerrero himself admitted surprise at leading the vote, acknowledging Rice's superior season.
Objectively, the only legitimate all-star on the Blue Jays is closer Louis Varland, though Clement deserves inclusion given the weak field at second base. Starting pitcher Dylan Cease, scheduled to start Monday, is also making a case. The all-star starters will be announced Thursday.
