Vladimir Guerrero Jr. of the Toronto Blue Jays has expressed surprise at leading MLB all-star game voting, given his subpar performance this season. Despite being a cornerstone player for the team, Guerrero's stats have been below expectations, with only three home runs so far. Fans have echoed his sentiment, questioning the voting results.
Guerrero's Reaction to Leading Voting
Speaking to The Athletic in Boston, Guerrero admitted, "I was surprised that I'm in first. There's a lot of first basemen doing a better job than me. But I don't control the fans, I don't control the vote." MLB's latest voting update on Monday showed Guerrero leading American League first basemen by nearly 94,000 votes over Ben Rice of the Yankees.
Fan Reactions
Many Blue Jays fans shared Guerrero's disbelief. One user on X posted, "Vlad should not be anywhere close to an all star game." Another commented, "There is no way on this Earth that Vlad should be voted an all star." A Toronto Sun reader joked, "Who would vote for Vladdy, unless they are voting for the guy most likely to hit into a double play?"
Statistical Analysis
Guerrero's 2026 season has been lackluster. He has hit just three home runs, none since May 17, and has yet to homer at Rogers Centre. With a .726 OPS, three homers, and 27 RBIs, he is on pace for career lows. In contrast, Ben Rice has 19 home runs, 47 RBIs, and an .845 OPS. Guerrero also missed two games with a back injury, going 0-for-4 in his return against the Boston Red Sox.
Will Guerrero Make the All-Star Team?
With a week left in the first phase of voting, Guerrero's lead is not guaranteed. He has the smallest vote tally among AL leaders. The first phase determines only the top two vote-getters overall; Phase 2 will decide starters for each position. Guerrero's spot is uncertain.
Other Blue Jays in Voting
Ernie Clement has a commanding lead at second base with 904,702 votes, more than triple the runner-up. He ranks fourth overall in AL voting. Other Jays include Andres Gimenez (second at shortstop), George Springer (second at DH), and Alejandro Kirk (second at catcher), though they trail by over 400,000 votes. Kazuma Okamoto is close at third base, trailing Junior Caminero by just 69,000 votes.
