Yordan Alvarez moved one step closer to earning his second career All-Star start after opening a commanding lead over Toronto Blue Jaysdesignated hitter George Springer in the first update of American League Phase Two voting. According to MLB.com, Alvarez holds a 69 percent to 31 percent advantage after finishing second among all AL position players in Phase One, trailing only Toronto infielder Ernie Clement, who secured an automatic starting spot as the league's top overall vote-getter.
Phase Two voting remains open through noon ET Thursday, with the winner earning the American League's starting designated hitter assignment for the July 14 All-Star Game at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia. The early results position Alvarez as the favorite to reclaim the fan-elected starting role he previously earned in 2024.
The voting update also answered any lingering questions about Alvarez's health after he was scratched from Houston's lineup against the Detroit Tigers on June 27. Manager Joe Espada told Chandler Rome of The Athletic the absence had been planned as a scheduled day off, and Alvarez returned to the lineup the following day before starting Monday again against the Minnesota Twins.
Alvarez, 29, is in his eighth major league season with the Astros after signing with the Los Angeles Dodgers as an international free agent out of Cuba in 2016. The Dodgers traded him to Houston later that year before he reached the major leagues.
Since making his MLB debut in 2019, Alvarez has established himself as one of baseball's premier hitters. He is a three-time All-Star, the 2019 American League Rookie of the Year, the 2021 ALCS Most Valuable Player, a 2022 Silver Slugger winner, and a World Series champion.
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Through Sunday's games, Alvarez is batting .322 with a .435 on-base percentage, a .634 slugging percentage, a 1.031 OPS, 25 home runs, and 56 RBIs. He enters July tied for the American League lead in home runs while remaining firmly in the MVP conversation.
His biggest improvement this season has been staying on the field. After a fractured right hand and a left ankle sprain limited him to 48 games in 2025, Houston has primarily used him at designated hitter to preserve his health while keeping his bat in the middle of the lineup.
Houston fell to 41-45 after Monday's loss to the Twins, but continues to rely on Alvarez as the centerpiece of its offense during the American League West race. His production has helped keep the Astros within striking distance despite an inconsistent first half.
Phase Two voting closes Thursday at noon ET, with the American League's starting lineup announced shortly afterward. If Alvarez maintains his lead over Springer, he will earn another All-Star start while adding another milestone to one of the best offensive seasons in baseball.
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