Ben Rice will likely make the 2026 MLB All-Star Game, just probably not as the American League's starting first baseman.
Rice currently sits second behind Toronto Blue Jays first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. in fan voting at the position, putting him in a strong position to advance to Phase 2. Guerrero remains the favorite to win the final fan vote, meaning Rice will probably get in, but likely not through the fan ballot alone.
To understand Rice's chances, it helps to know how MLB's All-Star voting works. Phase 1 runs from June 3-25, during which fans can vote up to five times per day at each position.
The top two vote-getters at first base advance to Phase 2, which runs from June 29 to July 2, where fans vote again to determine the starter. If a player finishes as the overall leading vote-getter at his position when Phase 1 closes, he earns the starting spot outright and skips Phase 2 entirely. Votes do not carry over between phases, meaning Phase 2 starts fresh.
The latest update, released Monday, shows Guerrero leading AL first basemen with 1,458,461 votes, while Rice sits second with 882,772, a gap of more than 575,000. That margin reflects how heavily Toronto's fan base has turned out to vote, which is also why Guerrero remains the favorite heading into Phase 2.
What makes the race interesting is the difference in production between the two players. Rice has been one of the best hitters in the American League this season. Entering the week, he owned a .293 batting average, 22 home runs, 53 RBIs and a 1.004 OPS.
Guerrero's numbers have been far more modest, as the Blue Jays star is hitting .279 with four home runs, 31 RBIs and a .735 OPS. Rice's breakout season has helped keep the Yankees' offense productive, especially while Aaron Judge has missed time with a rib injury.
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So why does Guerrero still lead? Part of the answer is popularity. Guerrero has been selected to five straight All-Star Games and has started at first base multiple times.
He remains one of the most recognizable players in the American League and continues to draw strong support from Blue Jays fans. Rice, meanwhile, is enjoying his first true breakout season and does not yet have the same All-Star track record. That advantage could help Guerrero hold off Rice in Phase 2 if both players advance.
Even if that happens, Rice's performance should leave him in excellent position to make the team as a reserve through the player ballot. While he may fall short in the race for the starting job, all signs point to Rice earning a trip to Philadelphia and becoming an American League All-Star for the first time in his career.
