Read our story on the balloting format, which includes two phases of fan voting to determine the All-Star starters.
As you examine the 2025 MLB All-Star ballot, it’s easy to point out the surefire locks to start in this year’s Midsummer Classic. Of course, stars such as Aaron Judge, Shohei Ohtani and Freddie Freeman look primed to start in the All-Star Game yet again. But for many candidates on the ballot, it’s a chance to not only make their first All-Star Game but also start for the first time.
As there usually is, there will certainly be plenty of new faces at Atlanta’s Truist Park for the All-Star Game on July 15. A bunch of hitters have built good cases for why they should start the All-Star Game for the first time, and we've ranked the best ones below. We considered one player per position -- with a few exceptions -- and included honorable mentions where appropriate.
Here are the 12 most compelling candidates to be a first-time All-Star starter.
All stats are through Friday's games.
1. Cal Raleigh, Mariners: AL catcher
It’s not hyperbole to say that Raleigh is on pace for one of the best seasons ever by a catcher. Appearing in all 62 Mariners games, Raleigh is slashing .269/.379/.634 with an MLB-leading 24 home runs and is second with 4.0 Wins Above Replacement, according to FanGraphs. Big Dumper is on a staggering 162-game pace for 63 home runs and 10.4 WAR, which would easily be season highs for a catcher. Even if he slows down a bit -- or takes a day off here and there -- Raleigh is tracking for a historic season and is the unquestioned starter at this position.
2. Pete Crow-Armstrong, Cubs: NL outfield
What a breakout season it’s been for the 23-year-old Cubs superstar outfielder. Through Friday’s games, Crow-Armstrong’s 3.8 WAR only trailed Judge (5.4) and Raleigh (4.0). Crow-Armstrong has truly done it all, swatting 16 home runs and swiping 21 bags to go along with an .870 OPS and 11 Outs Above Average, the most among any outfielder. With his 20th steal on June 3, Crow-Armstrong became the fourth-fastest player in the Modern Era (since 1900) to record 15 home runs and 20 stolen bases, reaching the mark in just 60 games.
Honorable mentions: James Wood, Nationals; Kyle Tucker, Cubs
3. Jeremy Peña, Astros or Jacob Wilson, A's: AL shortstop
As things currently stand, this might be the most competitive position in either league. Based on WAR, Peña (3.3), Wilson (3.2) and the Royals' Bobby Witt Jr. (3.1) could not be any closer, with the three shortstops all producing excellent all-around seasons on both sides of the ball. Witt feels like the frontrunner based on what he's done the last three seasons, but Peña has blended excellent defense with a career-best .876 OPS, while Wilson is second in the Majors with a .369 batting average and 89 hits. If you use Baseball Reference's version of WAR, Peña (3.8) has a much bigger lead over Witt (2.9) and Wilson (2.5), while Angels shortstop Zach Neto (2.5) is also in the mix.
Honorable mention: Zach Neto, Angels
4. Francisco Lindor, Mets: NL shortstop
It feels like an annual exercise around this time when the realization that Lindor hasn't started an All-Star Game kicks in -- he hasn't even been selected for a game since 2019. That will certainly change this season, as the Mets shortstop has an .852 OPS, 14 home runs, 11 steals and 2.8 WAR. That he's done so on the heels of a dominant 2024 season (7.8 WAR, 33 homers and 29 stolen bases) that saw him finish second in MVP voting and produce postseason heroics will only help further his case with the fan vote. It's about time that the likely Hall of Famer gets his due and starts at the Midsummer Classic.
5. Will Smith, Dodgers: NL catcher
After finally making his first All-Star team in 2023 and ‘24, Smith is on track to start his first game this season. Smith paces all NL catchers with 2.4 WAR and is running a .327/.424/.494 line and a 165 wRC+, absurd numbers for any hitter but especially so for a full-time backstop. Smith will assuredly join Ohtani and Freeman as Dodgers starters, and he’ll deserve it after years of being one of the biggest All-Star Game snubs.
Honorable mention: Gabriel Moreno, D-backs
6. Ryan O'Hearn, Orioles: AL designated hitter
In a season where so much has gone wrong for the Orioles, Ryan O’Hearn has been a refreshing bright spot. After settling in as a solid platoon bat for the O’s from 2023-24, O’Hearn has taken off this season with a .317/.402/.505 line, with his 1.9 WAR and 162 wRC+ only trailing Ohtani and Rafael Devers among designated hitters. With no other obvious Orioles candidate for the All-Star Game, O'Hearn is a likely lock for being picked.
7. Brendan Donovan, Cardinals: NL second base
Donovan was already a solid everyday player for the Cardinals, but the 28-year-old has taken it up a notch this season. Mainly playing at second base -- he’s appeared in 48 games at second base, 12 in left field and six at shortstop -- Donovan is hitting .315/.382/.448 and leads all qualified second basemen with 2.2 WAR and a 136 wRC+. He’ll have fierce competition from Ketel Marte, who has a 1.043 OPS and 2.1 WAR despite missing a month with an injury.
8. Matt Chapman, Giants: NL third base
Would it surprise you to know that Chapman has only been selected to one All-Star Game back in 2019 with the A’s? The five-time Gold Glove winner and two-time Platinum Glove recipient also owns a career .791 OPS, but he’s had the unfortunate luck of playing in something of a golden era for third basemen with the likes of José Ramírez, Nolan Arenado, Manny Machado and Alex Bregman. Fortunately for Chapman, he’s looking like a good bet to make his second All-Star Game this year, with a 128 wRC+ and 2.2 WAR that is nearly in line with NL-leading Machado’s 2.4 WAR for a third baseman.
9. Isaac Paredes, Astros or Maikel Garcia, Royals: AL third base
Let’s get the obvious part out of the way and say that Ramírez will probably be elected to start in his fourth career All-Star Game at third base. That said, Paredes and Garcia have had stellar seasons at the hot corner, with near matches in WAR (Paredes at 2.1, Garcia at 2.0) in the same amount of games (62). Paredes is outhomering Garcia by a 14 to seven margin, but the Royals’ third baseman has a higher OPS (.860 vs. .830) and 13 stolen bases compared to none from Paredes.
10. Julio Rodríguez, Mariners: AL outfield
Judge is doing a lot of heavy lifting for the AL outfielders with his MLB-leading 5.4 fWAR, which makes sense considering Juan Soto and Kyle Tucker both made switched to the National League over the offseason. After Judge, the only primary AL outfielder with at least 2.0 fWAR is Rodríguez. While Rodríguez has settled in more as a great player than the superstar he was in 2022-23, this is still a 24-year-old outfielder with a 114 wRC+, 10 home runs, 10 steals and seven OAA in center field.