Blue Jays’ Vladimir Guerrero Jr. finalist at first base in AL All-Star voting

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. took one step closer to making his fourth-career All-Star Game on Thursday.

The Toronto Blue Jays star was named as a finalist through the first round of fan voting at first base in the American League. The 25-year-old received 1,976,645 votes.

Guerrero finished second to Baltimore Orioles first baseman Ryan Mountcastle, who received 2,296,697 votes.

The top two vote-getters — or top six among outfielders — at each position are advancing to the next round of voting, where fans will have the option to vote among the finalists for a starting spot at the Midsummer Classic.

Guerrero is slashing .288/.368/.435 with 10 home runs and 40 RBI over 79 games this season, while Mountcastle has a .278/.324/.471 line with 11 home runs and 39 RBI in 75 games.

New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge and Philadelphia Phillies first baseman Bryce Harper automatically received starting spots by leading their respective leagues in Phase 1 of voting.

Judge received an MLB-best 3,425,309 votes, and Harper finished with 3,277,920.

Phase 2 begins on Sunday and concludes on July 3 before the starters are revealed later that day.

All-Star pitchers and reserves will be announced on July 7 and will be chosen through a combination of player ballots and selections made by the Commissioner’s Office.

The All-Star Game is July 16 in Arlington, Texas.

Guerrero was the only Blue Jays player to be voted in as a finalist. Here is how the rest of the ballots shook out:

American League

C: Adley Rutschman (BAL) / Salvador Perez (KC)

1B: Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (TOR) / Ryan Mountcastle (BAL)

3B: Jose Ramirez (CLE) / Jordan Westburg (BAL)

SS: Gunnar Henderson (BAL) / Bobby Witt Jr. (KC)

OF: Aaron Judge starting (NYY) / Juan Soto (NYY) / Steven Kwan (CLE) / Anthony Santander (BAL) / Kyle Tucker (HOU)

DH: Yordan Alvarez (HOU) / Ryan O’Hearn (KC)

National League

C: William Contreras (MIL) / J.T. Realmuto (PHI)

1B: N/A — Bryce Harper starting (PHI)

2B: Ketel Marte (ARI) / Luis Arraez (SD)

3B: Alec Bohm (PHI) / Manny Machado (SD)

SS: Mookie Betts (LAD) / Trea Turner (PHI)

OF: Jurickson Profar (SD) / Christian Yelich (MIL) / Teoscar Hernandez (LAD) / Fernando Tatis Jr. (SD) / Brandon Marsh (PHI) / Nick Castellanos (PHI)

DH: Shohei Ohtani (LAD) / Kyle Schwarber (PHI)

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