The Atlanta Braves may be fighting through a frustrating stretch in the standings, but their fan base continues to show up when it matters. When Major League Baseball released the results of Phase 1 voting for the 2026 All-Star Game on Thursday, Atlanta placed five players into the final round of fan voting, trailing only the defending World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers among National League clubs.
Leading the group are catcher Drake Baldwin and first baseman Matt Olson, who now move into Phase 2 alongside second baseman Ozzie Albies and outfielders Ronald Acuña Jr. and Michael Harris II. The final round of voting begins Monday and runs through noon on July 2, with the starters set to be announced on July 4 ahead of the July 14 All-Star Game at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia.
Drake Baldwin Headlines Breakout Braves Season
Baldwin’s rise has been one of the season’s biggest stories for Atlanta. Before a strained oblique forced him to miss nearly a month, the reigning National League Rookie of the Year had established himself as one of the league’s most productive catchers. He enters the final voting period batting .268 with 14 home runs, 39 RBIs, and an .835 OPS. Although he has yet to fully rediscover his rhythm since returning from the injured list on June 16, his first-half performance was enough to earn strong support from fans. Waiting on the other side is Dodgers catcher Will Smith, who finished second in Phase 1 despite currently being sidelined with a neck strain.
Olson is once again putting together the type of season Braves fans have come to expect. The slugging first baseman has launched 20 home runs, driven in 52 runs, and owns an .870 OPS, his strongest offensive production since his remarkable 54-home run campaign in 2023. His biggest obstacle remains a familiar face. Former Braves star Freddie Freeman, now starring for Los Angeles, led all National League first basemen in Phase 1 after batting .282 with 13 home runs and 43 RBIs. Freeman has been the National League’s starting first baseman in five of the last seven All-Star Games.
Albies and Harris Add to Atlanta’s Strong Showing
Albies also earned a place among the finalists after bouncing back offensively. His OPS has climbed by more than 100 points compared to last season, while his 12 home runs and dependable defense have helped restore his status as one of the league’s top second basemen. He will face Philadelphia Phillies infielder Bryson Stott for the starting job.
Atlanta’s outfield presents an interesting situation. Acuña remained one of the top three National League vote-getters despite suffering a Grade 1 left hamstring strain earlier this month. The five-time All-Star and 2023 National League MVP is expected to remain out through the All-Star break, making his participation uncertain even if he wins the fan vote. Should that happen, Harris could benefit.
After an injury-filled 2025 season slowed his progress, Harris has returned to form in impressive fashion. He is hitting .306 with 14 home runs, 42 RBIs, and an .850 OPS while once again providing the elite center-field defense that has become his trademark.
Phase 2 Voting Starts from Scratch
Elsewhere, Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani secured an automatic starting spot as the National League designated hitter after receiving a league-best 3.34 million votes. Toronto Blue Jays second baseman Ernie Clement earned the American League’s automatic starting berth by finishing as that league’s leading vote-getter.
With Phase 2 beginning from a clean slate, every finalist starts with zero votes. That gives Braves fans one more opportunity to send a large group of Atlanta players to baseball’s biggest summer showcase, regardless of how the club’s recent results have unfolded on the field.
