Three AL front-runners in line to earn their first All-Star bid

Toronto Blue Jays second baseman Ernie Clement. Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images

Three AL front-runners in line to earn their first All-Star bid

By Vanessa Serrao | Last updated Jun 7, 2026 9:28 PM ET

The Philadelphia Phillies are hosting the 2026 All-Star game this season on July 14 at Citizens Bank Park.

Trailblazing in the AL are breakout hitters and top-tier defenders who have been highly impactful and emerged as front-runners to earn their first All-Star selection. It's a huge milestone to add to a rising star's profile, as well as an opportunity to unleash their skills in front of more than 40,000 fans.

Let's explore three AL players who are poised as top candidates to be All-Stars for the first time in their careers.

Ernie Clement, second base ( Toronto Blue Jays)

Clement is a strong candidate to start at second base for the AL in the All-Star game, as he is carrying momentum from his 2025 breakout campaign.

Clement recorded the most hits (30) in a postseason, and this season, he leads the AL with 77 hits and ranks third in all of baseball. He also leads all second basemen in the AL with a stellar batting average of .306 and leads of MLB with 19 doubles.

In one of his most recent standout performances, against the Baltimore Orioles on June 6, he recorded his sixth home run, his first triple and made two incredible defensive plays to help the Blue Jays win, 6-4.

Ben Rice, first base ( New York Yankees)

Rice's breakout campaign this season has cemented him as the top contender for first base in the All-Star Game.

He has established himself as an offensive dominant force for the Yankees, while ranking second in the majors with a .640 slugging percentage as well as second with 182 wRC+. He's also making a compelling case for AL MVP.

As one of the most potent power-hitters in baseball at the age of 27 years old, he leads the Yankees in home runs (18), hits (64), doubles (15), and RBI (15).

Shea Langeliers, catcher (Athletics)

Langeliers has developed as an elite power bat among AL catchers, leading in home runs (16) and slugging percentage (.533). He's demonstrated how he's a threat who can change the outcome of a game with just one swing. He has ultimately upheld his reputation as a rival against elite catchers like Cal Raleigh.

The 28-year-old also leads all MLB among catchers in home runs and ranks second with 140 wRC+. His defensive growth behind the plate has majorly improved with his pop time ranking in the 88th percentile at 1.87 seconds and his caught stealing percentage at .667.

His batting average this season (.283) is also a significant improvement from 2024 (.224). He has ultimately transformed his raw power into consistent production for the Athletics.

Vanessa Serrao

Serrao is a freelance baseball writer who has covered all MLB teams, with particular expertise on the Toronto Blue Jays. She is a member of the Internet Baseball Writers Association of America.

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