As Phase 2 of MLB All-Star voting hits its final days, two members of the NL-leading Los Angeles Dodgers have already punched their tickets — and one is making history while doing it.
It’s no surprise, but Shohei Ohtani leads the National League in votes and has locked in the starting DH spot for the July 15 event in Atlanta. Will Smith, meanwhile, holds the top spot at catcher as final ballots come in ahead of Wednesday’s noon ET deadline. The L.A. sluggers lead the entire National League in total votes.
Ohtani’s fan support isn’t just based on name recognition. He became the first NL player to reach 30 home runs this season, launching a solo shot Tuesday night in a 6–1 win over the Chicago White Sox.
Ohtani Solidifies Himself As NL’s Best After Another Strong Performance
Tuesday’s homer — a 116.3 mph rocket with a 42-degree launch angle — was the hardest-hit HR ever at that angle in the Statcast era, according to MLB.com. It marked the third time in his career he’s reached 30 homers before the All-Star break. He now holds the Dodgers franchise record for most home runs in the team’s first 86 games, surpassing legends like Duke Snider and Gil Hodges.
That puts Ohtani among just 12 active players with five 30-homer seasons. He’s also doing things no one else even attempts. Saturday, he’s scheduled to make another pitching start — continuing a two-way run that includes all four of the only seasons in MLB history where a player made multiple starts on the mound and hit 30+ homers. He’s not just leading the vote. He’s redefining what’s possible.
Over at catcher, Will Smith is putting together a season that deserves more national attention. While Ohtani gets the headlines, Smith is quietly building the best all-around season of any backstop in the game.
He leads all National League catchers in batting average (.318), on-base percentage (.413), and OPS (.945). Add in 10 home runs and his usual strong defense, and it’s hard to argue against him as the league’s most complete catcher right now.
He’s currently fending off Carson Kelly in the final phase of fan voting. If Smith holds on, it would be his first All-Star Game start — and a deserved nod for one of the most consistent players at one of the toughest positions.
How AL Voting Is Shaping Up
Elsewhere in the voting, premier names like Aaron Judge (New York Yankees) have also secured their starting spots. But it’s the battles across other positions that are drawing attention. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is outpacing Paul Goldschmidt at AL first base.
But for the Dodgers, the story remains familiar. The stars are still leading the way. Ohtani’s dominance, both at the plate and on the mound, continues to reshape how we view baseball excellence. Smith, in contrast, is doing it with quiet consistency — and that might finally be enough to push him onto the All-Star stage as a starter.
Voting continues at MLB.com/vote and on the MLB app through Wednesday at noon ET. With Phase 2 wrapping up and final spots on the line, the Dodgers look poised to be front and center when the All-Star Game rolls into Atlanta.
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