Monday marked the 2015 MLB All-Star Game’s sixth voting update for both leagues, and the race between baseball’s prominent prodigies in Mike Trout and Bryce Harper continues to be a fascinating focal point.
Per MLB Communications, Trout has a narrow lead over Harper, with both claiming over 11 million votes as their respective leagues’ leading outfielders entering the final week to cast ballots:
The duo will garner comparisons as long as they are playing, which figures to be over another decade or longer.
Trout is having another sensational season in center field for the Los Angeles Angels, and the massive market he plays in can only help his vote total. Although Harper hasn’t really found his groove until this year, he really is starting to live up to the massive hype that’s surrounded him since he arrived in the MLB.
This graphic from Fox Sports: MLB illustrates how Harper has improved in just about every conceivable area in 2015—and how he stacks up with Trout in some categories:
Another big development from Monday saw Toronto Blue Jays third baseman Josh Donaldson emerge as the leading vote-getter. ESPN Stats & Info added context for how valuable Donaldson has been to Toronto amid a tight divisional race:
Kansas City Royals fans are making their presence known, even with Donaldson passing Mike Moustakas for current starting honors at third. Andy McCullough of the Kansas City Star reacted to the release in that context:
While Harper’s vote lead in the National League is tremendous over No. 2 outfielder Giancarlo Stanton—and figures to grow since the Miami Marlins star has a fractured hand—K.C. has an undeniable presence at every single position.
The gap between Trout and two Royals outfielders in Lorenzo Cain and Alex Gordon isn’t nearly as big as the margin from Harper to Stanton, shining as a prime example of Kansas City’s voting success.
A rather miraculous run to last year’s World Series is proving not to be a fluke. The Royals sit atop the AL standings at the moment, and the club’s official Twitter account is certainly proud of its All-Star campaign:
With five All-Star starters currently in place, the AL figures to be well-represented at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati by its current top team.
The Royals figure to continue asserting their will with an aggressive pre-All-Star PR blitz. Other AL fanbases will have to start voting in droves to see their favorite players crack the starting lineup. At least the Blue Jays created a stir ahead of the final week with Donaldson’s rise.
Turnout simply hasn’t been the same for the NL. Harper’s likely to retain his status as the top vote-getter, but there figures to be plenty of suspense as the tight races for the outfield slots and third base heat up.
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