NEW YORK--The Atlanta Braves' ahead-of-schedule rebuild isn't just working wonders in the NL East standings, it has the club dominating early All-Star Game balloting, as well.
In the first NL All-Star Game balloting update released Monday, the surprise of the NL, if not all of baseball, has a league-best three players with enough votes to start at their respective positions.
Leading the way is the biggest name the current NL East co-leader retained through the rebuild, first baseman Freddie Freeman. He leads all NL players with 633,342 votes, more than 100,000 clear of the second-highest vote-getter, Colorado third baseman Nolan Arenado.
Freeman is tied for the NL lead in hits (85), doubles (19) and batting average (.340) entering Monday, and his .998 OPS is more than 40 points better than second-place Arenado. Freeman made the All-Star team in 2013 and '14 but has never been voted to start. He leads the next-closest first baseman, Chicago's Anthony Rizzo, by nearly 400,000 votes.
The statistical leaderboard also displays the Braves' offensive dominance, as the player tied with Freeman in hits is teammate and outfielder Nick Markakis, while both Markakis and Braves second baseman Ozzie Albies are among the four NL leaders with 19 doubles. Markakis and Albies are the other two Braves thus far in line to start the All-Star Game.
San Francisco Giants catcher Buster Posey and shortstop Brandon Crawford, along with Arenado are the other infielders leading at their respective positions thus far. Washington's Bryce Harper leads all outfielders with 498,189 votes, followed by Markakis and the Dodgers' Matt Kemp.
The Cubs have four players currently in second place in voting among the five infield positions: Rizzo, catcher Willson Contreras, second baseman Javier Báez and third baseman Kris Bryant. Addison Russell ranks third among shortstops.
Harpers' Nationals will host the All-Star Game on July 17.
NL All-Star Game voting totals as of June 11:
FIRST BASEMEN
Rank -- Player, Team -- Votes
1 -- Freddie Freeman, Braves -- 633,342
2 -- Anthony Rizzo, Cubs -- 248,275
3 -- Brandon Belt, Giants -- 162,750
4 -- Cody Bellinger, Dodgers -- 113,392
5 -- Joey Votto, Reds -- 83,272
SECOND BASEMEN
Rank -- Player, Team -- Votes
1 -- Ozzie Albies, Braves -- 398,816
2 -- Javier Báez, Cubs -- 360,307
3 -- Scooter Gennett, Reds -- 309,512
4 -- Asdrúbal Cabrera, Mets -- 97,243
5 -- Joe Panik, Giants -- 62,325
THIRD BASEMEN
Rank -- Player, Team -- Votes
1 -- Nolan Arenado, Rockies -- 527,683
2 -- Kris Bryant, Cubs -- 305,062
3 -- Johan Camargo, Braves -- 152,260
4 -- Eugenio Suárez, Reds -- 87,659
5 -- Justin Turner, Dodgers -- 87,387
SHORTSTOPS
Rank -- Player, Team -- Votes
1 -- Brandon Crawford, Giants -- 466,021
2 -- Dansby Swanson, Braves -- 225,182
3 -- Addison Russell, Cubs -- 210,764
4 -- Trea Turner, Nationals -- 158,252
5 -- Trevor Story, Rockies -- 143,603
CATCHERS
Rank -- Player, Team -- Votes
1 -- Buster Posey, Giants -- 281,331
2 -- Willson Contreras, Cubs -- 259,427
3 -- Kurt Suzuki, Braves -- 223,108
4 -- Francisco Cervelli, Pirates -- 168,832
5 -- Yadier Molina, Cardinals -- 152,336
OUTFIELDERS
Rank -- Player, Team -- Votes
1 -- Bryce Harper, Nationals -- 498,189
2 -- Nick Markakis, Braves -- 494,206
3 -- Matt Kemp, Dodgers -- 351,780
4 -- Charlie Blackmon, Rockies -- 309,099
5 -- Ronald Acuña Jr., Braves -- 277,077
6 -- Ender Inciarte, Braves -- 225,225
7 -- Kyle Schwarber, Cubs -- 203,299
8 -- Ben Zobrist, Cubs -- 196,837
9 -- Odúbel Herrera, Phillies -- 189,234
10 -- Jason Heyward, Cubs -- 175,583
11 -- Christian Yelich, Brewers -- 163,575
12 -- Corey Dickerson, Pirates -- 150,239
13 -- A.J. Pollock, D-backs -- 110,055
14 -- Matt Adams, Nationals -- 106,317
15 -- Lorenzo Cain, Brewers -- 104,948
