Monday, June 08

MIAMI -- Dust off those signs and print out some stickers, because it’s an election year. 

Earlier this week, Major League Baseball launched the 2026 KONAMI eBaseball MLB All-Star Ballot for the 2026 MLB All-Star Game presented by Mastercard, which will be held on July 14 at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia. 

Three Marlins -- second baseman Xavier Edwards, shortstop Otto Lopez and catcher Liam Hicks -- are having All-Star-worthy first halves and could use the support.   

The 2026 MLB All-Star Ballot features two phases of fan voting to determine the All-Star starters for position players. From now until June 25 at 12 p.m. ET, fans can vote exclusively online and via mobile devices at MLB.com/vote, all 30 club websites, the MLB App and the MLB Ballpark App until the voting period for Phase 1 concludes.  

During the initial voting period, fans can submit up to five ballots each day on MLB platforms. Each day, after submitting a fifth vote on the ballot, fans will be given the option to be redirected to KONAMI’s mobile game, eBaseball: MLB PRO SPIRIT, for an exclusive opportunity to vote for a sixth time. 

The top two players at each position (and top six outfielders) per league will advance to the finals to contend for a starting spot. 

“With the starts that those guys have had, X in particular, he's had certainly an All-Star-caliber first half, as has Otto,” manager Clayton McCullough said. “He's led the league in hitting really from Opening Day. He's played above-average shortstop. Both those guys, I think, are more than deserving [of] being in that conversation.  

“And Liam, what he's done from a production standpoint as a catcher, he's been great. They're all, for me, very much deserving. I hope we can get multiple guys in this year.” 

Here are the early cases for that trio, with stats entering Saturday.  

2B Xavier Edwards 

2026 stats: .307/.391/.462 with 11 doubles, four triples, six homers, 20 RBIs in 64 games 

Biggest competition: JJ Wetherholt (Cardinals), Brice Turang (Brewers), Luis Arraez (Giants), Brandon Lowe (Pirates) 
Last Marlins second baseman to make All-Star team: Arraez (2023) 
 

Edwards entered Saturday tied with Arraez, Wetherholt and Turang for the highest fWAR (2.5) among qualifying NL second basemen. He is the only one from that quartet to have played in every game this season. 

Among that group, Edwards has the second-highest average, the second-highest on-base percentage, the second-most steals (10) and the highest slugging percentage. The 26-year-old’s six homers this season are also more than he had from 2023-25 to begin his Major League career. 

According to Baseball Savant, Edwards is also elite in the following metrics: squared-up percentage (35.8%, 95th percentile), whiff percentage (13.7%, 96th percentile) and strikeout percentage (11.8%, 93rd percentile). Like Arraez, he has walked more than he has struck out. 

SS Otto Lopez 
2026 stats: .331/.361/.468 with 15 doubles, two triples, five homers, 26 RBIs, 10 steals in 63 games 

Biggest competition: Elly De La Cruz (Reds), CJ Abrams (Nationals) 
Last Marlins shortstop to make All-Star team: Hanley Ramirez (2010) 

Lopez entered Saturday third among qualifying NL shortstops in fWAR (2.3), behind De La Cruz (2.7) and Abrams (2.5). Among all qualified Major Leaguers, Lopez ranked second in average (.331), first in hits (82) and tied for first in multi-hit games (24).  

The 27-year-old Lopez is the only one of that trio to have a value over 1.0 in all three facets of the game -- baserunning (1.7), offense (11.1) and defense (3.0) -- per FanGraphs. With De La Cruz sidelined by a hamstring strain, that will allow Lopez and Abrams to accumulate counting stats in his absence.  

C/1B/DH Liam Hicks 
2026 stats: .262/.346/.465 with five doubles, 12 homers, 46 RBIs in 61 games  

Biggest competition: Drake Baldwin (Braves), William Contreras (Brewers) 
Last Marlins catcher to make All-Star team: J.T. Realmuto (2018) 

Hicks entered Saturday tied with Contreras for the second-highest fWAR (1.3) among qualifying NL catchers, behind the injured Baldwin (2.2). What could work in Hicks’ favor is his ability to also play first base, something the other two haven’t done.  

The 27-year-old Hicks’ 12 homers are third most for NL backstops, while his 46 RBIs are fourth most in the Majors regardless of position and his 15 multi-RBI performances pace MLB. 

Despite a prolonged slump, Hicks is still elite in the following categories: squared-up percentage (36.2%, 96th percentile), whiff percentage (10.8%, 98th percentile) and strikeout percentage (9.4, 98th percentile). 

Of note: I didn’t take into account the possibility of the fan vote impacting the positional races. For example: Braves 2B Ozzie Albies, Dodgers SS Mookie Betts or Dodgers C Will Smith, among others. 

Hicks discussed playing for Canada in the World Baseball Classic. 

Sergio’s Go joined the Local Legends program this weekend and can be enjoyed for the remainder of the 2026 season at loanDepot park. 

Fans visiting Section 208 on the Legends Level can choose menu items from one of South Florida’s most beloved Cuban restaurant brands: beef, chicken and spinach empanadas; ham croquetas and cheese tequeños; various sandwiches like pan con bistec, media noche, croqueta preparada, pan con lechón and the signature Frita Burger, as well as customized rice bowls featuring white rice, black beans, sweet plantains and greens, paired with roasted pork or ropa vieja. 

The Local Legends platform also includes SuViche and Los Verdes. 

Today: PLAY BALL water bottle to first 2,500 kids; SpongeBob SquarePants Day; Youth Parade Day; Alumni Selfie presented by LEON Medical Centers; Mascot Brunch; 4 for $44 presented by Pepsi 

Tuesday: Salute & Serve presented by loanDepot 

Wednesday: 4 for $44 presented by Pepsi 

Thursday: Senior Days presented by Delta Dental 

• Marlins top prospect Thomas White is out with a left shoulder capsular sprain that could cost him the season. More >>

• Tyler Zuber recorded his first career save in a nail-biter. More >>

• Tyler Phillips gutted through Friday’s outing despite a comebacker off his foot. More >>

• My MLB.com colleague Michael Clair wrote about the Canadian talent driving Miami’s lineup. More >>

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