Aaron Judge, Jose Trevino among Yankees' positional finalists for All-Star Game

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On a recent night when Jose Trevino’s surprising offense and reliable strong defense made a difference in another Yankees’ win, Aaron Judge essentially became the catcher’s All-Star Game campaign manager.

“What he’s doing this year is special,’’ said Judge. “I think he deserves the right to be in L.A. this year to represent the Yankees and represent the American League.’’

Judge tops in fans voting among AL outfielders to be in the All-Star Game’s starting lineup, July 19, at Dodger Stadium, and Trevino is second among AL catchers.

Pitchers and reserves are selected via the MLB players' ballot, and rosters can also be filled out by All-Star managers, in conjunction with the league. The All-Star teams will be revealed July 10.

Here are the Yankees’ finalists for the Mid-Summer Classic, as revealed by MLB on Thursday night:

Aaron Judge

New York Yankees right fielder Aaron Judge (99) celebrates with teammates after his walk-off home run against the Houston Astros during the tenth inning of a baseball game, Sunday, June 26, 2022, in New York. The New York Yankees won 6-3. (AP Photo/Noah K. Murray)
New York Yankees right fielder Aaron Judge (99) celebrates with teammates after his walk-off home run against the Houston Astros during the tenth inning of a baseball game, Sunday, June 26, 2022, in New York. The New York Yankees won 6-3. (AP Photo/Noah K. Murray)

Outfield

Rank: 1

Votes: 3,762,498

Judge leads the league in votes with 3,762,498, automatically earning him a starting All-Star spot to conclude the Phase 1 balloting.

A three-time All-Star, Judge entered Thursday with a 1.001 OPS, leading the majors with 29 home runs and pacing the league in total bases (180) and runs scored (62).

On a nearly daily basis, Judge has increased his long-term price tag, excelling in his free agent walk season.

Jose Trevino

Catcher

Rank: 2

In just over two months, Trevino has gone from part-time receiver to a favorite to make the All-Star team, at least as a backup.

Trevino is well behind Toronto’s Alejandro Kirk for the top spot, but his plus-defense and .320/.366/.560 slash line since May 22, with five homers and 18 RBI, could get him a trip to his first All-Star Game.

“If it happens, it happens. That would be really cool,’’ Trevino said recently. “But I want to win a championship. That’s what I’m here for.’’

Anthony Rizzo

First base

Rank: 3

Rizzo hasn’t made an All-Star team since 2016, with a Chicago Cubs during their long-awaited championship season.

Playing a Gold Glove caliber first base, Rizzo has arguably been the league’s most productive .220 hitter, with 20 homers and 50 RBI through Wednesday.

Rizzo is well behind Toronto’s Vladimir Guerrero Jr. in the balloting, but he’s close to the No. 2 option, Seattle’s Ty France.

Gleyber Torres

New York Yankees' Gleyber Torres, left, gestures as he reaches home plate after hitting a home run during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Chicago Cubs, Friday, June 10, 2022, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
New York Yankees' Gleyber Torres, left, gestures as he reaches home plate after hitting a home run during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Chicago Cubs, Friday, June 10, 2022, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

Second base

Rank: 4

Already with more home runs (13) through 68 games than in 127 games in 2021 (9), Torre has also seen an uptick in his defense since moving from shortstop.

Houston’s Jose Altuve has a 900,000-ballot lead over Torres, who also trails Toronto’s Santiago Espinal and Cleveland’s Andres Gimenez.

DJ LeMahieu

Third base

Rank: 4

Moving around three separate infield spots, LeMahieu has started just four fewer games at third base than Josh Donaldson.

A three-time All-Star, including 2019 with the Yankees, LeMahieu has been a solid presence again, after an off season in 2021 that concluded with surgery to repair a sports hernia.

LeMahieu is well behind Cleveland’s Jose Ramirez and Boston’s Rafael Devers in the balloting, with Matt Chapman in the No. 3 spot. But he’s ahead of Houston’s Alex Bregman.

Giancarlo Stanton

Outfield

Rank: 4

Stanton has not been an All-Star since his 2017 MVP season when he clubbed 59 home runs and drove in 132 runs with the Miami Marlins.

This year, Stanton had 19 homers and 52 RBI through his first 62 games, and he’s split time evenly between playing the outfield and being the designated hitter.

The Los Angeles Angels’ Mike Trout is second behind Judge among outfielders, and Toronto’s George Springer is third.

Isiah Kiner-Falefa

Shortstop

Rank: 5

The Yanks' new shortstop does not possess eye-popping stats, but he's been a steady presence and a noticeable defensive upgrade, providing some of the athleticism the Yanks have recently lacked.

Toronto's Bo Bichette and the Chicago White Sox's Tim Anderson ranked well ahead of Kiner-Falefa, who also trailed Houston's Jeremy Pena in the balloting.

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Aaron Judge, Jose Trevino Yankees' All-Star Game finalists