MLB: Red Light, Green Light: Who Earns Your Reds All-Star Votes (and Who Needs a Reality Check)

With Phase 1 of the 2026 MLB All-Star voting officially underway, fans across the country are filling out their ballots for the Midsummer Classic in Philadelphia. For the Cincinnati Reds, the season has been a bit of a rollercoaster under manager Terry Francona. Sitting just a couple of games under .500 in a hyper-competitive National League Central, the roster features a polarizing mix of dynamic, elite output and frustrating, developmental slumps.

If you are building your ballot and want to vote with a mix of hometown pride and statistical integrity, here is a definitive guide on which Reds players earned your All-Star votes, who didn’t, and what those trailing behind need to fix to get back on track.

Punch Their Tickets: The All-Star Deservers

These three players have been the heartbeat of the team over the first half of the season. Their production isn’t just “good for the Reds”—it ranks right at the top of the National League.

Elly De La Cruz (Shortstop)

• The Case: It’s time to make it three straight All-Star appearances for the most electric player in baseball. De La Cruz has evolved from a highlight-reel anomaly into a consistent offensive powerhouse. Pacing the team in hits and runs, he’s slashing a stellar .274/.340/.500 with 12 home runs and 37 RBIs. When you add his always-dangerous threat on the basepaths, he remains an absolute lock for an NL starting spot.

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  El Dela Cruz: Cincinnati Reds vs Washington Nationals

JJ Bleday (Outfield)

• The Case: What a revelation Bleday has been in the Cincinnati outfield. He has consistently carried the outfield production, putting up a massive .996 OPS. Boasting a .287 batting average and launching 8 home runs, he’s been the definition of a clutch middle-of-the-order bat. In a crowded NL outfield field, Bleday’s visual consistency and pure power metrics demand a spot on your ballot.

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  JJ Bleday (Outfield): Cincinnati Reds vs Washington Nationals

Sal Stewart (First Base / Infield)

• The Case: The rookie has absolutely arrived. After working tirelessly in the offseason to drop weight and refine his approach, Stewart has been nothing short of spectacular. He is tied with Elly for the team lead in RBIs (37) and home runs (12), while carrying a highly mature .265/.359/.488 slash line. Stewart is anchoring the infield and providing the exact kind of high-impact stability a young team needs.

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  Sal Stewart (First Base / Infield): Reds vs Giants

Hold the Votes: Players Who Need Improvement

While the top of the order is clicking, a few prominent names on the roster are mired in deeply frustrating campaigns. These players don’t quite belong on an All-Star ballot right now, and their paths forward require specific adjustments.

PlayerPosition2026 AVG2026 OPSMatt McLain2B.199.620TJ FriedlCF.184.528Ke’Bryan Hayes3B.142.420

Matt McLain (Second Base)

• What’s wrong: Two years removed from shoulder surgery, McLain simply hasn’t found his standard rhythm. He’s struggling down at a .199 batting average and striking out at an alarming rate (51 strikeouts in 54 games).

• How to improve: McLain’s swing mechanics look slightly elongated, leading to a high whiff rate on elevated fastballs. To regain his 2023 form, he needs to shorten his swing radius, stay back on breaking pitches, and focus on line-drive spray charts rather than selling out for pull-side power.

TJ Friedl (Center Field)

• What’s wrong: Friedl has usually been the spark plug of this lineup, but 2026 has been a grind. A .184 average and a bleak .263 slugging percentage mean he isn’t getting on base enough to utilize his speed, nor is he driving the ball into the gaps.

• How to improve: Friedl needs to rediscover his identity as a chaotic, ball-in-play hitter. He is currently lifting the ball too much; an adjustment to level out his swing path and use Great American Ball Park’s quick turf to beat out grounders and bunts will elevate that OBP back to where it belongs.

Ke’Bryan Hayes (Third Base)

• What’s wrong: Defensively, Hayes remains a wizard, but his bat has been completely ice-cold. Slashing .142/.195/.225, he has become a massive liability at the bottom of the order.

• How to improve: Hayes is completely rolling over on outside pitches, leading to weak groundouts to the left side. He must work with the hitting staff on keeping his front shoulder closed longer and letting the ball travel deeper into the zone so he can drive it to the opposite field.

The Verdict

When you log onto the MLB All-Star ballot, give Elly De La Cruz, JJ Bleday, and Sal Stewart the checkmarks they’ve rightfully earned. They represent the bright future and immediate ceiling of this Reds franchise. As for the rest of the lineup, the focus shouldn’t be on Philadelphia in July—it should be on daily cage work in June to get this offense firing on all cylinders for a second-half wildcard push.