Ohtani holds firm in NL as second All-Star ballot update reshapes AL race, with Ernie Clement surging

The second update of MLB’s 2026 All-Star fan voting left Shohei Ohtani in a commanding spot in the National League, while also bringing a notable reshuffle in the American League leaderboard. Ohtani remained the overall NL fan-vote pace-setter, and the update underscored why many voters view him as the face of this year’s campaign: the Dodgers designated hitter and pitcher has been among the most impactful two-way performers in baseball again this season.

According to the update published by Yahoo Sports on June 22, Ohtani is on track to lead all players in fan voting for the first time in his career. The same report framed his case with a mix of batting, on-base and pitching production, noting that he is second among all major-league players in WAR (5.4) this season. It also pointed to a batting profile anchored by a.418 on-base percentage and an OPS of.969, along with his mound work showing his lowest major-league career ERA at 1.47.

In the American League, the story of the update is motion at the top. The Yahoo Sports report said that Ernie Clement surged to the top of the AL fan-vote leaderboard in the second ballot update. That change matters because the All-Star balloting does not operate as a simple popularity contest for one week, it is designed to reward sustained interest across multiple checkpoints as fans continue to cast votes.

Clement’s rise, as described in the update, also highlights the way MLB’s fan voting can elevate players whose seasons are compelling but not always defined by the largest-star marketing platforms. When a player moves from chasing to leading within a voting cycle, it suggests a combination of roster recognition, media visibility, and fan engagement that can broaden the voting conversation beyond the usual heavyweights.

For Ohtani, the implications of maintaining the lead are largely symbolic but still significant in the All-Star Game picture. Being positioned to top overall fan votes for the first time would cap a long stretch in which he has already become the standard-bearer for what a modern two-way star can look like. For the Dodgers, it is also another reminder of how central Ohtani’s season has been to their day-to-day identity, even as his value spans two roles on the same roster.

Still, fans and voters should treat these updates as snapshots rather than outcomes. Voting totals can move quickly in later weeks, and the All-Star rosters are ultimately shaped by the combination of fan selections and league decisions. What to watch next is whether Ohtani’s lead holds through subsequent updates, and whether Clement can convert early momentum into an extended run at the top of the AL ballot.

For now, this second update sets a clear contrast: Ohtani’s position looks stable at the top of the National League, while the American League has a new front-runner in Clement. Together, the changes make the next round of voting worth watching, because the balance between established megastars and players surging late can still determine who ends up most visible at the mid-summer showcase.