The Orioles’ 2023 season ended at Globe Life Field. Three days before they’re scheduled to return there to face the Texas Rangers for the first time since the American League Division Series, Adley Rutschman and Gunnar Henderson could go early to be at the center of the baseball world.

The Orioles’ first two picks in the 2019 draft are leading their respective positions in AL All-Star fan voting, giving them a leg up to start the Midsummer Classic on July 16 in Arlington, Texas. MLB released its first update on the vote Monday, with Rutschman and Henderson both owning sizable leads at catcher and shortstop, respectively.

Rutschman is more than 203,000 votes ahead of Kansas City backstop Salvador Perez, while Henderson is nearly 200,000 votes ahead of Royals shortstop Bobby Witt Jr., the No. 2 selection after Rutschman in the 2019 draft. It would be Henderson’s first All-Star nod and Rutschman’s second in a row.

Henderson has emerged this season as one of the best players in baseball. After winning the AL Rookie of the Year Award last year, he’s vaulted himself into contention as the circuit’s Most Valuable Player. Henderson ranks second in the majors with 22 home runs at just 22 years old. He leads all shortstops in FanGraph’s version of wins above replacement at 4.7, narrowly ahead of Witt (4.6).

Rutschman is in his third consecutive season as one of the sport’s best all-around catchers. The switch-hitter is batting .289 with 14 long balls, on pace to shatter his single-season high of 20, and he leads AL catchers with 2.2 WAR, barely ahead of Perez (2.1).

The most recent Oriole to win a fan vote was shortstop Manny Machado in 2018. The last time a catcher did so was Matt Wieters in 2009.

The top two vote recipients at every position in each league as of June 27 will advance to the second phase of voting. The finalists will be announced on MLB Network on June 27 at 6 p.m. The starters will be unveiled July 3 on ESPN, while full rosters will be announced July 7.

Rutschman and Henderson won’t likely be the only Orioles at the Midsummer Classic on July 16. It could be the Orioles’ second straight year having a large contingent at the All-Star Game after last summer when Rutschman, Austin Hays, Yennier Cano and Félix Bautista represented Baltimore. Rutschman, who finished second in the fan vote last summer, put on a switch-hitting show during the Home Run Derby, while Hays started in center field. Before sending four last year, the last time the Orioles had more than the minimum of one was in 2016 when they sent five.

First baseman Ryan Mountcastle and third baseman Jordan Westburg are both second at their positions. Westburg is behind Cleveland Guardians star José Ramírez by more than 400,000 votes, while Mountcastle is within striking distance of Toronto Blue Jays slugger Vladimir Guerrero Jr., only about 50,000 votes behind.

First base might be the weakest position in the AL, while third base is the circuit’s most competitive. No first baseman in the AL has an OPS above .800 compared with five third basemen, including Westburg at .836. The sophomore infielder is second among AL third basemen in WAR with 2.3, behind Ramírez (2.4) and ahead of Boston Red Sox star Rafael Devers. Mountcastle is second among AL first baseman in WAR (1.0) and OPS (.784).

Outfielders Anthony Santander and Colton Cowser are also receiving consideration from fans, coming in at fifth and seventh, respectively. The top six vote-getters in the outfield advance to the second phase. Cedric Mullins, who was an All-Star in 2021, is 11th among AL outfielders. Jorge Mateo is fourth at second base, while Ryan O’Hearn is fourth among designated hitters.

Santander started slowly but is in the midst of a scorching-hot June to boost his home run tally to 17, which ranks sixth in the AL. Cowser’s season has been the inverse of Santander’s, as the rookie burst onto the scene in April and has struggled at the plate since. In addition to Cowser’s .768 OPS are metrics that consider him one of the sport’s best defensive outfielders. Santander is 13th among AL outfielders in WAR with 1.1, while Cowser is sixth at 2.1.

Any of these position players could make the team as reserves, which are determined by player voting and Commissioner’s Office selections. The same process is used to determine pitching staffs.

Ace Corbin Burnes is a near-lock to earn his fourth straight All-Star nod, potentially even as the AL’s starting pitcher. The right-hander is 8-2 with a 2.14 ERA in his first season as an Oriole.

Closer Craig Kimbrel and left-handed reliever Danny Coulombe also have All-Star cases. The former overcame a rough patch six weeks ago to lower his ERA to 2.39 and ranks third in the AL with 16 saves. The latter is currently on the IL, but his 0.615 WHIP has made him one of the circuit’s most relievers this season.