Under the new MLB All-Star Game voting system, fans will get to vote in two separate rounds of competition, and the Chicago Cubs are well-represented among this year’s finalists.
According to the league, first baseman Anthony Rizzo and third baseman Kris Bryant both made the final three at their respective positions for the annual game. Both players will face stiff competition for the starting role in the contest, which will be held at Cleveland’s Progressive Field.
Rizzo will take on a divisional rival in the voting, as Pittsburgh Pirates star Josh Bell made the cut. Atlanta Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman, who will visit Wrigley Field next week with his Braves teammates, will also go up against Rizzo in the final voting.
Bryant is going to have an equally tough road, going up against Colorado Rockies star Nolan Arenado and Braves third baseman Josh Donaldson in the voting.
Later in the evening, MLB announced that star shortstop Javier Báez will be a finalist at the position, joining Braves star Dansby Swanson and Colorado's Trevor Story in the final voting.
A total of nine outfielders in the National League made the final voting for three starting spots, and all three Cubs outfielders made the cut, as Albert Almora Jr., Jason Heyward, and Kyle Schwarber made the field.
Los Angeles Dodgers outfielders Cody Bellinger and Joc Pederson are in the mix, as are Braves stars Ronald Acuna Jr. and Nick Markakis. Defending NL MVP Christian Yelich made the list for the Brewers, and Rockies lead-off man Charlie Blackmon rounds out the field.
Chicago Baseball
The Cubs rounded out their plethora of finalists when Willson Contreras was announced as a final three participant at the catcher position. Braves catcher Brian McCann and Brewers catcher Yasmani Grandal made the cut as well.
Former Cubs utilityman Tommy La Stella made the cut in the American League at second base thanks to his power surge with the Los Angeles Angels. He'll be competing against DJ LeMahieu and Jose Altuve.
Stay tuned to NBC Chicago for updates on this developing story.
