The 2018 MLB All-Star game is still a month away, however, if voting for the 89th summer classic were to end this weekend, the National League roster would be jam-packed full of Atlanta Braves. Early returns indicate that Atlanta fans are showing their appreciation for the effort they are seeing on the field so far this season, as several Braves players are leading the pack at their position -- and one is on a possible record-breaking pace!

Freeman running away

Freddie Freeman is one of the best players in the game today, and fans are taking notice.

According to an MLB report, as of June 18, three members of the Atlanta Braves are leading at their position, but Freddie Freeman is leading everyone!

The slugging first baseman for the Braves has already racked up 1,433,140 votes, which puts him nearly one million votes ahead of Chicago’s Anthony Rizzo who has 566,382. Freeman is also leaps and bounds ahead of all vote-getters early on. Freeman is on pace to hit 30-plus home runs and drive in 100 RBI this season. As of June 19, Freeman has 15 home runs, 49 RBI and is hitting an incredible .337.

Another Braves player who deserves a lot of credit in 2018 is Nick Markakis, Markakis has always been a solid player, but this year he is off to his best start yet.

A 13-year vet who has logged over 1,900 games, and is closing in on 2,200 hits, the former Orioles standout and current Braves slugger has never been an All-Star. That looks like it is going to change.

In the second of what is usually four to five updates provided by MLB.com, Markakis has overtaken Washington’s Bryce Harper as the leading outfield vote-getter.

If Markakis is a starter in the 2018 MLB All-Star Game, it would easily be one of the feel-good stories of the baseball season.

The leaders

So outside of the red-hot Atlanta Braves, let’s see who is leading the National League field.

At catcher, Buster Posey of the San Francisco Giants is No. 1 with 686,253 votes while Chicago Cubs’ Willson Contreras is second with 596,111, and as previously mentioned, first base belongs to Freeman and Rizzo.

Below are the current leaders for each position as of June 18. The 2018 MLB All-Star Game is scheduled to take place on July 17 from Nationals Park in Washington, D.C.

Second Base voting numbers

1. Ozzie Albies/Atlanta: 915,7362

2. Javier Baez/Chicago Cubs: 767,4173

3. Scooter Gennett/Cincinnati Reds: 743,979

Third Base

1. Nolan Arenado/Colorado Rockies: 1,124,5632

2. Kris Bryant/Chicago Cubs: 677,1853

3. Johan Camargo/Atlanta Braves: 395,389

Shortstop

1. Brandon Crawford/San Francisco Giants: 1,120,031

2. Dansby Swanson/Atlanta Braves: 568,400

3. Addison Russell/Chicago Cubs: 475,091

Outfield

1. Nick Markakis/Atlanta Braves: 1,173,653

2. Bryce Harper/Washington Nationals: 1,002,696

3. Matt Kemp/LA Dodgers: 925,697

4. Charlie Blackmon/Colorado Rockies: 678,831

5. Ronald Acuna Jr./Atlanta Braves: 617,151

6. Ender Inciarte/Atlanta Braves: 528,943
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