This story was excerpted from Jake Rill’s Orioles Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.

NEW YORK -- The Orioles sent four players to the MLB All-Star Game in 2023 -- when the Midsummer Classic was held in Seattle -- marking the first time they had multiple representatives since ‘16. Right-handers Félix Bautista and Yennier Cano, outfielder Austin Hays and catcher Adley Rutschman were all named first-time All-Stars last season.

Baltimore could have an even larger number of players heading to this year’s All-Star Game, which will occur July 16 at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas.

The first update for Phase 1 of All-Star voting was released by MLB on Monday, and the support for the O’s is off to a strong start. Rutschman and shortstop Gunnar Henderson are both leading their respective positions in the American League, while first baseman Ryan Mountcastle and third baseman Jordan Westburg are second at theirs.

The top two vote-getters at each position (announced after Phase 1 voting concludes on June 27 at 6 p.m. ET on MLB Network) will advance to Phase 2, which will take place from June 30-July 3. Then, head-to-head voting matchups will determine the starters for the 94th edition of the Midsummer Classic.

Fans can continue to vote up to five times a day for Phase 1 at MLB.com/vote, the MLB app or the MLB Ballpark app.

“It’s awesome that our fans are voting a lot for our guys,” manager Brandon Hyde said, “and fans around the country, too, to recognize how well these guys have played and how we have so many guys that deserve to go. Our players are fun to watch, and we have a bunch of really good players that deserve to be there.”

The Orioles haven’t had multiple players start an All-Star Game since 2014, when center fielder Adam Jones and designated hitter Nelson Cruz were both in the lineup for the AL. That drought could end this year, thanks to Rutschman and Henderson.

As of Monday’s update, Rutschman had received 792,857 votes, third most among AL players behind only Yankees outfielders Aaron Judge (1,366,315) and Juan Soto (1,252,020). Rutschman held a sizable advantage over the Royals’ Salvador Perez (588,952), who ranked second among AL catchers.

Henderson (740,436) ranked first ahead of Kansas City’s Bobby Witt Jr. (541,261) at shortstop. The 22-year-old Orioles phenom -- the 2023 AL Rookie of the Year who was also a Silver Slugger last year -- has a great chance of becoming a first-time All-Star this season, as he sits second in MLB with 22 homers and has a .951 OPS through 71 games.

While Henderson is appreciating the support, individual accolades aren’t his primary focus.

“It was really humbling. Very honored and blessed to be in that position,” Henderson said. “Just going to go out there and continue to play my game and just try to help my team win ballgames. That’s the most important thing to me.”

Even if Rutschman and/or Henderson aren’t voted in as All-Star starters, they both appear likely to be headed to Arlington as reserves at the least.

Mountcastle and Westburg are building strong cases to become first-time All-Stars, as is Anthony Santander, who has 18 homers (including nine in June) and stood fifth among AL outfielders in Monday’s voting update. It would also be a surprise if Baltimore ace Corbin Burnes (a 2.14 ERA in 15 starts) doesn’t become an All-Star for the fourth time.

Pitchers and reserves for the All-Star Game are selected via a combination of a player ballot and the Commissioner’s Office.

The Orioles haven’t had six All-Stars in a season since 1972. But perhaps even that could change soon, considering how many players are having strong showings this year.

“It’s just a testament to the guys we have here,” Henderson said. “I feel like everybody just plays hard and plays their game and just goes out there and tries to help the team win, and stuff like that will come along with it. I feel like that’s just the mindset we have -- just to go out there and play hard baseball, and whatever comes with it, comes with it.”