ANAHEIM — Tommy La Stella said he normally pays no attention to the All-Star balloting results, and this year was no different.

“I’ve never really had a reason to pay attention to it,” La Stella said moments after he was told that, to his surprise, he is the early leader among American League second basemen.

The first results were released on Monday morning. La Stella, who has surprisingly been one of the Angels’ best offensive performers this year, has joined perennial All-Star Mike Trout among the leaders in the All-Star voting.

“It would be pretty special,” La Stella said. “There was a time when I’m sure for most of the guys in this room, that’s one of their goals at some point. It’s been a while since I probably would’ve been thinking along those lines. To be in that position now where it’s a possibility, it’s pretty special.”

La Stella leads the voting among American League second basemen, with 487,598 votes, ahead of the Houston Astros’ José Altuve (448,131).

Trout, an All-Star in each of his seven full seasons, leads all vote-getters with 951,002 votes.

This is the first year of a new election process. “Primary” voting continues through June 21, then the top three candidates at each spot will compete again in a final election over 28 hours starting June 28.

La Stella has never been an All-Star. Acquired from the Chicago Cubs for a minor leaguer in November, La Stella is hitting .315 with 15 homers. He is one homer by behind Trout, who leads the Angels.

Shohei Ohtani is fourth among the candidates at AL designated hitter.