HOUSTON -- With Astros manager AJ Hinch set to guide the American League in next month's All-Star Game, the big question is how many of his players will be making the trip with him to the nation's capital?
• VOTE: 2018 Camping World MLB All-Star Ballot
Astros second baseman Jose Altuve, the reigning AL Most Valuable Player Award winner and five-time All-Star, highlights the nine Houston players on this year's fan ballot, which was released Friday. Altuve made the All-Star team in the National League in 2012 and represented the AL in 2014-17, including the last three years as a starter.
Altuve's .338 average is third-best in the AL behind Jean Segura (.339) and Mookie Betts (.359)
Altuve was joined in the starting lineup for the AL last year by shortstop Carlos Correa and outfielder George Springer, the World Series Most Valuable Player Award winner. Both are on the ballot again this year, along with fellow Astros teammates Brian McCann (catcher), Yuli Gurriel (first base), Alex Bregman (third base), Evan Gattis (designated hitter), Josh Reddick (outfielder) and Marwin Gonzalez (outfield).
Hinch, by way of winning the AL pennant last year en route to winning the World Series, will be the first Astros skipper to manage an All-Star Game since Phil Garner for the NL in 2006 in Pittsburgh.
Fans may cast votes for starters at MLB.com and all 30 club sites -- on computers, tablets and smartphones -- exclusively online using the 2018 Camping World MLB All-Star Ballot until Thursday, July 5, at 10:59 p.m. CT. On smartphones and tablets, fans can also access the ballot via the MLB At Bat and MLB Ballpark mobile apps. Each fan can vote up to five times in any 24-hour period, for a maximum of 35 ballots cast.
Following the announcement of this year's All-Star starters, reserves and pitchers, fans should return to MLB.com and cast their 2018 Camping World MLB All-Star Final Vote for the final player on each league's roster. Then on Tuesday, July 17, while watching the 2018 All-Star Game presented by Mastercard live on FOX, fans may visit MLB.com to submit their choices for the Ted Williams Most Valuable Player Award presented by Chevrolet with the 2018 MLB All-Star Game MVP Vote.
The 89th Midsummer Classic, at Nationals Park in Washington, D.C., will be televised nationally by FOX Sports; in Canada by Rogers Sportsnet and RDS; and worldwide by partners in more than 180 countries. FOX Deportes will provide Spanish-language coverage in the United States, while ESPN Radio and ESPN Radio Deportes will provide exclusive national radio coverage of the All-Star Game. MLB Network, MLB.com and SiriusXM also will provide comprehensive All-Star Week coverage. For more information about MLB All-Star Week and to purchase tickets, please visit AllStarGame.com and follow @MLB and @AllStarGame on social media.