Lofty numbers keep Santana in All-Star contention
CLEVELAND -- Carlos Santana would need a miracle within baseball's ballot boxes to make up enough ground to earn the starting nod behind the plate on the American League All-Star team. The fact remains that the Indians catcher has put up numbers worthy of consideration for the Midsummer Classic.
In the latest voting results revealed on Saturday, Santana was the lone Cleveland player still mathematically in the hunt for a spot on the AL squad. The catcher was ranked fourth in balloting, making it clear that he is at the very least beginning to earn the attention of fans.
The Indians are certainly thrilled with what he brings to the table.
"What he does from the catcher's position, offensively," Indians maneger Terry Francona said recently, "it's got to be about as good as anybody in the league. He grinds out at-bats so well."
Santana has tallied 1,029,674 votes. Twins catcher Joe Mauer led the pack with 2,788,972 votes, and was followed by Baltimore's Matt Wieters (2,068,032), Texas' A.J. Pierzynski (1,054,093), Santana and Boston's Jarrod Saltalamacchia (966,196).
Fans can cast their votes for starters at MLB.com and all 30 club sites -- online or via a mobile device -- using the 2013 All-Star Game MLB.com Ballot until July 4, at 11:59 p.m. ET.
Fans may submit 25 online ballots during the voting period but can also earn a one-time bonus of 10 additional online ballots. To access these additional online ballots, fans must be logged into an MLB.com account when submitting any online ballot. To obtain an MLB.com account, visit www.mlb.com and register in accordance with the enrollment instructions for a free MLB.com account.
Fans can also once again participate in the Home Run Derby Fan Poll. Fans will have the opportunity to select three players in each league whom they would most like to see participate in the Home Run Derby. The 2013 Home Run Derby -- part of Gatorade All-Star Workout Day -- will be broadcast live on ESPN, ESPN HD, ESPN Deportes and ESPN Radio in the United States beginning at 8 p.m. ET on July 15.
Though originally scheduled for July 7, the 2013 rosters will now be unveiled July 6, at 6:30 p.m. ET on the 2013 MLB All-Star Game Selection Show presented by Taco Bell. The show will be televised nationally on FOX.
From July 6-11, fans can return to MLB.com and cast their 2013 All-Star Game Final Vote Sponsored by freecreditscore.com for the final player for each League's All-Star roster.
The voting doesn't end there. The final phase of All-Star Game voting will again have fans participating in the official voting for the Ted Williams All-Star Game Most Valuable Player Award presented by Chevrolet. During the Midsummer Classic, fans will vote exclusively online at MLB.com via the 2013 All-Star Game MLB.com MVP Vote, and their voice will represent 20 percent of the official vote determining the recipient of the Arch Ward Trophy.
The 2013 All-Star Game will be played at Citi Field on July 16. Come to MLB.com for extensive online coverage of the All-Star Week festivities.
The 84th All-Star Game will be televised nationally by FOX Sports, in Canada by Rogers Sportsnet and RDS, and worldwide by partners in more than 200 countries via MLB International's independent feed. ESPN Radio and ESPN Radio Deportes will provide national radio coverage of the All-Star Game. MLB Network and SiriusXM also will also provide comprehensive All-Star Week coverage. For more information, please visit allstargame.com.
If Santana earns a spot on the American League roster -- whether via fan or peer voting -- it would mark his first All-Star appearance.
Entering Saturday's action, the switch-hitting Santana led AL catchers in walks (40) and ranked second in on-base percentage (.383), slugging percentage (.481), OPS (.864), home runs (10), hits (65) and runs scored (35). He ranked third among AL catchers in batting average (.277), doubles (18) and extra-base hits (28).
"If you make a mistake, he hits it," Francona said. "There's a lot of things offensively that he does that's really good. If he were a position player, he'd still be a good player. But the fact that he's a catcher makes him a great player."