Nelson Cruz wins fan election for American League at designated hitter

SEATTLE, Wash. - Nelson Cruz of the Seattle Mariners has been voted as the starting designated hitter for the American League squad in the 86th Major League Baseball All-Star Game to be played Tuesday, July 14 at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati.

The 2015 American League and National League All-Star starters were unveiled earlier this evening during the "Esurance All-Star Starters Selection Show" on ESPN. Reserves, pitchers and Esurance MLB Final Vote candidates for the 2015 Midsummer Classic will be announced tomorrow night on the "Esurance All-Star Selection Show" on ESPN at 4 pm PT/7 pm ET.

In the AL's tightest race, Nelson Cruz (10,632,184) claimed his fourth All-Star selection (2009, 2013-14) as he held off Kendrys Morales (10,320,500) of the Royals. It marks the second consecutive fan-elected start for Cruz, who claimed the starting assignment last year at Target Field while with Baltimore. Cruz, who joins Edgar Martinez (1997, 2001, 2003) as fan-elected designated hitters in Mariners history, is tied for third in the AL with 21 home runs and ranks fourth with a .555 slugging percentage. Overall, the 35-year-old native of the Dominican Republic is batting .304 with 11 doubles, a triple and 41 runs scored. Cruz ranks first in the Majors with 12 game-winning RBI and is tied with fellow All-Stars Harper and Frazier for first in the Majors with 20 go-ahead RBI on the season.

The 2015 All-Star Game will be played at Great American Ball Park on Tuesday, July 14th at 7 pm ET/4 pm PT. The 86th All-Star Game will be televised nationally by FOX Sports; in Canada by Rogers Sportsnet and RDS; and worldwide by partners in more than 160 countries. ESPN Radio and ESPN Radio Deportes will provide exclusive national radio coverage of the All-Star Game. MLB Network, MLB.com and Sirius XM also will provide comprehensive All-Star Week coverage. For more information, please visit allstargame.com.