Carlos Gonzalez joins National League outfield leaders as tight races headline final week of balloting

Colorado Rockies outfielder Carlos Gonzalez has jumped to second place among N.L. outfielders in one of several close races as All-Star balloting winds down for the 84^th Midsummer Classic, to be played on Tuesday, July 16^th at Citi Field in New York. The All-Star Game MLB.com Ballot Sponsored by freecreditscore.com will officially close at 11:59 p.m. (ET) on Thursday night. Rosters for the Midsummer Classic will be revealed on FOX on Saturday at 6:30 p.m. (ET) on the 2013 All-Star Game Selection Show Presented by Taco Bell.

Gonzalez, an N.L. All-Star in 2012, has surpassed Washington Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper and fellow outfield leader Justin Upton of the Atlanta Braves with his 2,928,606 votes. The 27-year-old would become just the third Rockies outfielder to earn a fan election, joining Dante Bichette (1996) and Larry Walker (1997-99). The only other player overall in franchise history to receive a fan-elected starting nod is Todd Helton, who was voted a starter in three consecutive seasons from 2001-03. Gonzalez, a native of Venezuela, leads the N.L. with 22 home runs, 63 runs scored, 192 total bases and 48 extra-base hits, and he is tied for the N.L. lead with nine outfield assists. "CarGo" is followed by Upton, who has received 2,917,659 votes. The younger Upton, who is tied for eighth in the N.L. with 15 home runs, is clinging to the third outfield spot in the league's tightest race as 2012 N.L. All-Star Harper (2,902,393) and six-time All-Star Matt Holliday (2,697,608) of the St. Louis Cardinals remain close behind. They are followed by two-time All-Star Andrew McCutchen (2,510,614) of the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Cardinals outfielder Carlos Beltran, who leads all N.L. outfielders with 5,013,806 votes, surpassed San Francisco Giants backstop Buster Posey for second place overall in the Senior Circuit. The 36-year-old native of Puerto Rico is contending for second consecutive fan election, his sixth career fan-elected start and his eighth All-Star selection overall. A starting assignment for Beltran would mark the third consecutive season for a Cardinals outfielder to receive a fan-elected starting assignment. In addition, St. Louis has had at least one player earn a fan election in each of the last four seasons, the longest active streak in the N.L. Beltran, who is tied for the N.L. lead with a .456 batting average with runners in scoring position, ranks among league leaders with 19 home runs (5^th), a .549 slugging percentage (5^th), a .308 batting average (10^th) and 50 RBI (10^th).

Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina, who has totaled 5,093,645, holds a narrow lead over his teammate Beltran for the overall lead in the N.L. Molina, a two-time World Series Champion, is also being challenged by Posey, another two-time World Series Champion, for the starting assignment behind the dish. Molina, who leads the N.L. with a .345 batting average and 26 doubles, and is tied for third with 100 hits, is aiming for his third fan-elected start and fifth All-Star selection overall. The native of Puerto Rico would join Hall of Famers Johnny Bench (10) and Gary Carter (8), as well as Mike Piazza (11) and fellow countryman Benito Santiago (4) as the only N.L. catchers to receive at least three fan-elected starting assignments. In addition, he would also become the fifth player in Cardinals history to earn at least three fan-elected starting nods, joining Hall of Famer Ozzie Smith (12), Albert Pujols (5), Mark McGwire (3) and Scott Rolen (3). Posey, last season's fan-elected starter who set a new N.L. balloting record, has drawn 4,674,847 votes in his quest to become the first San Francisco player to earn consecutive fan-elected starts since Barry Bonds in 2003-04. The 2012 N.L. MVP hit .374 during the month of June and has homered in four of his last six games while driving in six of San Francisco's last 15 runs.

Seven-time All-Star and four-time fan-elected starting third baseman David Wright of the hometown New York Mets, who has tallied 4,452,282 votes, has expanded his lead at the hot corner over two-time All-Star and 2012 fan-elected starter Pablo Sandoval of the Giants. Sandoval, who was activated from the disabled list earlier this week, has accumulated 3,610,096 votes in his bid to become the first Giants infielder to earn consecutive fan-elected starts since second baseman Jeff Kent (2000-01) and the first Giants third baseman since Matt Williams (1994-96). Wright, the N.L. captain for the 2013 Chevrolet Home Run Derby, would join Hall of Famer Mike Schmidt (9) as the only N.L. third basemen to claim at least five fan elections. Since June 5^th, Wright is batting .375 (36-for-96) with 13 runs scored, 10 doubles, five home runs, 12 RBI and a .439 on-base percentage over 23 games. The 30-year-old, who has hit safely in 20 of his last 23 games, ranks among league leaders with a .393 on-base percentage (4^th), 39 walks (6^th), five triples (T-6^th), a .520 slugging percentage (9^th), 14 stolen bases (9^th) and 34 extra-base hits (10^th).

Two-time All-Star Brandon Phillips of the Cincinnati Reds continues to hold off a pair of players in search of their first All-Star nod in a tightly contested race at second base. Phillips, who has 3,411,839 votes, is followed by Matt Carpenter (3,186,423) of the Cardinals and 2012 NLCS MVP Marco Scutaro (3,142,783) of the Giants. Phillips, who is bidding for his first fan-elected start, would become the first Reds second baseman to do so since Hall of Famer Joe Morgan received seven consecutive fan elections from 1972-78. The 32-year-old leads the Majors with 24 go-ahead RBI and 13 game-winning RBI, and he ranks among N.L. leaders with 61 RBI (3^rd) and a .405 average with runners in scoring position (5^th). Carpenter leads the N.L. with 33 multi-hit games, ranks third with a .397 on-base percentage, is tied for third with 100 hits and ranks fifth with a .322 batting average. Scutaro, who ranks eighth in the N.L. with a .315 batting average, has 176 hits since being acquired by the Giants on July 28, 2012, which is tied for the second-highest total in the Majors behind Miguel Cabrera of the Detroit Tigers.

Phillips is joined on the right side of the infield by his teammate Joey Votto of the Reds. The three-time All-Star and 2012 fan-elected starter has reached base safely in 75 of his 82 appearances on the season, including each of the last 16 games. The native of Canada, who has garnered 3,622,608 votes, leads the N.L. with 60 walks, 11 intentional walks and a .437 on-base percentage. He is trailed by Arizona Diamondbacks first baseman Paul Goldschmidt (3,035,114), who leads the N.L. with 69 RBI in a bid for his Midsummer Classic debut. Votto, the 2010 N.L. MVP, is aiming to become the first Reds player to earn consecutive fan-elected starts since Hall of Famer Barry Larkin (1999-2000). Votto and Phillips would become the fifth pair of N.L. teammates (sixth time) to receive fan-elected starts at first and second base. The others include Steve Garvey and Davey Lopes of the Los Angeles Dodgers (1979 and 1980), Pete Rose and Manny Trillo of the Philadelphia Phillies (1982), Jeff Bagwell and Craig Biggio of the Houston Astros (1997) and Prince Fielder and Rickie Weeks of the Milwaukee Brewers (2011).

Colorado Rockies shortstop Troy Tulowitzki, who is currently on the disabled list with a broken rib, holds a comfortable lead at shortstop with 4,072,834 votes. He is followed by Brandon Crawford (2,383,248) of the Giants and Milwaukee Brewers shortstop Jean Segura (2,072,083), who leads the N.L. with 106 hits. Tulowitzki, a two-time All-Star, is bidding for his first career fan-elected starting assignment. In addition, he would become the fourth consecutive different N.L. shortstop to earn a starting bid, joining Hanley Ramirez (2010), Jose Reyes (2011) and Rafael Furcal (2012). The 28-year-old Tulowitzki continues to lead all Major League shortstops with a .347 batting average, 16 home runs, 51 RBI, a .413 on-base percentage and a .635 slugging percentage. Tulowitzki and Gonzalez are aiming to become the first pair of Rockies teammates to earn starting assignments together.

MLB's All-Star Balloting Program is the largest of its kind in professional sports, and last year produced a record-shattering total of 40.2 million ballots cast. This year, more than 20 million Firestone All-Star ballots were distributed at the 30 Major League ballparks, each of which had 25 dates for balloting, and in approximately 100 Minor League ballparks.

In addition, fans around the world can cast their votes for starters 25 times exclusively at MLB.com and all 30 Club web sites - online or via their mobile devices - with the 2013 All-Star Game MLB.com Ballot Sponsored by freecreditscore.com. During the voting period, the All-Star Game MLB.com Ballot Sponsored by freecreditscore.com will be available in English, Spanish, Japanese, Korean and Chinese, and will offer audio CAPTCHA functionality for visually-impaired fans. Banco BHD will sponsor online All-Star balloting in the Dominican Republic, making Spanish-language ballots available to fans in the Dominican Republic via LasMayores.com, the official Spanish-language Web site of Major League Baseball.

Every Major League Club began its in-stadium balloting no later than Tuesday, May 7^th. The in-stadium phase of balloting concluded on Friday, June 28^th, but fans will continue to have the opportunity to cast their ballots exclusively online at MLB.com, the 30 Club Web sites and their mobile devices until Thursday, July 4^th at 11:59 p.m. (EDT).

Firestone, the official tire of MLB, is once again the exclusive sponsor of the 2013 In-Stadium All-Star Balloting Program. The ballot features an All-Star sweepstakes, in which a winner will be rewarded with a trip for two to MLB All-Star Week, including airfare, hotel accommodations and tickets to the All-Star Game and other MLB All-Star Week events.

For the fifth consecutive year, this year's ballot features the Home Run Derby Fan Poll. Fans will have the opportunity to select the three players in each League who they would most like to see participate in the Home Run Derby. The Fan Poll is also available online at MLB.com. 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 8:00 p.m. (EDT) on Monday, July 15^th. The 10 American League candidates are Jose Bautista of the Toronto Blue Jays; Adrian Beltre of the Texas Rangers; Miguel Cabrera of the Detroit Tigers; the winner of the 2011 Home Run Derby, Robinson Cano of the New York Yankees; Adam Dunn of the Chicago White Sox; the winner of the 2009 and 2012 Home Run Derby, Prince Fielder of the Tigers; Josh Hamilton of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim; Adam Jones of the Baltimore Orioles; Evan Longoria of the Tampa Bay Rays; and Mike Trout of the Angels. The 10 National League candidates are Carlos Beltran of the St. Louis Cardinals; Ryan Braun of the Milwaukee Brewers; Bryce Harper of the Washington Nationals; Jason Heyward of the Atlanta Braves; Matt Kemp of the Los Angeles Dodgers; Andrew McCutchen of the Pittsburgh Pirates; Buster Posey of the San Francisco Giants; Giancarlo Stanton of the Miami Marlins; Joey Votto of the Cincinnati Reds; and David Wright of the Mets.

The 2013 American League and National League All-Star Teams will be unveiled on Saturday, July 6^th on the 2013 MLB All-Star Game Selection Show presented by Taco Bell, televised nationally on FOX at 6:30 p.m. (EDT) prior to its slate of prime time games that evening. The show, airing live from MLB Network's Studio 3, will feature MLB Network personalities Matt Vasgersian, three-time All-Star Dan Plesac and two-time All-Star Harold Reynolds.

The A.L. All-Star Team will have nine elected starters via the fan balloting program, while the N.L. All-Star Team will have eight fan-elected starters. The pitchers and reserves for both squads - totaling 25 for the N.L. and 24 for the A.L. - will be determined through a combination of "Player Ballot" choices and selections made by the two All-Star managers - A.L. skipper Jim Leyland of the Detroit Tigers and N.L. manager Bruce Bochy of the defending World Series Champion San Francisco Giants.

Immediately following the announcement of the American League and National League All-Star rosters, fans will begin voting to select the final player for each League's 34-man roster via the 2013 All-Star Game MLB.com Final Vote Sponsored by freecreditscore.com. Fans will cast their votes from a list of five players from each League over a five-day period and the winners will be announced after the voting concludes on Thursday, July 11^th. Now in its 12^th season with more than 350 million votes cast, fans again will be able to make their Final Vote selections on MLB.com, Club sites and their mobile phones.

This year's final phase of All-Star Game voting again will 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 and the 30 Club sites via the 2013 All-Star Game MLB.com MVP Vote, and their collective voice will represent 20 percent of the official vote determining this year's recipient of the Arch Ward Trophy.

The 2013 All-Star Game will be played at Citi Field on Tuesday, July 16^th. The 84^th 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. Pregame ceremonies will begin at 7:30 p.m. (EDT). 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 or mets.com/asg.