Rizzo vying for Cubs fans All-Star votes
ANAHEIM -- The Cubs' Anthony Rizzo leads all National League first basemen in extra-base hits. He's tied with two others for the second-most home runs. Could he be the Cubs' All-Star representative?
There are no Cubs players in the top five at any position in the latest All-Star balloting results released on Tuesday. But one could make a case for Rizzo, who has 10 home runs, 17 doubles, two triples, and 36 RBIs.
The Reds' Joey Votto leads the field of NL first basemen, receiving more than 1 million votes in online and in-stadium balloting so far. The Giants' Brandon Belt is second followed by the D-backs' Paul Goldschmidt, the Dodgers' Adrian Gonzalez and the Braves' Freddie Freeman. Goldschmidt is tops among first basemen in home runs (13), RBIs (47) and batting average (.332).
Other Cubs on the NL All-Star ballot include two-time All-Star Starlin Castro, second baseman Darwin Barney, third baseman Luis Valbuena, catcher Welington Castillo and outfielders David DeJesus, Alfonso Soriano and Nate Schierholtz. Soriano, 37, is a seven-time All-Star, while this is the first time Rizzo, Valbuena, Castillo and Schierholtz are on the ballot.
The All-Star Game will be played Tuesday, July 16, at Citi Field.
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 Thursday, July 4, at 10:59 p.m. CT.
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 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 7 p.m. CT on Monday, July 15.
The 2013 American League and National League All-Star teams will be unveiled on Sunday, July 7, on the 2013 MLB All-Star Game Selection Show, televised nationally on TBS. Baseball fans around the world will then be able to select the final player on each team via the All-Star Game Final Vote sponsored by freecreditscore.com on MLB.com.
And 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.
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.
Castro, 23, ranks among the top 25 in the NL in hits, and has matched his longest career hit streak. He has appeared in 251 consecutive games, longest active streak in the NL and second longest in all of baseball, trailing only Detroit's Prince Fielder. Sunday's game against the D-backs was No. 500 in his career. The Rockies' Troy Tulowitzki leads all NL shortstops, receiving more than 1 million votes.