Blue Jays sluggers headline All-Star ballot
TORONTO -- Jose Bautista and Edwin Encarnacion will once again headline a list of candidates from the Blue Jays that are expected to receive strong consideration for the American League All-Star team.
Bautista has been voted into the game during each of the past three seasons. The four-time All-Star set a record for the most votes through the fan balloting process in 2011, and he will be a strong contender again this year following his hot start to the season.
Encarnacion was a surprise omission from the AL team in 2012, but he made his All-Star debut last year. He has yet to be voted into the game as a starter, and he will need some help from the fans if he's going to overtake Boston's David Ortiz at the designated-hitter position.
The Blue Jays will begin their in-stadium voting on May 9, which is a Friday night home game against the Angels. Voting will remain open at the stadium until June 11, and it's just one of several ways that fans can have their voices heard for the Midsummer Classic.
Fans can cast their votes for starters at MLB.com and all 30 club sites -- online or on a mobile device -- using the 2014 All-Star Game MLB.com Ballot Sponsored by Experian until Thursday, July 3, at 11:59 p.m. ET. The 2014 All-Star Game will be played at Target Field on Tuesday, July 15.
Fans may submit up to 25 online ballots, but they can also earn a one-time bonus of 10 additional online ballots. To access these additional online ballots, you must be logged into your MLB.com account when you submit any online ballot. If you do not have an MLB.com account, register on the site in accordance with the enrollment instructions for a free MLB.com account.
Fans this year once again can participate in the Home Run Derby Fan Poll. Fans will have the opportunity to select three players in each league who they would most like to see participate in the Home Run Derby. The 2014 Home Run Derby will be broadcast live on ESPN, ESPN HD, ESPN Deportes and ESPN Radio in the United States beginning at 8 p.m. ET on Monday, July 14.
The 2014 American League and National League All-Star teams will be unveiled on the 2014 MLB All-Star Game Selection Show during the weekend of July 5-6, with further details to follow on MLB.com. Immediately following the announcement of the AL and NL All-Star rosters, fans can begin voting to select the final player for each league's 34-man roster via the 2014 All-Star Game MLB.com Final Vote Sponsored by Experian. Fans will cast their votes from a list of five players from each league over the balloting period.
And the voting doesn't end there. The final phase of All-Star Game voting will again have fans participating in the 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 2014 All-Star Game MLB.com MVP Vote Sponsored by Pepsi, and their voice will represent 20 percent of the overall vote that determines the recipient of the Arch Ward Trophy.
MLB.com will provide extensive online coverage of the All-Star Week festivities.
The 85th All-Star Game will be televised nationally by FOX, 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 will also provide comprehensive All-Star Week coverage. For more information, please visit allstargame.com.
In addition to Bautista and Encarnacion, Jose Reyes and Melky Cabrera also are expected to receive some consideration. Reyes was an afterthought during last year's voting process because of a severely sprained ankle that cost him 66 games of the season. He's already spent some time on the disabled list this year, but he's once again healthy and playing without limitations.
Cabrera has been one of the hottest hitters in the Major Leagues during April. He has successfully bounced back after having a tumor removed from his spine last September, and he's showing no ill effects from his previously serious condition.
Canadian Brett Lawrie is also on the ballot at third base, as well as catcher Dioner Navarro, outfielders Colby Rasmus and Adam Lind and second baseman Ryan Goins. Last year, the Blue Jays sent Bautista, Encarnacion, Steve Delabar and Brett Cecil to the All-Star Game in New York.