BALTIMORE -- Despite the torrid June that Cedric Mullins used to cap off his sensational first half, the Orioles' center fielder was not among the three American League outfield starters for the All-Star Game, announced Thursday night. But that doesn’t mean his chances of starting the July 13 game in Colorado are over.

Mullins placed sixth in the final voting, behind Angels superstar Mike Trout, Yankees slugger Aaron Judge and Blue Jays right fielder Teoscar Hernández, as well as Byron Buxton and Michael Brantley. But Trout is currently on the injured list and not expected to be active for the game, meaning American League manager Kevin Cash needs to find a replacement for the starting center field spot. Buxton is also injured.

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The leading candidate is Mullins, who as of Thursday was leading the AL in hits (99) and batting .322/.391/.550 with 14 homers and 15 stolen bases. Mullins also ranks third among AL outfielders in the Statcast defensive metric outs above average, and is tied for second among all AL players (and ranks first among outfielders) with 3.7 Wins Above Replacement, per Fangraphs. In short, he’s put together one of the finest all-around first halves in all of baseball.

“It would be awesome to be an All-Star,” Mullins told MLB.com recently. “Growing up as a kid, I used to watch the All-Star Game every single year. It looked like a lot of fun. It’s awesome being among the best in baseball and to have that self recognition that you are a part of that group as well, it's a great feeling. It would be an amazing experience.”

At this point, Mullins feels like a shoo-in to make the game in some capacity. He’s far outperformed the Orioles’ other position player candidate, Trey Mancini, who will participate in the Home Run Derby. Their other candidate, left-hander John Means, remains sidelined with a left shoulder strain. The question is whether Mullins will start or make the team as a reserve.

Assuming he’s selected, that decision would fall to Cash, who has seen plenty of Mullins as an opposing manager in the AL East. The Rays have done well to hold Mullins in check this year, though; he’s hit just .167 without a homer in five games against Tampa Bay. But that kind of play has been the exception, and far from the rule. Mullins is the only player in baseball hitting at least .300, with double-digit homers, double-digit steals and reaching base at a minimum .390 clip. He’d be the first Orioles outfielder to start the game since Adam Jones in 2014.

“He’s doing it all," Orioles manager Brandon Hyde said. “When he plays well, we have a great chance, and he’s playing well in wins and losses right now.”