DeJesus worthy of more fan All-Star support

CHICAGO -- David DeJesus has quietly gone about his business, and the Cubs' center fielder may be having the best season among the position players on the team. He could be their All-Star representative.

However, DeJesus, who leads the Cubs in on-base percentage and batting average, may lose out to pitcher Travis Wood. There were no Cubs players in the top five at any position in the latest All-Star balloting results, released Sunday. Fans do not vote for the pitchers. Wood has posted quality starts in 11 of his 12 outings this season.

"He's been the most consistent day-in and day-out starting pitcher, player who we've had," Cubs manager Dale Sveum said of the left-hander. "DeJesus has had a really nice start to the year with his on-base [percentage], leadoff-hitter [skills], the things he's done."

The Cubs could also make a case for pitchers Jeff Samardzija and Scott Feldman, but Sveum said Wood was "pitching like an All-Star" after his most recent outing, a loss to the Pirates.

"If you had to say one guy because of the consistency, it would have to be Travis Wood," Sveum said.

Anthony Rizzo is among the leaders for National League first basemen in home runs and RBIs, but he's is not among the top five in the All-Star balloting. The Reds' Joey Votto leads the field of NL first basemen, receiving more than 1.5 million votes in online and in-stadium balloting so far.

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 Alfonso Soriano and Nate Schierholtz. Soriano, 37, is a seven-time All-Star, while this is the first time on the ballot for Rizzo, Valbuena, Castillo and Schierholtz.

The 2013 All-Star Game will be played at Citi Field on Tuesday, July 16. MLB.com will have extensive online coverage of the All-Star Week festivities.

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 www.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 AL and NL 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.

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 has gone to the All-Star Game the past two years, but has been struggling offensively this season. When told no Cubs were in the top five, he took it as a challenge.

"Let's see this month," Castro said. "I'll make it. I can be aggressive, I can be ready. I'll do my best. Good things aren't happening now. I know it's coming."

NATIONAL LEAGUE ALL-STAR BALLOTING
(as of June 9)

CATCHER
1. Buster Posey, Giants: 1,961,861
2. Yadier Molina, Cardinals: 1,684,700
3. John Buck, Mets: 692,170
4. Brian McCann, Braves: 467,522
5. Jonathan Lucroy, Brewers: 423,115

FIRST BASE
1. Joey Votto, Reds: 1,569,477
2. Paul Goldschmidt, Diamondbacks: 928,647
3. Brandon Belt, Giants: 778,883
4. Allen Craig, Cardinals: 767,645
5. Freddie Freeman, Braves: 704,578

SECOND BASE
1. Brandon Phillips, Reds: 1,541,720
2. Marco Scutaro, Giants: 1,285,076
3. Matt Carpenter, Cardinals: 913,778
4. Chase Utley, Phillies: 774,314

SHORTSTOP
1. Troy Tulowitzki, Rockies: 1,691,262
2. Brandon Crawford, Giants: 1,015,633
3. Jean Segura, Brewers: 835,329
4. Pete Kozma, Cardinals: 595,416
5. Andrelton Simmons, Braves: 592,286

THIRD BASE
1. Pablo Sandoval, Giants: 1,674,157
2. David Wright, Mets: 1,473,381
3. David Freese, Cardinals: 720,939
4. Chris Johnson, Braves: 635,138
5. Ryan Zimmerman, Nationals: 532,493

OUTFIELD
1. Justin Upton, Braves: 1,666,026
2. Bryce Harper, Nationals: 1,616,784
3. Carlos Beltran, Cardinals: 1,550,844
4. Ryan Braun, Brewers: 1,283,103
5. Shin-Soo Choo, Reds: 1,043,839
6. Hunter Pence, Giants: 984,734
7. Carlos Gonzalez, Rockies: 955,568
8. Andrew McCutchen, Pirates: 952,618
9. Angel Pagan, Giants: 871,143
10. Matt Holliday, Cardinals: 868,829
11. Gregor Blanco, Giants: 722,441
12. Carlos Gomez, Brewers: 704,106
13. B.J. Upton, Braves: 582,401
14. Jon Jay, Cardinals: 577,251
15. Jay Bruce, Reds: 556,894