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Papi looks to add 10th All-Star nod to resume

BOSTON -- Coming off a World Series championship, the Red Sox already know that manager John Farrell will be leading the American League dugout at the All-Star Game at Target Field in Minneapolis on July 15.

In the coming weeks, Farrell will find out which players will join him. The All-Star ballot was released on Friday, and Boston has no shortage of worthy players represented.

Boston's most prominent player -- gregarious slugger David Ortiz -- is all too familiar to the fans of Minneapolis. Ortiz is on the ballot as a designated hitter, a position he has started more games at than anyone in history.

Dec. 16, 2002, will probably go down as one of the less fortunate days in the history of the Twins. That was the day they released Ortiz.

Ortiz signed with the Red Sox in 2003, and he has turned into an icon, both for the city he plays for and throughout the sport.

Big Papi was the Most Valuable Player of the 2013 World Series and is aiming to be an All-Star for the 10th time.

For highly touted rookie shortstop Xander Bogaerts, this is his first time on the ballot.

But fans are already aware of Bogaerts, considering how well he played for the Red Sox as a starter in the final nine games of the 2013 postseason.

With a sweet swing that should generate both average and power, this could be the first of many All-Star ballot appearances for the 21-year-old Bogaerts.

Veteran catcher A.J. Pierzynski, in his first season with the Red Sox, is a two-time All-Star, and he was a member of the Twins in both of those years (2002, '06).

Mike Napoli, in his second season as the starting first baseman for the Red Sox, will try to make it to his second All-Star Game. He made it with the Rangers in 2012, back when he was a catcher.

Second baseman Dustin Pedroia, the best all-around player on the Red Sox, is a four-time All-Star.

Third baseman Will Middlebrooks, who is trying to have a rebound season, has never been an All-Star.

In the outfield, the Red Sox have Daniel Nava, who was recently sent down to Pawtucket, Grady Sizemore and Shane Victorino.

Sizemore is already one of baseball's best comeback stories, considering he was out of the Major Leagues the last two seasons. In 2006-08, Sizemore was an All-Star for three straight seasons.

Victorino returned to action for the Red Sox on April 24 after missing the first three weeks of the season with a right hamstring strain. He was an All-Star twice during his time with the Phillies.

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 can vote at Fenway Park on games played between May 2-June 18.

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.

Ian Browne is a reporter for MLB.com. Read his blog, Brownie Points, and follow him on Twitter @IanMBrowne.
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