Deserving Parra lands on All-Star ballot
Gerardo Parra is finally on the All-Star Game ballot.
The D-backs right fielder has missed out in the past few years, because prior to the start of the season when teams submit their lineup for the ballot, he's always been pegged as the fourth outfielder.
Parra, though, worked his way into an everyday job as the past three years went along, and this year has been the starting right fielder from the beginning.
Fans have the opportunity to vote for Parra and the other seven D-backs players on the ballot beginning Friday.
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 8:59 p.m. MST. The 2014 All-Star Game will be played at Target Field on Tuesday, July 15.
Fans will be able to fill out paper ballots at Chase Field beginning May 12 and running through June 20.
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 5 p.m. MST 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.
The other D-backs that are on the ballot this year include first baseman Paul Goldschmidt, second baseman Aaron Hill, shortstop Chris Owings, third baseman Martin Prado, catcher Miguel Montero and outfielders A.J. Pollock and Mark Trumbo.
Goldschmidt and left-hander Patrick Corbin represented the D-backs at the All-Star Game last year at Citi Field.
The D-backs have not had a player elected by the fans since 2001, when outfielder Luis Gonzalez benefited from large online voting support to beat out the Rockies' Larry Walker.
Gonzalez went on to win the Home Run Derby at that year's game in Seattle.