Fielder highlights Rangers on All-Star ballot
SEATTLE -- Prince Fielder likes the Home Run Derby. He has won it twice and would be more than happy to participate again this summer at Target Field in Minnesota.
"I just like to do it because my kids like it and it's fun competition," Fielder said.
Fielder won the Derby with the Brewers in 2009 and again with the Tigers in 2012. He and Ken Griffey Jr. are the only two-time winners of the event held the day before the All-Star Game. Other players have expressed concern the Derby has a negative impact on their swing, but Fielder doesn't see it that way.
"It's never bothered me as far as my swing," Fielder said. "Sometimes it helps get an aggressive swing going if anything."
Fielder has played in five All-Star Games and is one of nine Rangers who are on the ballot in the fans voting for this year's starting lineups. Also on the ballot are third baseman Adrian Beltre, shortstop Elvis Andrus, designated hitter Mitch Moreland, outfielders Shin-Soo Choo, Leonys Martin and Alex Rios, injured catcher Geovany Soto and second baseman Jurickson Profar.
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.
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.
Beltre has been to three All-Star Games while Andrus and Rios have been to the All-Star Game twice. Rios went in 2006-07 while with the Blue Jays while Andrus represented the Rangers as a reserve in 2010 and 2012. Moreland, Martin and Choo are hoping for their first All-Star selection.
The Rangers did not have a player in the starting lineup last year in New York for the first time since 2007. Outfielder Nelson Cruz was selected as a reserve while Yu Darvish and Joe Nathan were named to the pitching staff. Darvish has been selected to two All-Star Games but has yet to pitch.