ATLANTA -- Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman can enhance his bid to gain a third All-Star selection by spending the month of June proving to be much more consistently productive than he has during this season's first two months.
Though the Braves did not have a player listed among the leaders at any position when the National League's first All-Star ballot voting update was released Wednesday, Freeman stands as Atlanta's most likely player to draw more attention from voters over the next month.
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Freeman entered Wednesday hitting .251 with eight home runs and a .757 OPS. After recording just two hits in the season's first 25 at-bats, the 26-year-old first baseman batted .348 with five home runs and a 1.004 OPS over his next 23 games. But the promise created during that span has evaporated as he has hit .195 with a .552 OPS over his past 19 games.
Freeman's bid to gain a third consecutive All-Star selection last year was derailed by a wrist injury that sidelined him in June and bothered him over the remainder of the season.
Fans can cast their votes for starters at MLB.com and all 30 club sites -- on their computers, tablets and smartphones -- exclusively online using the 2016 Esurance MLB All-Star Game Ballot until Thursday, June 30, at 11:59 p.m. ET. Vote up to five times in any 24-hour period for a maximum of 35 times.
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Following the announcement of the 2016 All-Stars, be sure to return to MLB.com and cast your 2016 Esurance MLB All-Star Game Final Vote for the final player on each league's All-Star roster. On Tuesday, July 12, watch the 2016 All-Star Game presented by MasterCard live on FOX, and during the game visit MLB.com to submit your choice for the Ted Williams Most Valuable Player Award presented by Chevrolet via the 2016 MLB All-Star Game MVP Vote.
The 87th All-Star Game, in San Diego, will be televised nationally by FOX, in Canada by Rogers Sportsnet and RDS, and worldwide by partners in more than 160 countries via MLB International's independent feed. ESPN Radio and ESPN Radio Deportes will provide national radio coverage of the All-Star Game. MLB.com, MLB Network and SiriusXM will also provide comprehensive All-Star Week coverage. For more information, please visit allstargame.com.