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Harper steaming toward start in All-Star Game

NEW YORK -- Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper continues to rack up the votes on the 2015 Esurance MLB All-Star Game Ballot.

Cast your Esurance All-Star ballot for #ASGWorthy players

In the latest update released Monday, Harper ranked fifth in the Majors overall with 11,363,949 votes. His total has set a new all-time single-season National League voting record, surpassing the previous mark of 7,621,370 set by San Francisco's Buster Posey in 2012.

And why not? Harper is having the year of his life. He is among the league leaders in several offensive categories, including home runs, RBIs, batting average and on-base percentage.

Harper, bidding for his third Midsummer Classic assignment (2012-13) and second fan-elected start ('13), is on track to become the first player in Nationals history to claim multiple fan-elected starting assignments. He would become the fourth player in franchise history to accomplish the feat, joining Hall of Famers Gary Carter (1981-84) and Andre Dawson (1981-83) as well as Tim Raines (1982-83).

Harper's teammate, Yunel Escobar, plays all of his games at third base, but he is still in the top five in All-Star votes among second basemen. Escobar is off to one of the best starts of his career, hitting .324 with four home runs and 27 RBIs. He leads the team in hits with 85.

Fans can cast their votes for starters at MLB.com and all 30 club sites -- on their computers, tablets and smartphones -- using the 2015 Esurance MLB All-Star Game Ballot until Thursday at 11:59 p.m. ET. For the first time, voting is exclusively online, where fans may submit up to 35 ballots.

Fans may also receive the ballot by texting VOTE to 89269 (USA) or 101010 (Canada). Or text VOTA for a ballot in Spanish. Message and data rates may apply. Up to five messages. No purchase required. Reply STOP to cancel. Reply HELP for info.

The 2015 All-Star starters will be unveiled on Sunday at 7:30 p.m. ET on the Esurance All-Star Starters Selection Show on ESPN. Then on Monday at 7 p.m. ET, the All-Star reserves, pitchers and Final Vote candidates will be announced on the Esurance All-Star Selection Show on ESPN, immediately after which fans can return to MLB.com to begin casting their 2015 Esurance MLB All-Star Game Final Votes for the final player for each league's All-Star roster. Final Vote ends Friday, July 10, at 4 p.m. ET. On Tuesday, July 14, watch the 2015 All-Star Game 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 2015 MLB All-Star Game MVP Vote.

MLB.com will provide extensive online coverage of All-Star Week festivities.

The 86th 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.

Bill Ladson is a reporter for MLB.com and writes an MLBlog, All Nats All the Time. He also can be found on Twitter @WashingNats.
Read More: Washington Nationals