ATLANTA -- From unwanted to All-Star? Jay Bruce, whom the Mets spent much of this past offseason trying to trade, has been one of the team's most consistent hitters so far this season, and he's one of eight Mets on the All-Star ballot that Major League Baseball released Monday.
One notable absence from the ballot is fellow outfielder Michael Conforto, who did not have a starting spot on Opening Day. Also on the ballot is catcher Travis d'Arnaud, first baseman Lucas Duda, second baseman Neil Walker, shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera, third baseman Jose Reyes, and outfielders Curtis Granderson and Yoenis Cespedes.
• VOTE: Esurance MLB All-Star Game Ballot
Fans may cast votes for starters at MLB.com and all 30 club sites -- on computers, tablets and smartphones -- exclusively online using the 2017 Esurance MLB All-Star Game Ballot until Thursday, June 29, at 11:59 p.m. ET. On smartphones and tablets, fans can also access the ballot via the MLB.com At Bat and MLB.com Ballpark mobile apps. Vote up to five times in any 24-hour period for a maximum of 35 ballots cast.
Following the announcement of the 2017 All-Star starters, reserves and pitchers, fans should return to MLB.com and cast their 2017 Esurance MLB All-Star Game Final Vote for the final player on each league's All-Star roster. Then on Tuesday, July 11, while watching the 2017 All-Star Game presented by MasterCard live on FOX, fans may visit MLB.com to submit their choices for the Ted Williams Most Valuable Player Award presented by Chevrolet with the 2017 MLB All-Star Game MVP Vote.
The 88th Midsummer Classic, at Marlins Park in Miami, will be televised nationally by FOX Sports; in Canada by Rogers Sportsnet and RDS; and worldwide by partners in more than 160 countries. ESPN Radio and ESPN Radio Deportes will provide exclusive national radio coverage, while MLB Network, MLB.com and SiriusXM will have comprehensive All-Star Week coverage. For more information about MLB All-Star Week and to purchase tickets, please visit AllStarGame.com and follow @AllStarGame on social media.
Bruce leads the Mets with seven home runs, though Cespedes -- who is on the disabled list with a left hamstring strain -- and Conforto are right behind him with six. Most other Mets hitters are either injured or struggling, making those three the club's most likely All-Star position-player candidates at this point.
Fans do not vote on pitchers, though the Mets have several candidates to make the All-Star Game in that category. Most notably, Jacob deGrom leads the National League with 44 strikeouts, including 35 in his past three starts. Noah Syndergaard, the Mets' best pitcher in early April, injured his lat during Sunday's start against the Nationals, which will affect his candidacy.