Mauer aiming for All-Star selection No. 6

MINNEAPOLIS -- Joe Mauer is off to another impressive start this season, and he is aiming for his sixth career All-Star Game appearance.

Mauer, who was the Twins' lone representative in last year's Midsummer Classic, also was an All-Star in 2006 and from '08-10. He's on the All-Star ballot at catcher again this season, as the ballots for the American and National Leagues were launched on Wednesday.

He's been the club's best offensive player so far this year, and is a prime candidate to represent the Twins as an All-Star for the sixth time in the last eight years.

"I've seen him hit his whole career, so we've seen him do this," Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said. "We keep saying it's incredible to do this at this level, and it is. He can just rack up those hits, and it's incredible, and that'll never change. He's just an incredible hitter."

Twins first baseman Justin Morneau and outfielder Josh Willingham are also among nine Minnesota players on the ballot. Morneau is a four-time All-Star while Willingham has never been selected.

Fans can cast their votes for starters at MLB.com and all 30 club sites -- online or via your mobile device -- using the 2013 All-Star Game MLB.com Ballot until July 4 at 10:59 p.m. CT.

Fans may submit 25 online ballots during the voting period, but 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, visit mlb.com and register in accordance with the enrollment instructions for a free MLB.com account.

Fans can also once again 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 2013 Home Run Derby -- part of Gatorade All-Star Workout Day -- will be broadcast live on ESPN, ESPN HD, ESPN Deportes and ESPN Radio in the United States beginning at 7 p.m. CT on July 15.

The 2013 American League and National League All-Star teams will be unveiled on July 7 on the 2013 MLB All-Star Game Selection Show, televised nationally on TBS. Baseball fans around the world will then be able to select the final player on each team via the All-Star Game Final Vote sponsored by freecreditscore.com on MLB.com.

And the voting doesn't end there. The final phase of All-Star Game voting will again have fans participating in the official 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 2013 All-Star Game MLB.com MVP Vote, and their voice will represent 20 percent of the official vote determining the recipient of the Arch Ward Trophy.

The 2013 All-Star Game will be played at Citi Field on July 16. Come to MLB.com for extensive online coverage of the All-Star Week festivities.

The 84th All-Star Game will be televised nationally by FOX Sports, 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.

Other Twins on the ballot are designated hitter Ryan Doumit, second baseman Jamey Carroll, shortstop Pedro Florimon, third baseman Trevor Plouffe and outfielders Aaron Hicks and Chris Parmelee. Second baseman Brian Dozier is not on the ballot, but he can be voted in as a write-in candidate.