Latest All-Star voting shows Gomez climbing
Center fielder leapfrogs into third place behind Puig, Stanton; Braun slips back to sixth
MILWAUKEE -- Brewers center fielder Carlos Gomez shot into contention for the National League's starting outfield in the latest balloting update released by Major League Baseball on Monday.
It's been a steady climb for Gomez, who ranked sixth among the league's outfielders when the first numbers were released, but is now running third with just shy of 1.2 million votes. The Dodgers' Yasiel Puig still leads the way with 1.47 million votes, followed by the Marlins' Giancarlo Stanton with 1.26 million. Gomez's precise total of 1,192,174 votes gave him the narrowest of leads over the next two contenders, Andrew McCutchen of the Pirates (1,190,516 votes, only 1,658 shy of Gomez) and Charlie Blackmon of the Rockies (1,129,313 votes).
The top three vote-getters will win spots in the NL's starting outfield for the 85th All-Star Game in Minneapolis. Gomez, who was a first-time All-Star last season, ranks among the NL's top 10 this season in extra-base hits, OPS, total bases, slugging percentage, runs, doubles, batting average, home runs and stolen bases.
Brewers teammate Ryan Braun slipped back to sixth among outfielders with just over 1 million votes, and Khris Davis was 13th with 459,771 votes.
At other positions, Jonathan Lucroy remained third among NL catchers behind the Cardinals' Yadier Molina and the Giants' Buster Posey, and Jean Segura was third among shortstops behind overall vote-leader Troy Tulowitzki of the Rockies and Brandon Crawford of the NL-best Giants. Aramis Ramirez was fourth among third basemen, trailing the Mets' David Wright, the Rockies' Nolan Arenado and the Giants' Pablo Sandoval.
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 10:59 p.m. CT. 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 7 p.m. CT 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.
And the voting doesn't end there. 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.