Reynolds vying for All-Star spot in Final Vote

July 2nd, 2017

PHOENIX -- Rockies first baseman has this way of earning his way after being overlooked. He has another chance.
Cast your Esurance Final Vote for Reynolds
Reynolds was announced Sunday as one of five 2017 Esurance MLB All-Star Game Final Vote candidates for the National League squad. Also up for the final NL All-Star roster spot are Marlins first baseman , Cubs third baseman , Nationals third baseman and Dodgers third baseman .
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"It would be fun -- I've always wanted to experience an All-Star Game, but that's some pretty stiff competition," Reynolds said. "Hopefully fans will come out and vote. If they don't, I've got a nice little 'vacay' planned with the family."
It's an honor for Reynolds, 33, who was not even listed on the original ballot but provided enough run production in the first half to spark a write-in campaign. Fans now can show their support for Reynolds by tweeting with #BeLikeMark.
Reynolds is looking to join four teammates at Miami's Marlins Park for the July 11 All-Star Game presented by Mastercard. Center fielder Charlie Blackmon and third baseman made the NL squad as fan-elected starters, and closer Greg Holland and second baseman DJ LeMahieu also were added to the team under the system for filling out the pitching staff and the reserves.
Then again, Reynolds wasn't even sure to be included on the team when the roster was being put together. Last season, Reynolds signed with the Rockies and established career highs in batting average (.282) and on-base percentage (.356) and had 14 homers in 118 games. Unable to parlay that into a contract elsewhere, Reynolds rejoined the Rockies on a Minor League contract.
But a hand injury to , signed by the club to play first base, opened playing time for Reynolds. Through Sunday, Reynolds is hitting .286 with a team-leading 19 home runs and 61 RBIs.

"More importantly, our team's in a good spot," Reynolds said. "Obviously, we've had a rough roadie [a 1-8 NL West road trip], but we're winning a bunch of ballgames, and that's most important. I'm trying to do my part to help that cause. Anything extra on that is icing on the cake."
This has been the pattern for Reynolds in recent years. A big-power, high-strikeout hitter as a well-traveled regular third baseman for much of his career, he signed with the Cardinals as a multi-position role player in 2015. There, he adjusted his approach and developed a shorter swing that keeps the bat in the strike zone longer. Starting opportunities have presented themselves, but Reynolds has kept his adjusted swing.
"He's made adjustments as an offensive player," Rockies manager Bud Black said. "He still has the big power he had in 2007 when he came up [with the D-backs] but he's made some changes when he went to St. Louis and got with [hitting coach John] Mabry, when he signed on to be a pinch-hitter and share time with Matt Adams. That year he turned himself into a better hitter, with a better at-bat as the count changed, and in different offensive situations."
Fans can cast ballots for the 2017 Esurance MLB All-Star Game Final Vote on MLB.com, Club sites and their mobile devices until 2 p.m. MT on Thursday. The winners, as chosen exclusively by online fan voting totals, will then be announced during "MLB Tonight" live on MLB Network and MLB.com at 4 p.m. Extensive coverage throughout the Final Vote will be provided by MLB Network and MLB.com, including interviews with the candidates, frequent updates, heat maps indicating where votes are being cast for each candidate, news on player and club campaigns, and a running countdown clock leading up to the announcement.
Now in its 16th season, with more than 680 million votes cast, the Final Vote again will include social votes on the last day of balloting, as Twitter support for the 10 candidates over the final six hours of balloting will count toward their vote totals. From 8 a.m.-2 p.m. MT on Thursday, any tweet that includes a designated player hashtag will be tabulated as part of the official vote total used to determine the winners.
On Tuesday, July 11, at 5:30 p.m. MT, tune in to the 2017 All-Star Game presented by Mastercard live on FOX, and during the game visit MLB.com to submit syour choice for the Ted Williams Most Valuable Player Award presented by Chevrolet via the 2017 MLB All-Star Game MVP Vote. The 88th All-Star Game, in Miami, 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.