Trout is only non-Royal in line to start for AL
ANAHEIM -- The Kansas City Royals and Mike Trout. That's what the American League lineup would look like if All-Star Game voting ended Monday, when the latest ballot update showed Trout as the only non-Royals position player in line to start.
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"Oh, yeah, I know, I saw that," Trout said Monday afternoon when asked if he was aware of the Royals' prominence in the latest balloting update. "Their fans are out there voting. Can't take that away from them -- they've got all the right to vote."
Trout -- the Angels' 23-year-old superstar and reigning AL Most Valuable Player -- remained second in voting among AL outfielders, sandwiched between Royals center fielder Lorenzo Cain and Royals left fielder Alex Gordon. Cain also plays right field, which could allow Trout to be the starting center fielder in the Midsummer Classic.
Trout entered the week batting .297/.379/.576 with 18 homers, 37 RBIs and eight stolen bases and had compiled 5,944,068 votes, fifth-most in the Junior Circuit. Alex Rios remained the only Royals everyday player not in line to start, but he was fourth among outfielders and fewer than two million votes behind Trout.
Asked whether he thought any other Angels deserve to be All-Stars, Trout shot a pointed glance at Albert Pujols' locker.
"Yeah, look at our first baseman," Trout said. "He's one of the hottest hitters this year. He's got like 18 homers. The last month, he's been unconscious."
The 35-year-old Pujols made the All-Star team in nine of his first 10 seasons, but hasn't been selected or invited since 2010. He is still fifth among first basemen despite his recent surge -- Pujols has batted .387 with 10 home runs and only three strikeouts in 67 plate appearances over his last 16 games. Pujols is also tied with Trout and Mariners designated hitter Nelson Cruz for the AL lead in home runs.
And what about guys like Cruz, or Tigers slugger Miguel Cabrera -- other top hitters who are currently trailing Royals?
"I'm sure they'll be there," Trout said. "They're the top guys in the league and deserve to be there, so hopefully we get them there."
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, July 2, at 8:59 p.m. PT. For the first time, voting is exclusively online, where fans may submit up to 35 ballots.
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Following the announcement of the 2015 All-Stars, fans can return to MLB.com and cast their 2015 Esurance MLB All-Star Game Final Vote for the final player for each league's All-Star roster. 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.
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