Cruz leads, Jones in mix for All-Star start
Designated hitter in front for third straight week, outfielder ranks fifth in update
ST. PETERSBURG -- Nelson Cruz continued his stay atop the American League designated hitter category, edging David Ortiz for the third consecutive week in the latest All-Star ballot results released Monday night.
While Cruz looks primed for a trip to the Minneapolis, the O's other frontrunner does not. All-Star catcher Matt Wieters, who leads all AL catchers, will have season-ending Tommy John surgery on Tuesday. Wieters was on pace to have a career year and has 1,488,884 votes, compared to second-place Brian McCann's 1,075,210.
Cruz, who set a new team record for most RBIs through May, has received a total of 1,792,432 votes compared to Ortiz's 1,316,921 in the fourth week of voting.
Shortstop J.J. Hardy stayed at third place, with third baseman Manny Machado moving down to fourth, behind Oakland's Josh Donaldson, Texas' Adrian Beltre and Tampa Bay's Evan Longoria. Chris Davis stayed in fourth place at first base, with outfielders Adam Jones and Nick Markakis each dropping down a spot. Jones is in fifth place with 1,053,228 while Markakis is 10th at 833,558.
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 11:59 p.m. ET. 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 8 p.m. ET 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.