Goldy takes big leap, tightens All-Star race at first

PHOENIX -- Paul Goldschmidt continued his climb up the All-Star Game voting totals, but the D-backs first baseman still has some work to do before he claims the No. 1 spot.

Goldschmidt is second in the most recent National League totals, which were released Monday night.

With 784,026 votes, Goldschmidt trails only the Dodgers Adrian Gonzalez, who has 888,906 votes.

In the first totals released two weeks ago, Goldschmidt was fifth in the voting and last week he moved up to fourth.

This time he leapfrogged past the Rockies' Justin Moreneau and the Braves' Freddie Freeman.

Last year Goldschmidt finished second in the voting behind the Reds' Joey Votto, who is not listed among the leaders so far this year.

Entering Tuesday's games, Goldschmidt was second among NL first baseman in on-base plus slugging (.875), tied for second in home runs (10) and tied for first in RBIs (38).

Goldschmidt and left-hander Patrick Corbin were voted onto last season's All-Star team in the players' vote.

Outside of Goldschmidt, no other D-backs player is currently among the Top 5 at their respective positions.

Goldschmidt's teammate -- center fielder A.J. Pollock -- was on pace to warrant serious consideration for the NL team before suffering a fractured hand 10 days ago when he was hit by a pitch.

Pollock, who had a slash line of .316/.366/.554 at the time of the injury, is expected to miss eight weeks after having surgery Monday.

The 2014 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. The AL will have nine elected starters via the fan balloting program, while the NL will have eight fan-elected starters. Pitchers and reserves for both squads -- totaling 25 for the NL and 24 for the A.L. -- will be determined through a combination of "Player Ballot" choices and selections made by All-Star managers Mike Matheny (NL) and John Farrell (AL).

Immediately following the announcement of the rosters, you can select the final player for each league's 34-man roster via the 2014 All-Star Game MLB.com Final Vote Sponsored by Experian. Choose again at that point from among five players in each league. The Final Vote returns for its 13th season with more than 430 million votes cast to date, and you'll be able to make selections on MLB.com, club sites and your mobile device.

You'll be on a voting tear at that point, having already selected starters and the last men, and the ritual will not 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 big game, vote exclusively online at MLB.com via the 2014 All-Star Game MLB.com MVP Vote Sponsored by Pepsi. The fan 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.

The D-backs have not had a position player start an All-Star Game since Luis Gonzalez did so in 2001.