Alonso among 8 Mets on new All-Star ballot

May 29th, 2019

Read our FAQ on this year’s revamped balloting format, which includes two phases of fan voting to determine the All-Star starters, and the ability to vote through Google Search.

LOS ANGELES -- Pete Alonso badly wants to participate in the Home Run Derby this July. Might an All-Star Game appearance be in his future as well?

Alonso is the Mets’ first-base representative on the 2019 Google MLB All-Star Game ballot, which Major League Baseball released Tuesday. He joins catcher Wilson Ramos, second baseman Robinson Cano, shortstop Amed Rosario, third baseman Todd Frazier and outfielders Michael Conforto, Jeff McNeil and Brandon Nimmo on the ballot.

Of that group, perhaps no one has made a more significant impression than Alonso, a rookie who entered Tuesday’s play tied for third in the Majors in home runs behind Milwaukee’s Christian Yelich and Los Angeles’ Cody Bellinger. Working against Alonso, however, is a deep pool of National League first basemen. Bellinger, who homered Monday against the Mets, leads the Majors in Wins Above Replacement by a wide margin. Pittsburgh’s Josh Bell, Chicago’s Anthony Rizzo and Atlanta’s Freddie Freeman, among others, are also constructing strong years at first.

To separate himself from that pack, Alonso will need significant support on the All-Star ballot. He can, however, participate in the Home Run Derby even if he does not make the All-Star team. Alonso has said that if he wins the Derby, he will donate a portion of the $1 million grand prize to the Wounded Warrior Project.

“Obviously, it’s a big purse for the winner,” Alonso said. “To be in that moment, to win, it would be awesome if I could just give back.”

Fans may vote in "The Primary" at MLB.com and all 30 club sites, the MLB At Bat and MLB Ballpark apps up to five times in any 24-hour period. Fans in the US and Canada can also vote on Google Search for every position, or up to 17 unique players per day, by searching "MLB Vote" or the names of their favorite players. Primary voting ends at 4 p.m. ET on Friday, June 21.

The top three vote-getters at each position (including nine outfielders) per league will move on to "The Starters Election," which begins at noon ET on Wednesday, June 26. The votes will reset for a 28-hour voting window that ends at 4 p.m. ET on Thursday, June 27. Starters for the 2019 Midsummer Classic will be unveiled on ESPN that night at 7 ET. The pitchers and reserves will be announced on Sunday, June 30, at 5:30 p.m. ET.

Then on Tuesday, July 9, during the 2019 All-Star Game presented by Mastercard, fans may visit MLB.com and the 30 club sites to submit their choices for the Ted Williams Most Valuable Player Award presented by Chevrolet.

The 90th Midsummer Classic, at Progressive Field in Cleveland, will be televised nationally by FOX Sports; in Canada by Rogers Sportsnet and RDS; and worldwide by partners in more than 180 countries. FOX Deportes will provide Spanish-language coverage in the United States, while ESPN Radio and ESPN Radio Deportes will provide exclusive national radio coverage. MLB Network, MLB.com and SiriusXM also will provide comprehensive All-Star Week coverage. For more information about MLB All-Star Week and to purchase tickets, please visit AllStarGame.com and follow @MLB and @AllStarGame on social media.

Beyond Alonso, the Mets’ top position player candidate may be Conforto, who leads the team in WAR and is second in home runs. Cano, McNeil and Nimmo are all currently on the injured list, hampering their chances.