Rookie Gyorko would be derserving of All-Star nod

DENVER -- No other rookie in Major League Baseball has any many hits as Padres second baseman Jedd Gyorko, who is making an early case for National League Rookie of the Year Award honors.

Could Gyorko possibly hit his way onto the NL All-Star team as well?

Gyorko, coming off a big month of May when he hit .303 with six home runs, will certainly need some help if he's to gain traction in the voting for the All-Star Game.

Major League Baseball released the second round of the NL vote totals for the top five at each position and the top 15 outfielders on Sunday, and no Padres were among the leaders. But Gyorko could merit some strong consideration at his current rate of play.

Brandon Phillips of the Reds is the leading vote-getting among all NL second basemen (1,541,720 votes)

Gyorko, shortstop Everth Cabrera, first baseman Yonder Alonso, third baseman Chase Headley, catcher Nick Hundley and outfielders Carlos Quentin, Cameron Maybin and Will Venable are on the NL ballot.

Vote totals will be released each week leading up to the 84th All-Star Game, which will be played at Citi Field on Tuesday, July 16. MLB.com will have extensive online coverage of the All-Star Week festivities.

Gyorko entered Sunday's game against the Rockies hitting .286 with eight home runs and 25 RBIs in 59 games. He's hitting .343 in his first eight games of June.

And, he's hit all eight of his home runs since May 1. That's not unusual, Gyorko said recently.

"That's usually how it always works, when you get your timing right and the swing right," Gyorko said. "It usually doesn't last for very long. So you take advantage of it when it does."

The early-season home runs by Gyorko aren't surprising to manager Bud Black. After all, Gyorko hit 30 of them last season between two Minor League stops.

"We don't want him to swing for the fences, but he has the type of stroke that will produce homers when he's swinging well," Black said. "I think there's a combination in there with a high enough average to be productive and with some damage with the extra-base hit.

"And if it goes over the fence, even better."

Fans can cast their votes for starters at MLB.com and all 30 club sites -- online or via a mobile device -- using the 2013 All-Star Game MLB.com Ballot until Thursday, July 4, at 10:59 p.m. CT.

Fans may submit 25 online ballots during the voting period but can also earn a one-time bonus of 10 additional online ballots. To access these additional online ballots, fans must be logged into an MLB.com account when submitting any online ballot. To obtain an MLB.com account, visit www.mlb.com and register in accordance with the enrollment instructions for a free MLB.com account.

Fans can also once again participate in the Home Run Derby Fan Poll. Fans will have the opportunity to select three players in each league whom they would most like to see participate in the Home Run Derby. The 2013 Home Run Derby -- part of Gatorade All-Star Workout Day -- will be broadcast live on ESPN, ESPN HD, ESPN Deportes and ESPN Radio in the United States beginning at 7 p.m. CT on Monday, July 15.

The 2013 AL and NL All-Star teams will be unveiled on Sunday, July 7, on the 2013 MLB All-Star Game Selection Show, televised nationally on TBS. Baseball fans around the world will then be able to select the final player on each team via the All-Star Game Final Vote sponsored by freecreditscore.com on MLB.com.

And the voting doesn't end there. The final phase of All-Star Game voting will again have fans participating in the official 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 2013 All-Star Game MLB.com MVP Vote, and their voice will represent 20 percent of the official vote determining the recipient of the Arch Ward Trophy.

The 84th All-Star Game will be televised nationally by FOX Sports, 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 also will also provide comprehensive All-Star Week coverage. For more information, please visit allstargame.com.

NATIONAL LEAGUE ALL-STAR BALLOTING
(as of June 9)

CATCHER
1. Buster Posey, Giants: 1,961,861
2. Yadier Molina, Cardinals: 1,684,700
3. John Buck, Mets: 692,170
4. Brian McCann, Braves: 467,522
5. Jonathan Lucroy, Brewers: 423,115

FIRST BASE
1. Joey Votto, Reds: 1,569,477
2. Paul Goldschmidt, Diamondbacks: 928,647
3. Brandon Belt, Giants: 778,883
4. Allen Craig, Cardinals: 767,645
5. Freddie Freeman, Braves: 704,578

SECOND BASE
1. Brandon Phillips, Reds: 1,541,720
2. Marco Scutaro, Giants: 1,285,076
3. Matt Carpenter, Cardinals: 913,778
4. Chase Utley, Phillies: 774,314

SHORTSTOP
1. Troy Tulowitzki, Rockies: 1,691,262
2. Brandon Crawford, Giants: 1,015,633
3. Jean Segura, Brewers: 835,329
4. Pete Kozma, Cardinals: 595,416
5. Andrelton Simmons, Braves: 592,286

THIRD BASE
1. Pablo Sandoval, Giants: 1,674,157
2. David Wright, Mets: 1,473,381
3. David Freese, Cardinals: 720,939
4. Chris Johnson, Braves: 635,138
5. Ryan Zimmerman, Nationals: 532,493

OUTFIELD
1. Justin Upton, Braves: 1,666,026
2. Bryce Harper, Nationals: 1,616,784
3. Carlos Beltran, Cardinals: 1,550,844
4. Ryan Braun, Brewers: 1,283,103
5. Shin-Soo Choo, Reds: 1,043,839
6. Hunter Pence, Giants: 984,734
7. Carlos Gonzalez, Rockies: 955,568
8. Andrew McCutchen, Pirates: 952,618
9. Angel Pagan, Giants: 871,143
10. Matt Holliday, Cardinals: 868,829
11. Gregor Blanco, Giants: 722,441
12. Carlos Gomez, Brewers: 704,106
13. B.J. Upton, Braves: 582,401
14. Jon Jay, Cardinals: 577,251
15. Jay Bruce, Reds: 556,894