Gordon looking to make first All-Star squad
KANSAS CITY -- Alex Gordon has won two Gold Gloves. He's been the Royals Player of the Year. Gordon was an All-Star Game Final Vote candidate in 2011.
The Royals' left fielder has never been an All-Star, but this could be his best chance so far. Gordon is putting up some impressive numbers, with a .326 average, 31 RBIs and an on-base percentage of .369. He also has five outfield assists.
Gordon ranked eighth with 522,483 votes among American League outfielders in the first 2013 All-Star voting results announced on Monday by Major League Baseball.
Two outfielders had more than a million votes -- Mike Trout of the Angels with 1,190,676, and Adam Jones of the Orioles with 1,181,875 -- but the third outfielder, the Tigers' Torii Hunter, is within Gordon's striking range with 761,937.
No other Kansas City players were among the top 15 outfielders or the top five vote-getters at the other positions in the AL results, but there's more than a month for Royals fans to be heard.
Fans can cast their votes for starters at MLB.com and all 30 club sites -- online or via your mobile device -- using the 2013 All-Star Game MLB.com Ballot until Thursday, July 4, at 11:59 p.m. ET.
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, you must be logged into your MLB.com account when you submit any online ballot. If you do not have an MLB.com account, visit www.mlb.com and register in accordance with the enrollment instructions for a free MLB.com account.
Other top Royals candidates include catcher Salvador Perez, who has a .311 average and has thrown out nine runners attempting to steal, and designated hitter Billy Butler, who shares the team lead in RBIs with 31.
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 who 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 8 p.m. on Monday, July 15.
The 2013 American League and National League 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 2013 All-Star Game will be played at Citi Field on Tuesday, July 16. Come to MLB.com for extensive online coverage of the All-Star Week festivities.
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.