OAKLAND -- A's first baseman Yonder Alonso has overtaken 11-time All-Star Jose Cabrera for first place among American League first basemen in the latest Esurance All-Star Game Ballot update, which was released on Tuesday.
Alonso, bidding for his first career All-Star selection in his hometown of Miami, has received 651,055 votes to move ahead of Detroit's Cabrera (646,598) by less than 5,000 votes in a crowded race at first base.
"I think on a personal level, it's gratifying," Alonso said before Tuesday's game against the Marlins in Miami. "It's humbling. If anything, it's more humbling and gratifying and exciting for my parents -- for the community, the friends I have here. I grew up here, so just for my family and everybody around here in the city of Miami, obviously it means a lot to them, and to myself, too."
Alonso entered the day batting .310 with 16 home runs -- seven more than his previous career high -- and 36 RBIs. He's aiming to become the first A's first baseman to win the fan-elected nod since Jason Giambi in 2000.
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The only other A's infielder since then to earn a fan-elected starting assignment was third baseman Josh Donaldson in 2014.
"It means he's having a consistent season," manager Bob Melvin said. "There's always some sentiment to the biggest names right away, and then I think everybody kind of looks at who is sustaining the numbers and really deserves to be there, Yonder is definitely one of those guys. So hopefully that continues."
Alonso ranks second in the AL in slugging percentage (.655) and OPS (1.056) and also ranks fourth in on-base percentage (.401).
Fans may cast votes for starters at MLB.com and all 30 club sites -- on computers, tablets and smartphones -- exclusively online using the 2017 Esurance MLB All-Star Game Ballot until Thursday, June 29, at 8:59 p.m. PT. On smartphones and tablets, fans can also access the ballot via the MLB.com At Bat and MLB.com Ballpark mobile apps. Vote up to five times in any 24-hour period for a maximum of 35 ballots cast.
Following the announcement of the 2017 All-Star starters, reserves and pitchers, fans should return to MLB.com and cast their 2017 Esurance MLB All-Star Game Final Vote for the final player on each league's All-Star roster. Then on Tuesday, July 11, while watching the 2017 All-Star Game presented by MasterCard live on FOX, fans may visit MLB.com to submit their choices for the Ted Williams Most Valuable Player Award presented by Chevrolet with the 2017 MLB All-Star Game MVP Vote.
The 88th Midsummer Classic, at Marlins Park in Miami, will be televised nationally by FOX Sports; in Canada by Rogers Sportsnet and RDS; and worldwide by partners in more than 160 countries. ESPN Radio and ESPN Radio Deportes will provide exclusive national radio coverage, while MLB Network, MLB.com and SiriusXM will have comprehensive All-Star Week coverage. For more information about MLB All-Star Week and to purchase tickets, please visit AllStarGame.com and follow @AllStarGame on social media.