HOUSTON -- Four days remain to help Yonder Alonso secure a spot on the American League All-Star squad bound for his adopted hometown of Miami on July 11.
Alonso, who defected from Cuba with his family at a young age, dropped to third place among AL first basemen in the latest Esurance All-Star Game Ballot voting update released Monday. Kansas City's Eric Hosmer, a fellow Miami-area product, is in the lead with 1,419,887 votes, with Toronto's Justin Smoak close behind carrying 1,348,233 votes. Alonso has 1,076,984 votes to his name.
Three different players, including Alonso, have held the top spot over the last five weeks. And just two weeks ago, Smoak wasn't even among the top five.
Despite a recent dip in production over the last few weeks, Alonso still leads AL first basemen in on-base percentage (.386) and slugging percentage (.588) and is third in home runs (17). His batting average (.292) ranks third among the group, and he's also tied for seventh in RBIs with 38.
Alonso's 17 homers, second on the A's to Khris Davis' 19, are nearly double his previous career high (9) set with the Padres in 2012.
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 All-Star Game Ballot until Thursday 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.
The Esurance All-Star Selection Show will take place on Sunday at 4 p.m. PT on ESPN. Following the unveiling 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.