Orioles trio leads the way in AL All-Star voting

ST. PETERSBURG -- The Orioles continued to take the All-Star balloting by storm, leading in three of the American League categories and ranking second in two more as the second balloting updates for the 84th All-Star Game were released on Saturday night.

Baltimore, which had three All-Stars last season, was well represented on the ballot at nearly position, with shortstop J.J. Hardy ahead of Texas' Elvis Andrus to join first baseman Chris Davis and outfielder Adam Jones as top vote-getters.

Hardy, who has come on offensively after a slow start, has 1,231,843 votes and is the AL's top shortstop, with Andrus getting 1,045,885. Jones moved ahead of Angels outfielder Mike Trout (1,939,486), garnering 1,944,450 votes, and the two-time All-Star would join Hall of Famer Frank Robinson, Ken Singleton and current vice president of baseball operations Brady Anderson as the only fan-elected Orioles outfielders in All-Star history.

Tigers right fielder Torii Hunter rounds out the top three, with Baltimore's Nick Markakis moving up two spots to fourth(1,030,653) and Nate McLouth holding steady at seventh.

Davis, who leads the Majors with 20 home runs, is vying to become the first Orioles first baseman to earn a starting nomination for the American League team since Eddie Murray in 1985. Davis has 2,084,274 votes and is currently ahead of Tigers slugger Prince Fielder (1,469,537) with Boston's Mike Napoli (552,845) rounding out the top three.

Catcher Matt Wieters -- seeking his third consecutive All-Star appearance -- remained in second place, trailing Minnesota's Joe Mauer 1,492,396 to 1,153,795.

O's third baseman Manny Machado trails Tigers third baseman and reining Triple Crown winner Miguel Cabrera who has 2,355,128 votes. The 20-year-old Machado, in his first full season, has 1,170,108 votes.

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.

The Orioles have also launched a ballpark "Vote Orange Rewards Program" to encourage fans to vote while at Camden Yards to make sure the team is well-represented in the Midsummer Classic. Fans who complete as few as 50 paper ballots and submit them by the sixth inning will be eligible to win an autographed photo at each home game and have their name displayed on the center-field video board as the "Voter of the Game."

Rewards for higher vote totals include buttons, t-shirts, autographed baseballs, a catered suite and an on-field batting practice visit. The top voter during the seven-week program will have the opportunity for a meet and greet with one of the Orioles' 2013 All-Stars.

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 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. MLB.com will have 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.

AMERICAN LEAGUE ALL-STAR VOTING
(as of June 8)

CATCHER
Joe Mauer, Twins: 1,492,396
Matt Wieters, Orioles: 1,153,795
Carlos Santana, Indians: 723,119
A.J. Pierzynski, Rangers: 697,403
Jarrod Saltalamacchia, Red Sox: 509,712

FIRST BASE
Chris Davis, Orioles: 2,084,274
Prince Fielder, Tigers: 1,469,537
Mike Napoli, Red Sox: 552,845
Albert Pujols, Angels: 531,138
Mitch Moreland, Rangers: 513,722

SECOND BASE
Robinson Cano, Yankees: 1,851,371
Dustin Pedroia, Red Sox: 1,106,949
Ian Kinsler, Rangers: 900,950
Omar Infante, Tigers: 621,202
Jose Altuve, Astros: 488,466

THIRD BASE
Miguel Cabrera, Tigers: 2,355,128
Manny Machado, Orioles: 1,170,108
Adrian Beltre, Rangers: 845,540
Evan Longoria, Rays: 657,056
Josh Donaldson, Athletics: 355,693

SHORTSTOP
J.J. Hardy, Orioles: 1,231,843
Elvis Andrus, Rangers: 1,045,885
Jhonny Peralta, Tigers: 915,400
Jed Lowrie, Athletics: 803,972
Derek Jeter, Yankees: 529,234

DESIGNATED HITTER
David Ortiz, Red Sox: 1,716,410
Lance Berkman, Rangers: 957,618
Mark Reynolds, Indians: 622,977
Edwin Encarnacion, Blue Jays: 554,337
Mark Trumbo, Angels: 551,942

OUTFIELD
Adam Jones, Orioles 1,944,450
Mike Trout, Angels 1,939,486
Torii Hunter, Tigers 1,067,973
Nick Markakis, Orioles 1,030,653
Jose Bautista, Blue Jays 1,021,813
Nelson Cruz, Rangers 1,011,198
Nate McLouth, Orioles 918,359
Alex Gordon, Royals 789,488
Jacoby Ellsbury, Red Sox 714,716
Yoenis Cespedes, Athletics 652,702
Coco Crisp, Athletics 643,532
Josh Hamilton, Angels 564,417
Austin Jackson, Tigers 538,178
Shane Victorino, Red Sox 499,413
Ichiro Suzuki, Yankees 477,870