Gutsy Pedroia making up ground in All-Star balloting

BOSTON -- There are All-Star players and there are All-Star competitors. The best players can be called both. That is Red Sox second baseman Dustin Pedroia in a nutshell.

With the second round of All-Star balloting released on Saturday, Pedroia has made up quite a bit of ground but is in second place (1,106,949 votes) behind sweet-swinging Robinson Cano (1,851,371) of the Yankees.

While Pedroia is having yet another stellar season, it is even more impressive considering the recent revelation that he suffered a complete tear of the ulnar collateral ligament in his left thumb on Opening Day.

Instead of taking time off or undergoing surgery, Pedroia just kept playing.

Entering action Saturday, Pedroia was hitting .329 and hadn't committed an error in the first 61 games of the season.

"He's got a high pain threshold," said Red Sox manager John Farrell. "There's no doubt about it. And I'm not saying that because he's dealing with something. I think his career has shown that he's not going to be taken out of the lineup easily. He'll fight you tooth and nail to stay in the lineup, even if there are things he's dealing with.

"He sets a tone, not only of performance, but of grit and determination. Other guys feed off of that."

Pedroia is a three-time All-Star, earning his most recent selection in 2010.

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 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.

David Ortiz, Pedroia's long-time teammate, is trying to earn an All-Star berth for the ninth time in the past 10 years.

The slugger (1,716,410 votes) currently holds a comfortable lead at designated hitter over the Rangers' Lance Berkman (957,618).

Mike Napoli, who has switched positions from catcher to first base this season, remains third with 552,945 votes, trailing Chris Davis (2,084,274) and Prince Fielder (1,469,537). Napoli has been one of the top run producers in the American League this season, his first with the Red Sox.

Jarrod Saltalamacchia ranks fifth among catchers with 509,712 votes, trailing Joe Mauer, Matt Wieters, Carlos Santana and A.J. Pierzynski.

Jacoby Ellsbury has been red-hot of late and is ninth in the outfield with 714,716 votes. Teammate Shane Victorino, who was activated from the disabled list on Saturday, is 14th with 499,413 votes. Torii Hunter is currently in control of the third and final outfield berth with 1,067,973 votes.

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