Cabrera, Kinsler Lead The Way For Tigers In First All Star Ballot Returns
The first returns are in and as expected the Detroit Tigers will look to be well represented at this year's MLB All Star Game in Minneapolis this July.
The Tigers have players leading in two positional votes -- Miguel Cabrera leads all American League first baseman with 440,407 votes, leading Los Angeles Angels slugger Albert Pujols by just under 70,000 votes, and second baseman Ian Kinsler who holds a slim lead over the Seattle Mariners' Robinson Cano.
Designated hitter Victor Martinez currently sits in third place in the voting for his position with 340,827 votes, trailing David Ortiz of the Boston Red Sox and Nelson Cruz of the Baltimore Orioles. Rookie Nick Castellanos is in fifth place among American League third baseman. Three Tigers outfielders made the top 15 at the position -- Torii Hunter at sixth, Rajai Davis at thirteenth, and Austin Jackson at fourteenth.
If voted in, Cabrera would earn his ninth career All Star appearance and his fifth since being traded to the Tigers in 2008. Kinsler, who was a three-time All Star with the Texas Rangers, will look to make the All Star team in his first season in Detroit.
Cabrera was the only Tiger to be voted in by fans to last year's All Star team. Tigers ace Max Scherzer got the starting nod from American League All Star manager Jim Leyland in last season's game. Hunter and starting pitcher Justin Verlander joined former Tigers Prince Fielder and Jhonny Peralta in earning reserve roles on last year's team.
AL @AllStarGame ballot leaders:
— MLB (@MLB) May 27, 2014
1B Cabrera
2B Kinsler
SS Jeter
3B Donaldson
C Wieters
OF Trout, vote leader
OF Bautista
OF Ellsbury
DH Ortiz
Angles outfielder Mike Trout leads the entire American League with 764,007 votes. See the complete voting results so far here. Voting ends at 11:59 p.m. on July 3.