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DETROIT -- Detroit Tigers first baseman Miguel Cabrera is an All-Star for the 10th time in his major league career. He was voted by fans as the starting first baseman, beating out Royals' Eric Hosmer by over three million votes.
It is the fourth time in his 13-year career that Cabrera has been named the starting player for his position, and the third time at first base. The only three seasons Cabrera was not named an All-Star were his rookie season, 2008, and 2009.
Unfortunately, as Cabrera is currently on the disabled list for a left calf strain and will likely be out until the middle of August, he won't be able to start in the game. As a result, Royals manager Ned Yost, the manager for the American League All-Star team, will be choosing an alternative to start in Cabrera's stead. Hosmer would be the likely candidate.
Leading up to his injury, Cabrera was having an MVP-like season, batting .350/.456/.578 with 15 home runs, 16 doubles, and 54 RBI. He led the AL in on-base-percentage and OPS (1.034) and OPS+ (186), leading all of baseball with a .350 batting average.
At second base, Ian Kinsler finished in fourth place, with 3,868,672 votes. Astros' Jose Altuve was named the starting second baseman, with 9,634,464 votes. At third, Blue Jays' Josh Donaldson was voted in by fans as the starter, getting 14,090,188 votes. Nick Castellanos finished fourth, with 2,300,858 votes.
Jose Iglesias, Tigers defensive wizard, finished second to Royals' Alcides Escobar, getting 8,671,708 votes to Escobar's 11,960,907. And at both catcher and designated hitter, Alex Avila and Victor Martinez finished fifth and fourth, respectively. Not surprising given both were on the DL for a good chunk of the first half.
In the outfield, Yoenis Cespedes lost ground rather than gaining it in the final week leading to the final count. During the last check, Cespedes had been in fourth, just outside of being voted on as a starting All-Star. However, he finished fifth, with 8,907,156 votes.
Angels' Mike Trout, and Royals' Lorenzo Cain and Alex Gordon were voted in by fans for the top three starting spots. Blue Jays' Jose Bautista finished fourth. Meanwhile, J.D. Martinez, currently on a red hot streak, finished eighth and will need to either be voted on by players, or in the Final Vote process.
The reserves, pitchers, and Final Vote candidates will be announced on Monday night at 7 p.m. The Final Vote ballot is open until Friday, July 10, at 4 p.m. Eastern.