Royals' Dozier advances to final round of All-Star voting
NEW YORK — Along with the Houston Astros' Alex Bregman and the New York Yankees' Gio Urshela, Kansas City Royals third baseman Hunter Dozier has been named one of three American League finalists in contention to start at the hot corner in next month's MLB All-Star Game.
Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Cody Bellinger was the top vote-getter in the major leagues and Los Angeles Angels outfielder Mike Trout led the AL in the first stage of Major League Baseball's new two-phase fan balloting to determine All-Star Game starters.
Bellinger got 3.69 million votes and finished about 39,000 ahead of Milwaukee outfielder Christian Yelich, the commissioner's office said Friday. Trout received 3.37 million, well ahead of Houston outfielder George Springer at 2.57 million,
Candidates to start for the July 9 game at Cleveland were narrowed to three at infield positions in each league and AL designated hitter, and nine in the outfield. The remaining contenders will start from zero for phase two, which begins at 11:00 a.m. CDT Wednesday and ends at 3 p.m. CDT Thursday.
Texas' Joey Gallo beat Minnesota's Max Kepler by 138 votes for the ninth AL outfield spot, and the Yankees' Gleyber Torres edged Cleveland's Francisco Lindor by fewer than 14,000 votes for the third AL shortstop berth.
The Dodgers' Joc Pederson finished 131,000 votes ahead of Philadelphia's Bryce Harper for the ninth NL outfield berth.
Starters will be announced Thursday night, and reserves and pitchers on June 30.
The players who move on to phase two (in order of vote total):
AL
Catcher: Gary Sánchez, New York; James McCann, Chicago; Robinson Chirinos, Houston
First base: Luke Voit, New York; Carlos Santana, Cleveland; C.J. Cron, Minnesota
Second base: Tommy La Stella, Los Angeles; Jose Altuve, Houston; DJ LeMahieu, New York
Third base: Alex Bregman, Houston; Gio Urshela, New York; Hunter Dozier, Kansas City
Shortstop: Jorge Polanco, Minnesota; Carlos Correa, Houston; Gleyber Torres, New York
Designated hitter: J.D. Martinez, Boston; Hunter Pence, Texas; Nelson Cruz, Minnesota
Outfield: Mike Trout, Los Angeles; George Springer, Houston; Michael Brantley, Houston; Austin Meadows, Tampa Bay; Mookie Betts, Boston; Eddie Rosario, Minnesota; Aaron Judge, New York; Josh Reddick, Houston; Joey Gallo, Texas
NL
Catcher: Wilson Contreras, Chicago; Brian McCann, Atlanta; Yasmani Grandal, Milwaukee
First base: Freddie Freeman, Atlanta; Josh Bell, Pittsburgh; Anthony Rizzo, Chicago
Second base: Ozzie Albies, Atlanta; Mike Moustakas, Milwaukee; Ketel Marte, Arizona
Third base: Nolan Arenado, Colorado; Kris Bryant, Chicago; Josh Donaldson, Atlanta
Shortstop: Javier Báez, Chicago; Dansby Swanson, Atlanta; Trevor Story, Colorado
Outfield: Cody Bellinger, Los Angeles; Christian Yelich, Milwaukee; Ronald Acuña Jr., Atlanta; Nick Markakis, Atlanta; Charlie Blackmon, Colorado; Albert Almora, Chicago; Jason Heyward, Chicago; Kyle Schwarber, Chicago, Joc Pederson, Los Angeles
Leading vote-getters at each infield position in each league, the AL DH leader and the top three outfielders in each league earned $15,000 bonuses based on the first round of voting.
