Detroit Tigers' Miguel Cabrera is top vote-getter in All-Star balloting; Prince Fielder trails Chris Davis

James Schmehl | By James Schmehl |
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on June 03, 2013 at 2:05 PM, updated June 03, 2013 at 5:35 PM
Miguel Cabrera.jpgMiguel Cabrera makes his way around the bases Saturday afternoon after hitting a grand slam home run in the fourth inning.  

DETROIT -- Despite attending seven All-Star games in his 11-year career, Miguel Cabrera has never been been voted a starter.

That may soon change.

The first American League balloting return for this year's All-Star Game was announced Monday afternoon and Cabrera was the top vote-getter with more than 1.5 million votes.

Cabrera currently has twice as many votes as Baltimore's Manny Machado, who ranks second among AL third basemen in total votes with 723,943.

If Cabrera maintains his first-place lead, he'll be voted an All-Star starter for the first time in his career.

A career .320 hitter, Cabrera is hitting .367 with 17 homers and 65 RBIs in 55 games, putting him  on pace to enter the All-Star break with 111 RBIs. He started for the AL All-Stars at first base three years ago, but he did so as an injury replacement.

Cabrera could be joined by teammate Torii Hunter, who is third among American League outfielders with 761,937 votes, joining Baltimore's Adam Jones and Los Angeles' Mike Trout. A career .278 hitter, Hunter is batting .316 with 23 RBIs in 48 games this year.

Despite Detroit's star-studded offensive cast, only two players are currently in line to start in next month's All-Star Game at Citi Field in New York.

Prince Fielder, named a starting first baseman in last year's Midsummer Classic, is second among AL first baseman in vote-getting, trailing Baltimore's Chris Davis. Davis, who is running neck-and-neck with Cabrera in the Triple Crown categories, is batting .357 with a league-leading 20 home runs.

Jhonny Peralta brought in 540,581 votes, but he's trailing Texas' Elvis Andrus, who narrowly leads Baltimore's J.J. Hardy (717,103) at shortstop. Peralta leads American League shortstops in hits, batting average, slugging percentage and OPS.

No other Tiger ranks in the top three at their position in balloting, including second baseman Omar Infante, who is piecing together arguably his best season, despite a recent 10-game slide.

An All-Star in 2010, Infante trails New York's Robinson Cano (1,235,230), Texas' Ian Kinsler (656,827) and Boston's Dustin Pedroia (642,419).

The only other Tigers to appear on the balloting update are Austin Jackson, who is stuck in 11th place among AL outfielders, and Victor Martinez, who is fifth among designated hitters.

The National League balloting leaders will be revealed Tuesday afternoon. Fans can cast their votes for starters at until July 4 and the All-Star Game will be played on July 16.

American League All-Star balloting results:

1. Joe Mauer, Twins (863,450)
2. Matt Wieters, Orioles (715,055)
3. Carlos Santana, Indians (547,873)
4. A.J. Pierzynski, Rangers (510,434)
5. Jarrod Saltalamacchia, Red Sox (331,344)

First base
1. Chris Davis, Orioles (1,176,016)
2. Prince Fielder, Tigers (1,059,300)
3. Mike Napoli, Red Sox (380,448)
4. Albert Pujols, Angels (374,538)
5. Mitch Moreland, Rangers (371,806)

Second base
1. Robinson Cano, Yankees (1,235,230)
2. Ian Kinsler, Rangers (656,827)
3. Dustin Pedroia, Red Sox (642,419)
4. Omar Infante, Tigers (417,333)
5. Brian Roberts, Orioles (291,756)

Third base
1. Miguel Cabrera, Tigers (1,500,165)
2. Manny Machado, Orioles (723,943)
3. Adrian Beltre, Rangers (600,271)
4. Evan Longoria, Rays (454,047)
5. Kevin Youkilis, Yankees (235,388)

1. Elvis Andrus, Rangers (727,555)
2. J.J. Hardy, Orioles (717,103)
3. Jhonny Peralta, Tigers (540,581)
4. Jed Lowrie, Athletics (523,743)
5. Derek Jeter, Yankees (380,445)

1. Mike Trout, Angels (1,190,676)
2. Adam Jones, Orioles (1,181,875)
3. Torii Hunter, Tigers (761,937)
4. Nelson Cruz, Rangers (712,320)
5. Jose Bautista, Blue Jays (653,475)
6. Nick Markakis, Orioles (595,698)
7. Nate McLouth, Orioles (559,751)
8. Alex Gordon, Royals (522,483)
9. Jacoby Ellsbury, Red Sox (473,877)
10. Josh Hamilton, Angels (404,597)
11. Austin Jackson, Tigers (400,019)
12. Yoenis Cespedes, Athletics (395,475)
13. Coco Crisp, Athletics (392,202)
14. Shane Victorino, Red Sox (341,733)
15. Ichiro Suzuki, Yankees (337,654)

Designated hitter
1. David Ortiz, Red Sox (1,045,283)
2. Lance Berkman, Rangers (672,547)
3. Mark Reynolds, Indians (452,708)
4. Mark Trumbo, Angels (376,574)
5. Victor Martinez, Tigers (340,967)

-- Balloting results as of June 3.

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