2015 ALL-STAR GAME STARTERS ANNOUNCED

Leading Vote-Getter Josh Donaldson Sets All-Time Single-Season Voting Record, Edges Out AL Teammate Mike Trout for Top Overall Spot;

Bryce Harper Finishes as Top NL Vote-Getter, Sets All-Time NL
Single-Season Voting Mark;

Blue Jays third baseman Josh Donaldson, MLB’s leading vote-getter, and Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper, who led the National League in voting, will be among the starters in the 86th All-Star Game, to be played on Tuesday, July 14th at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati.  The 2015 AL and NL All-Star starters were unveiled earlier this evening during the “Esurance All-Star Starters Selection Show” on ESPN.  

Donaldson, who collected 14,090,188 total votes, set a new all-time single-season voting record, surpassing Josh Hamilton’s 2012 total of 11,073,744 tallies.  

Harper receives his third Midsummer Classic selection (2012-13) and his second fan-elected start (2013), becoming the first player in Nationals-era history to claim multiple fan-elected starting assignments.  

Third baseman Todd Frazier of the host Reds received 9,233,686 votes, surpassing Matt Carpenter of the Cardinals (7,133,753) in the final week to earn his first fan election after being named an All-Star reserve in 2014.  

In the AL, reigning league batting champion Jose Altuve of the Astros reclaimed the top spot at second base in the final week, finishing with 9,634,464 votes to beat out Kansas City’s Omar Infante (8,999,117).  

Angels outfielder Mike Trout received 14,013,021 total votes, which was the second-highest total in the Majors behind Donaldson.  Trout will make his fourth consecutive All-Star appearance and third consecutive fan-elected start.

Joining Trout in the AL outfield will be Royals teammates Lorenzo Cain (12,399,127) and Alex Gordon (10,609,006).  

Rounding out the fan elections in the NL outfield alongside Harper is Giancarlo Stanton (7,036,537) of the Miami Marlins and Matt Holliday (6,362,653) of the Cardinals.  

Two-time AL Most Valuable Player (2012-13) Miguel Cabrera of the Tigers garnered 13,834,271 votes en route to his 10th career All-Star selection (also 2004-07, 2010-14) and third consecutive fan election.  

Cabrera’s NL counterpart will be Paul Goldschmidt of the Diamondbacks, who received 9,119,375 votes to attain his second consecutive fan-elected start.  

Giants catcher Buster Posey will make the start behind the plate in the NL, marking his third career Midsummer Classic selection (2012-13) and second career fan-elected start (2012).  

For the AL, Royals backstop Salvador Perez tallied 13,747,294 votes to receive his first career starting assignment in the Midsummer Classic after making the AL squad as a reserve in each of the last two seasons.  

In the AL’s tightest race, Mariners designated hitter Nelson Cruz (10,632,184) claimed his fourth All-Star selection (2009, 2013-14) as he held off Kendrys Morales (10,320,500) of the Royals.  

Up the middle of the NL infield will be Marlins second baseman Dee Gordon (7,574,750) and Cardinals shortstop Jhonny Peralta (8,478,474).  Joining Altuve up the middle of the AL infield is Royals shortstop Alcides Escobar, who tallied 11,960,907 votes to receive his first career All-Star selection.