Major League Baseball released its first 2016 All-Star balloting update on Tuesday with two Orioles among the leaders at their respective positions.
Manny Machado was leading all American League third basemen with just over 630,000 votes as Kansas City’s Mike Moustakas trailed in second place by more than 60,000 votes. Entering Tuesday, the 23-year-old was batting .313 with 13 home runs, 29 RBIs, and a robust .998 on-base plus slugging percentage.
Filling in for the injured J.J. Hardy at shortstop since early May, Machado has made more 2016 starts at his natural position than at the hot corner where he’s won Gold Gloves in two of the last three years. Of course, Machado is listed on the official ballot as a third baseman.
Mark Trumbo ranks third among AL outfielders as he holds an advantage over Boston’s Jackie Bradley Jr. by more than 86,000 votes for the final starting spot. Acquired from the Seattle Mariners in the offseason, Trumbo has hit .289 with 15 homers, 37 RBIs, and a .912 OPS entering Tuesday’s action.
Other Orioles players appearing in the AL voting update included Chris Davis ranking third among first basemen, Jonathan Schoop fifth among second basemen, Hardy fifth among shortstops, Matt Wieters third among catchers, and Adam Jones ninth and Joey Rickard 14th among AL outfielders.
The 2016 All-Star Game will be played at Petco Park in San Diego on July 12.
Royals catcher Salvador Perez leads the AL in fan balloting for the 2016 MLB All-Star Game presented by MasterCard. pic.twitter.com/lpjHfWsvfH
— MLB Communications (@MLB_PR) May 31, 2016
