Starters and reserves,
Manager: Ned Yost, Kansas City Royals
CATCHER
Salvador Perez, Royals: The three-time All-Star received nearly 13.8 million votes — 6 million more than second-place Russell Martin. He is on pace to have the most home runs of his career and has been one of the league’s besthitting catchers since he was called up in 2011. He has a .998 fielding percentage.
FIRST BASE
Albert Pujols, Los Angeles Angels: The Detroit Tigers’ Miguel Cabrera (more than 13.8 million voter) was chosen by fans but is injured, so Pujols, 35, will replace him as a starter. It’s his 10th time as an All-Star and first since joining the Angels in 2012. Pujols has 25 home runs this season, three fewer than his full 2014 total. He had 17 home runs in 2013 but has bounced back nicely this season.
SECOND BASE
Jose Altuve, Houston Astros: The 5-6, 165-pounder combines batting average, speed on the basepaths and above-average fielding. He is making his third All-Star appearance at 25. He leads the AL in steals and led the league in 2014 in hits and steals. A late surge gave him more than 9.6 million votes and moved him past the Royals’ Omar Infante.
THIRD BASE
Josh Donaldson, Toronto Blue Jays: Donaldson, 29, set a record with more than 14 million votes. The two-time All-Star leads AL third basemen in RBI and is third in batting average. He has com- bined solid power with batting for average since his first full season in 2013. He was drafted in the first round by the Chicago Cubs in 2007 as a catcher out of Auburn before moving to third base as a pro.
SHORTSTOP
Alcides Escobar, Royals: Getting nearly 12 million votes, Escobar was selected to his first All-Star Game. Nicknamed “El Mago,” meaning magician, because of his defensive ability, he is the Royals’ leadoff hitter. Escobar, who signed as an amateur free agent with the Milwaukee Brewers at 16, started all 162 games last season.
OUTFIELD
Mike Trout, Los Angeles An- gels: Trout, on pace to surpass the 36 home runs he hit in 2014, is making his fourth consecutive All-Star Game after receiving more than 14 million votes. The New Jersey native has been one of baseball’s most popular players and was third in jersey sales in the second half of last season. The 2012 AL rookie of the year has led the major leagues in Wins Above Replacement (WAR) for the past three seasons. His father, Jeff, played Class AA ball in the Minnesota Twins farm system.
Lorenzo Cain, Royals: The 2014 AL Championship Series MVP did not play baseball until his sophomore year in high school and is a first-time All-Star. Although Cain has the secondlowest fielding percentage of any AL center fielder, he has hit more home runs (six) than the five he hit last year. Cain combines hitting for a high average with an ability to steal bases. He received more than 12 million fan votes.
Alex Gordon, Royals: The four-time Gold Glove winner is making a third consecutive appearance. Drafted second overall out of Nebraska by the Royals in 2005, he has a 1.000 fielding percentage and has three or fewer errors in each season since 2012. Gordon, who has been playing through right wrist pain after offseason surgery, garnered more than 10.6 million votes.
DESIGNATED HITTER
Nelson Cruz, Seattle Mariners: As a Texas Ranger, Cruz set a playoff record with six homers and 13 RBI vs. the Detroit Tigers in the 2011 AL Championship Series. The Dominican Republic native led the majors in home runs with 40 in 2014 with the Baltimore Orioles. He was selected as an All-Star for the fourth time. With more than 10.6 million votes, Cruz, 35, narrowly beat out the Royals’ Kendrys Morales, who had more than 10.3 million votes.