Trout leads AL outfielders in All-Star voting

ANAHEIM -- Mike Trout's first appearance on a Major League All-Star ballot is going pretty much the way you would expect it to: swimmingly.

When the first American League update was released on Monday, Trout led all outfielders and ranked third in total fan votes with 1,190,676. Only reigning AL Triple Crown winner Miguel Cabrera (1,500,165) and Yankees second baseman Robinson Cano (1,235,230) had more.

"It's pretty cool," Trout said. "That's awesome, to be up there with all the top guys. It's a pretty special feeling."

Trout spent the first month of his historic rookie season in the Minors and didn't appear on last year's ballot, but was nonetheless selected as a reserve by his peers and became the 20th player to become an All-Star before his 21st birthday. After a slow start to 2013, Trout scorched through May, posting a 1.073 OPS while belting eight homers and four triples, putting his slash line at a more typical .294/.369/.545 for the season.

Albert Pujols (.248/.320/.416) and Josh Hamilton (.216/.277/.380) are struggling, and need a voting push if they hope to be in the AL starting lineup at Citi Field. Pujols, a nine-time All-Star who has missed the last two Midsummer Classics, ranks fourth in voting among first basemen, trailing the Orioles' Chris Davis, the Tigers' Prince Fielder and the Red Sox's Mike Napoli.

Hamilton, who has started each of the last five All-Star Games for the AL, ranks 10th among outfielders -- more than 300,000 votes shy of Torii Hunter in third place.

Mark Trumbo leads the Angels in homers (13) and RBIs (38), but he'll have a hard time making it into the AL lineup as the designated hitter. Red Sox slugger David Ortiz leads that group with 1,045,283 votes, while Trumbo is about 700,000 votes behind, in fourth place.

Fans can cast their votes for starters at MLB.com and all 30 club sites -- online or via your mobile device -- using the 2013 All-Star Game MLB.com ballot until Thursday, July 4, at 11:59 p.m. ET.

Fans may submit 25 online ballots during the voting period, but can also earn a one-time bonus of 10 additional online ballots. To access these additional online ballots, you must be logged into your MLB.com account when you submit any online ballot. If you do not have an MLB.com account, visit www.mlb.com and register in accordance with the enrollment instructions for a free one.

Fans can also once again participate in the Home Run Derby Fan Poll, where they'll have the opportunity to select three players in each league who they would most like to see participate in the Home Run Derby. The 2013 Home Run Derby -- part of Gatorade All-Star Workout Day -- will be broadcast live on ESPN, ESPN HD, ESPN Deportes and ESPN Radio in the United States beginning at 8 p.m. ET on Monday, July 15.

The 2013 American League and National League All-Star teams will be unveiled on Sunday, July 7, on the 2013 MLB All-Star Game Selection Show, televised nationally on TBS. Baseball fans around the world will then be able to select the final player on each team via the All-Star Game Final Vote sponsored by freecreditscore.com on MLB.com.

The final phase of All-Star Game voting will again have fans participating in the official voting for the Ted Williams All-Star Game Most Valuable Player Award presented by Chevrolet. During the Midsummer Classic, fans will vote exclusively online at MLB.com via the 2013 All-Star Game MLB.com MVP Vote, and their voice will represent 20 percent of the official vote determining the recipient of the Arch Ward Trophy.

The 84th All-Star Game, played at Citi Field on July 16, will be televised nationally by FOX Sports, in Canada by Rogers Sportsnet and RDS, and worldwide by partners in more than 200 countries via MLB International's independent feed.

MLB.com will provide extensive online coverage of the All-Star Week festivities, while ESPN Radio and ESPN Radio Deportes will provide national radio coverage of the All-Star Game. MLB Network and SiriusXM also will also provide comprehensive All-Star Week coverage. For more information, please visit allstargame.com.