Kemp passes Harper for 2nd in All-Star vote
LOS ANGELES -- Outfielder Matt Kemp headlined a collection of Dodgers vying for spots on the 2018 National League All-Star team, the latest Camping World MLB All-Star Ballot voting update revealed on Monday.
• VOTE: 2018 Camping World MLB All-Star Ballot
Kemp (1,498,827 votes) has surpassed the Nationals' Bryce Harper (1,403,335) for second-most votes among NL outfielders behind the Braves' Nick Markakis (1,829,276). Last week, Kemp was in third.
Kemp, 33, has had a resurgent season with the Dodgers, entering Monday fifth in the NL in batting average (.318). He's tallied 13 home runs and 47 RBIs in 74 games, building an All-Star case Dodgers manager Dave Roberts is certain of.
"I expected he would impact us," Roberts said of Kemp joining the Dodgers in an offseason trade. "I didn't even really think that much into it. On the field, in the clubhouse, I thought that he would move the needle in the right direction. And he has."
An appearance would mark the third time Kemp has been named an All-Star and the first time since 2012.
Three other Dodgers -- second baseman John Forsythe, third baseman Justin Turner and outfielder Yasiel Puig -- also were among the leaders at their respective positions.
Forsythe (268,236 votes) appeared as the fifth-leading vote-getter among NL second basemen, trailing the Braves' Ozzie Albies (1,408,469), the Cubs' Javier Baez (1,186,243), the Reds' Scooter Gennett (1,166,288) and the Giants' Joe Panik (335,298). Forsythe, an eight-year veteran, has never appeared in an All-Star Game.
Turner (353,693) landed at fifth among NL third basemen. The Rockies' Nolan Arenado (1,706,923) led the pack, with the Cubs' Kristopher Bryant (1,060,467), the Braves' Johan Camargo (642,241) and the Reds' Eugenio Suarez (376,612) trailing. Turner was a first-time All-Star last season.
Puig (366,277) ranks 15th among NL outfielders. The 27-year-old has been named an All-Star once, in 2014.
Fans may cast votes for starters at MLB.com and all 30 club sites -- on computers, tablets and smartphones -- exclusively online using the 2018 Camping World MLB All-Star Ballot until Thursday, July 5, at 8:59 p.m. PT. On smartphones and tablets, fans can also access the ballot via the MLB At Bat and MLB Ballpark mobile apps. Each fan can vote up to five times in any 24-hour period, for a maximum of 35 ballots cast.
Following the announcement of this year's All-Star starters, reserves and pitchers, fans should return to MLB.com and cast their 2018 Camping World MLB All-Star Final Vote for the final player on each league's roster. Then on Tuesday, July 17, while watching the 2018 All-Star Game presented by Mastercard live on FOX, fans may visit MLB.com to submit their choices for the Ted Williams Most Valuable Player Award presented by Chevrolet with the 2018 MLB All-Star Game MVP Vote.
The 89th Midsummer Classic, at Nationals Park in Washington, D.C., will be televised nationally by FOX Sports; in Canada by Rogers Sportsnet and RDS; and worldwide by partners in more than 180 countries. FOX Deportes will provide Spanish-language coverage in the United States, while ESPN Radio and ESPN Radio Deportes will provide exclusive national radio coverage of the All-Star Game. MLB Network, MLB.com and SiriusXM also will provide comprehensive All-Star Week coverage. For more information about MLB All-Star Week and to purchase tickets, please visit AllStarGame.com and follow @MLB and @AllStarGame on social media.