PHILADELPHIA -- Who are the Phillies' early favorites to make the National League All-Star team?
Second baseman Cesar Hernandez and right-hander Jeremy Hellickson are two legitimate candidates. Hernandez is one of eight Philadelphia position players on this year's Esurance MLB All-Star Game Ballot, and he has never been an All-Star before.
The other seven candidates are catcher Cameron Rupp, first baseman Tommy Joseph, third baseman Maikel Franco, shortstop Freddy Galvis, left fielder Howie Kendrick, center fielder Odubel Herrera and right fielder Michael Saunders.
• VOTE: Esurance MLB All-Star Game Ballot
Hernandez entered Monday night's series opener against the Cubs ranked second among NL second basemen with a .906 OPS. Only Washington's Daniel Murphy (.969) has been better in that category.
Hernandez was batting .323 with four doubles, two triples, four home runs, 10 RBIs, a .375 on-base percentage and a .531 slugging percentage. The slugging percentage has been the biggest surprise in Hernandez's game this season. He slugged a career-high .393 last season.
Hellickson is 4-0 with a 1.80 ERA in five starts, though pitchers are not chosen by fan ballot.
Fans may cast votes for starters at MLB.com and all 30 club sites -- on computers, tablets and smartphones -- exclusively online using the 2017 Esurance MLB All-Star Game Ballot until June 29 at 11:59 p.m. ET. On smartphones and tablets, fans can also access the ballot via the MLB.com At Bat and MLB.com Ballpark mobile apps. Vote up to five times in any 24-hour period for a maximum of 35 ballots cast.
Following the announcement of the 2017 All-Star starters, reserves and pitchers, fans should return to MLB.com and cast their 2017 Esurance MLB All-Star Game Final Vote for the final player on each league's All-Star roster. Then on Tuesday, July 11, while watching the 2017 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 2017 MLB All-Star Game MVP Vote.
The 88th Midsummer Classic, at Marlins Park in Miami, will be televised nationally by FOX Sports; in Canada by Rogers Sportsnet and RDS; and worldwide by partners in more than 160 countries. ESPN Radio and ESPN Radio Deportes will provide exclusive national radio coverage, while MLB Network, MLB.com and SiriusXM will have comprehensive All-Star Week coverage. For more information about MLB All-Star Week and to purchase tickets, please visit AllStarGame.com and follow @AllStarGame on social media.