Rookie Ozuna making case for All-Star nod

NEW YORK -- When the season started, Marcell Ozuna started off on the Minor League disabled list with a fractured left wrist.

Three weeks later, he was a regular in right field for Double-A Jacksonville.

Much has happened for Ozuna since April. The 22-year-old has become one of the most productive Marlins, and he is making a case to earn All-Star consideration.

All 30 MLB clubs will have All-Star representation, and none of the Marlins' regulars rank among the leading vote getters. In Ozuna's case, he isn't on the ballot. Still, fans can show their support for the rookie as a write-in candidate.

"He's added energy to our lineup," Marlins manager Mike Redmond said. "He's been a great surprise."

All-Star voting is well underway at Marlins Park and on www.mlb.com . Fans can cast their votes for starters at MLB.com and all 30 club sites -- online or via a mobile device -- using the 2013 All-Star Game MLB.com Ballot until Thursday, July 4, at 10:59 p.m. CT.

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, fans must be logged into an MLB.com account when submitting any online ballot. To obtain an MLB.com account, visit www.mlb.com and register in accordance with the enrollment instructions for a free MLB.com account.

Fans can also once again participate in the Home Run Derby Fan Poll. Fans will have the opportunity to select three players in each league whom 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 7 p.m. CT on Monday, July 15.

The 2013 AL and NL 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.

And the voting doesn't end there. 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 2013 All-Star Game will be played at Citi Field on Tuesday, July 16. MLB.com will have extensive online coverage of the All-Star Week festivities.

The 84th All-Star Game 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. 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.

Of Marlins on the ballot, Chris Coghlan is perhaps the most deserving. Since May 1, he has batted .338, and he's hit.277 on the season. However, on Sunday, Coghlan was placed on the 15-day disabled list with right calf nerve irritation.

Ozuna, meanwhile, has offered a spark at the plate and in right field. Despite not playing in the big leagues for the first month, Ozuna is among the NL rookie leaders in hits and batting average.

Defensively, Ozuna has five outfield assists, ranking among all outfielders. The Marlins have a number of high profile prospects that many envisioned would've been brought up well before Ozuna.

"Out of all of those guys, I don't think any of us anticipated him to be the first guy to come up," Redmond said. "He's done great. He's fun to watch."

NATIONAL LEAGUE ALL-STAR BALLOTING
(as of June 9)

CATCHER
1. Buster Posey, Giants: 1,961,861
2. Yadier Molina, Cardinals: 1,684,700
3. John Buck, Mets: 692,170
4. Brian McCann, Braves: 467,522
5. Jonathan Lucroy, Brewers: 423,115

FIRST BASE
1. Joey Votto, Reds: 1,569,477
2. Paul Goldschmidt, Diamondbacks: 928,647
3. Brandon Belt, Giants: 778,883
4. Allen Craig, Cardinals: 767,645
5. Freddie Freeman, Braves: 704,578

SECOND BASE
1. Brandon Phillips, Reds: 1,541,720
2. Marco Scutaro, Giants: 1,285,076
3. Matt Carpenter, Cardinals: 913,778
4. Chase Utley, Phillies: 774,314

SHORTSTOP
1. Troy Tulowitzki, Rockies: 1,691,262
2. Brandon Crawford, Giants: 1,015,633
3. Jean Segura, Brewers: 835,329
4. Pete Kozma, Cardinals: 595,416
5. Andrelton Simmons, Braves: 592,286

THIRD BASE
1. Pablo Sandoval, Giants: 1,674,157
2. David Wright, Mets: 1,473,381
3. David Freese, Cardinals: 720,939
4. Chris Johnson, Braves: 635,138
5. Ryan Zimmerman, Nationals: 532,493

OUTFIELD
1. Justin Upton, Braves: 1,666,026
2. Bryce Harper, Nationals: 1,616,784
3. Carlos Beltran, Cardinals: 1,550,844
4. Ryan Braun, Brewers: 1,283,103
5. Shin-Soo Choo, Reds: 1,043,839
6. Hunter Pence, Giants: 984,734
7. Carlos Gonzalez, Rockies: 955,568
8. Andrew McCutchen, Pirates: 952,618
9. Angel Pagan, Giants: 871,143
10. Matt Holliday, Cardinals: 868,829
11. Gregor Blanco, Giants: 722,441
12. Carlos Gomez, Brewers: 704,106
13. B.J. Upton, Braves: 582,401
14. Jon Jay, Cardinals: 577,251
15. Jay Bruce, Reds: 556,894