Several Royals appear in top-five of All-Star ballot update

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Major League Baseball on Monday released the final American League All-Star ballot update. The All-Star lineups will be unveiled on Sunday at 12 p.m. CT on TBS.

The Royals will have a tough time getting more than one representative in the game on Tuesday, July 10 at Kauffman Stadium. Mike Moustakas stands in fifth place in the third base category. Alcides Escobar is fifth among shortstops. Billy Butler is also fifth for designated hitters. In the outfield standings, Jeff Francoeur is ninth and Alex Gordon is 12th. 

Three-time American League All-Star Robinson Cano of the New York Yankees is now ahead of Texas Rangers second baseman Ian Kinsler in the final AL balloting update. Cano’s teammate Derek Jeter continues to leave Elvis Andrus of the Rangers. Two-time All-Star Adrian Beltre from the Rangers leads third basemen. Prince Fielder from Detroit remains ahead of Paul Konerko of the White Sox.

Four-time All-Star Josh Hamilton of the Rangers has drawn 7,3010,824 votes. He is closing in on the single-season balloting record of 7,454,753. Hamilton is joined in the outfield by Curtis Granderson of the Yankees and Jose Bautista of the Toronto Blue Jays. Nelson Cruz from the Rangers and Adam Jones of the Orioles remain very close behind Bautista.

Seven-time AL All-Star David Ortiz of the Boston Red Sox continues to stay ahead of Michael Young of the Rangers as the designated hitter. Rangers catcher Mike Napoli is in position to grab his first career All-Star selection.

Fans have the chance to vote for starters up to 25 times on MLB.com, the Royals website and their mobile devices until Thursday, June 28 at 10:59 p.m. CT.

The final ballot update for the National League will be released on Tuesday.