As Major League Baseball opened online balloting for the 2019 All-Star Game, the San Diego Padres began campaigning for its local stars, including Manny Machado, Eric Hosmer and Fernando Tatis Jr.
The balloting rules give fans the right to vote up to five times a day for their Padre favorites. Voting, via mlb.com, the Padres web site and the MLB app, continues through June 21. Fans also may Google “mlb vote” to see a ballot.
The team publicized the effort with the #VotePadres hashtag on social media. Baseball has changed balloting this year to include two rounds. The top three vote getters at most positions move forward; for the outfield, it’s the top nine. Second-round voting begins June 26.
The Padres who appear on the ballot are: Hosmer, 1st base; Ian Kinsler, 2nd base; Machado, 3rd base; Tatis, shortstop; Austin Hedges, catcher; Wil Myers, Hunter Renfroe and Franmil Reyes, outfielders.
Machado, in his first year with the Padres, and Tatis, have been among the most heralded Padres in 2019, though Tatis, a rookie, has been hampered by a hamstring injury since April.
The game is set for July 9 at Progressive Field in Cleveland. San Diego hosted the All-Star Game three years ago, when the American League defeated the National League 4-2. Hosmer, then a Kansas City Royal, was the game’s MVP.
– Staff reports
