Twins slugger Miguel Sano is in a tight race with Manny Machado to start this year’s MLB All-Star Game at third base. The MLB released its first ballot update for the American League on Wednesday and Orioles third baseman Macahdo leads Sano by about 5,400 votes.
If Sano is voted in as a starter, he would be the first Twins player to start an All-Star Game since Joe Mauer did in it in 2013. Sano is hitting .292 this season with 12 home runs and he ranks second in the AL in RBI (39) and walks (31).
Although Manny Machado has been to three All-Star Games, he’s in the midst of worst season in six-year big league career. Machado is hitting just .210 with an OBP of .292. He’s already committed five errors this year after having just six last year and seven in 2015.
No other Twins player cracked the nine positions that fans can vote for.
Starting pitcher Ervin Santana definitely has the resume to be included in this year’s game too but fans can not vote for pitchers, as they’re instead selected by the team’s manager.
The next ballot update will take place on Tuesday, June 6. If the All-Star game were to start today, here’s who the American League would trot out.
- Salvador Perez C
- Miguel Cabrera 1B
- Starlin Castro 2B
- Manny Machado 3B
- Francisco Lindor SS
- Mike Trout OF
- Aaron Judge OF
- Mookie Betts OF
- Nelson Cruz DH
The 2017 All-Star game will take place in Miami, Florida at Marlins Park on July 11.
