NewsReds trio looking for your voting help
Votto, Phillips, Bruce among All-Star ballot contenders
By Mark Sheldon / MLB.com
05/26/09 2:00 PM ET
CINCINNATI -- At the moment, Joey Votto, Brandon Phillips and Jay Bruce are on the outside looking in when it comes to All-Star vote consideration. No Reds are in the top five in voting, and they will need some fan assistance to get voted to their first All-Star Game.
Batting .371 entering Monday, Votto has been one of the National League's best hitters this season and is also on the leader board in several categories, including on-base percentage. The first baseman is in his second full Major League season and has been one of Cincinnati's most productive and clutch hitters.
Votto missed 10 starts this month because of the flu, followed by dizziness attributed to an inner ear infection. In his first game back on Saturday, he slugged two homers in his first two at-bats. Phillips is the team leader in RBIs with 34 and has had a sensational May, hitting .350 for the month. He's batting .275 with seven homers overall but fractured his right thumb on a ground ball Saturday. Bruce is the Reds' team leader with 12 home runs this season, which also has him among the NL leaders in that category. He also leads all NL outfielders in assists. Fans can cast their votes for starters up to 25 times with the 2009 All-Star Game Sprint Online Ballot at MLB.com and all 30 club sites until July 2 at 11:59 p.m. ET. Starting rosters will be announced during the 2009 All-Star Game Selection Show presented by Chevrolet on TBS on July 5. Baseball fans around the world will then be able to select the final player on each team via the 2009 All-Star Game Sprint Final Vote at MLB.com. And the voting doesn't end there. Fans will have the opportunity to participate in the official voting for the Ted Williams Most Valuable Player Award presented by Chevrolet at the Midsummer Classic via the 2009 All-Star Game Sprint MVP Vote at MLB.com. The July 14 All-Star Game from Busch Stadium in St. Louis will be televised nationally by FOX and around the world by Major League Baseball International. ESPN Radio will provide exclusive national radio play-by-play, while MLB.com will offer extensive online coverage.Mark Sheldon is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
