Major League Baseball All-Star Game will be Royal occasion

Four Kansas City Royals players will start for the American League in the July 14 Major League Baseball All-Star Game in Cincinnati.

The Kansas City quartet make up half of the eight American League position players who were announced on Sunday after on-line ballotting for the American League and National League starters in the annual mid-season showcase.

Kansas City catcher Salvador Perez, shortstop Alcides Escobar and outfielders Lorenzo Cain and Alex Gordon will represent the American League, Gordon and Perez both making a third appearance with Escobar and Cain each making a first.

"I'm thinking about the All-Star Game all the time, that's my dream," Escobar said. "Right now I got the opportunity and right now I feel so happy. ... I can't explain my emotions right now."

Escobar will become the first AL shortstop to start besides the New York Yankees' Derek Jeter, who retired after last season, since 2005.

Mid-vote returns showing that at one point eight Royals were leading the voting sparked murmurings that Kansas City fans were packing the ballot box.

Other American League starters elected by fans include first baseman Miguel Cabrera of the Detroit Tigers, second baseman Jose Altuve of the Houston Astros, third baseman Josh Donaldson of the Toronto Blue Jays, outfielder Mike Trout of the Los Angeles Angels and designated hitter Nelson Cruz of the Seattle Mariners.

Cabrera, on the disabled list with a left calf strain, may be unavailable for the exhibition game that will determine which league has home field advantage in the World Series.

Washington Nationals slugging outfielder Bryce Harper was the top vote-getter in the National League with 13.9 million.

Other National League position starters are first baseman Paul Goldschmidt of the Arizona Diamondbacks, second baseman Dee Gordon of the Florida Marlins, shortstop Jhonny Peralta of the St. Louis Cardinals, Cincinnati Reds third baseman Todd Frazier, San Francisco Giants catcher Buster Posey, and joining Harper in the outfield, the Marlins Giancarlo Stanton and Cardinals' Matt Holiday.

Stanton is on the disabled list with a broken left wrist and won't be able to play.

Holliday is also on the disabled list with a quadriceps strain but could return before the All Star break.

Pitchers and reserves for both teams will be announced on Monday.
Source: AFP