Hamilton leads All-Star voting

• Tweet

NEW YORK, June 5 (UPI) -- Josh Hamilton, who leads the majors in home runs, also leads all players in voting for the 2012 All-Star Game, baseball officials said Tuesday.

Hamilton, an outfielder for the Texas Rangers, has 21 home runs this season, four more than any other player to date in 2012. He has been selected on nearly 2.6 million votes, balloting updates released Tuesday indicated.

Hamilton is one of five Texas players leading the voting at their positions.

If he wins a starting position, Hamilton will tie Seattle's Ichiro Suzuki by being voted to a starting AL outfield position for a fifth time.

Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Matt Kemp, despite recently returning to the disabled list, leads the National League voting with nearly 2 million votes.

New York Yankees Curtis Granderson and Nelson Cruz, who plays with Hamilton in the Texas outfield, were second and third among AL outfielders in the voting.

Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter, with about 1.7 million votes, is second in the American League voting. Other AL leaders at their positions are: Detroit first baseman Prince Fiedler, Texas second baseman Ian Kinsler, Texas third baseman Adrian Beltre, Boston designated hitter David Ortiz and Texas catcher Mike Napoli.

Outfielders Carlos Beltran of St. Louis and Ryan Braun of Milwaukee are second and third behind Kemp in the NL voting. The other NL leaders, by position, are Cincinnati first baseman Joey Votto, Atlanta second baseman Dan Uggla, New York Mets third baseman David Wright, Colorado shortstop Troy Tulowitzki and St. Louis catcher Yadier Molina.

The All-Star Game is to be played July 10 in Kansas City, Mo.