D-backs’ Goldschmidt’s lead in NL All-Star voting grows

With every coming day, more and more fans are coming to embrace “America’s First Baseman,” Paul Goldschmidt.

The Arizona Diamondbacks first baseman’s lead in the National League All-Star voting grew in the latest voting numbers, released Tuesday.

Goldschmidt expanded his lead to more than 2 million votes over the next closest competitor, Los Angeles Dodgers first baseman Adrian Gonzalez.

Goldschmidt currently holds 5,867,602 votes, good enough for the third-most in the National League. He is batting .356 with a .474 on-base percentage and 19 home runs and 57 RBI in 69 games this season though June 23, 2015.

Goldschmidt would be making his third All-Star appearance and receive his second consecutive starting nod. If voted in, he would be the first position player in team history to be voted as a starter multiple seasons, let alone consecutive years.

Following Goldschmidt in the voting among first basemen are Gonzalez (3,329,716), Joey Votto of the Cincinnati Reds (2,476,879), Matt Adams of the St. Louis Cardinals (2,223,031) and Anthony Rizzo of the Chicago Cubs (2,129,116).

Washington Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper is the league’s leading vote-getter (9,224,370), smashing San Francisco Giants catcher Buster Posey’s previous single-season record set in 2012 (7,621,370).

The Cardinals currently lead all National League teams in players who would be voted starters if the voting ended today. Third baseman Matt Carpenter and shortstop Jhonny Peralta lead their positions, and Matt Holliday is currently third among outfielders.

D-backs center fielder A.J. Pollock, enjoying a breakout season, did not crack the top 15 in the National League voting numbers.

The 2015 All-Star Game will take place at Great American Ballpark in Cincinnati, Ohio on July 14.