OC Register: Angels’ Mike Trout, Shohei Ohtani are finalists to start in All-Star Game

[AngelsWin.com]

Angels outfielder Mike Trout and two-way star Shohei Ohtani made it through to the next phase of the selection process to be in the starting lineup for the American League in next month’s All-Star Game at Dodger Stadium.

The first round of voting ended on Thursday morning, and the top two at each position will now advance to Phase 2, which begins on Tuesday at 9 a.m. PT and ends on Friday, July 8, at 11 a.m. PT. During this period, fans can vote only once a day for whom they want to see in Midsummer Classic, and vote totals from Phase 1 don’t carry over.

Th startings lineups will be revealed on July 8, at 4 p.m. PT on ESPN.

Trout could not overtake the New York Yankees’ Aaron Judge, who automatically won a starting spot by virtue of being the overall AL vote leader.

Trout will be on the Phase 2 ballot with the Toronto Blue Jays druo of George Springer and Lourdes Gurriel Jr. and the Yankees’ Giancarlo Stanton. The top two vote-getters from that foursome will join Judge in the starting outfield in the July 19 All-Star Game.

Ohtani and the Houston Astros’ Yordan Alvarez are the finalists at designated hitter, so they will go be on the Phase 2 ballot vying for the starting DH spot.

Ohtani also still could be selected for the game as a pitcher. The pitchers and reserves are selected by player voting, with the MLB office filling out the rosters with a few final selections.

Last year, Ohtani became the first player in major league history to be selected as both a hitter and a pitcher for the All-Star Game. He ended up starting the game at pitcher and DH.

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