Jose Altuve is one step closer to another All-Star game…
The 31-year-old Venezuelan Major League Baseball second baseman, a six-time MLB All-Star, is among seven Houston Astros players named as finalists to start in the 2021 All-Star Game.
The Astros have an MLB best seven finalists this season.
On June 23, Altuve hit his 150th career home run, doing so off Thomas Eshelman of the Baltimore Orioles.
The top three finalists for each position based on fan voting in each league, plus designated hitter for the American League, were announced Sunday.
Three teams — the Los Angeles Dodgers, Chicago Cubs and Toronto Blue Jays — have five finalists for the Midsummer Classic, which will be played July 13 at Coors Field.
Voting on the finalists begins Monday and ends Thursday. The AL and NL All-Star starters, based on those votes, will be announced on Thursday at 9:00 pm ET on ESPN. The remainder of the All-Star teams will be unveiled next Sunday at 5:30 pm ET on ESPN.
The finalists:
Catcher:
AL:
- Salvador Perez, Kansas City Royals
- Martin Maldonado, Astros
- Yasmani Grandal, Chicago White Sox
NL:
- Buster Posey, San Francisco Giants
- Yadier Molina, St. Louis Cardinals
- Willson Contreras, Cubs
First base:
AL:
- Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Blue Jays
- Yuli Gurriel, Astros
- Jose Abreu, White Sox
NL:
- Max Muncy, Dodgers
- Freddie Freeman, Atlanta Braves
- Anthony Rizzo, Cubs
Second base:
AL:
- Marcus Semien, Blue Jays
- Jose Altuve, Astros
- DJ LeMahieu, New York Yankees
NL:
- Ozzie Albies, Braves
- Adam Frazier, Pittsburgh Pirates
- Gavin Lux, Dodgers
Shortstop:
AL:
- Xander Bogaerts, Boston Red Sox
- Bo Bichette, Blue Jays
- Carlos Correa, Astros
NL:
- Fernando Tatis Jr., San Diego Padres
- Javier Baez, Cubs
- Brandon Crawford, Giants
Third base:
AL:
- Rafael Devers, Red Sox
- Alex Bregman, Astros
- Yoan Moncada, White Sox
NL:
- Kris Bryant, Cubs
- Nolan Arenado, Cardinals
- Justin Turner, Dodgers
Outfield:
AL:
- Mike Trout, Los Angeles Angels
- Aaron Judge, Yankees
- Byron Buxton, Minnesota Twins
- Michael Brantley, Astros
- Adolis García, Texas Rangers
- Teoscar Hernandez, Blue Jays
- Cedric Mullins, Baltimore Orioles
- Alex Verdugo, Red Sox
- Randal Grichuk, Blue Jays
NL:
- Ronald Acuna Jr.
- Nick Castellanos, Cincinnati Reds
- Jesse Winker, Reds
- Mookie Betts, Dodgers
- Chris Taylor, Dodgers
- Juan Soto, Washington Nationals
- Bryce Harper, Philadelphia Phillies
- Joc Pederson, Cubs
- Mike Yastrzemski, Giants
Designated hitter:
AL:
- Shohei Ohtani, Angels
- D. Martinez, Red Sox
- Yordan Alvarez, Astros