Utley tops NL All-Star balloting

May 28, 2008 - 5:46 PM NEW YORK (Ticker) -- Philadelphia Phillies second baseman Chase Utley received the highest number of votes among National League players in All-Star Game balloting figures, which were released Tuesday by Major League Baseball.

Utley has drawn 537,788 votes and has a commanding lead over Houston's Kazuo Matsui (182,827) among NL second basemen.

A two-time All-Star, Utley is batting .309 this season and is tied for the league lead with 16 home runs.

The Chicago Cubs also received overwhelming fan support in this season's first balloting return for the All-Star Game, which will be played at Yankee Stadium on July 15.

Cubs catcher Geovany Soto (343,427 votes) and outfielders Alfonso Soriano (352,267) and Kosuke Fukudome (325,456) were the top vote-getters at their respective positions. Chicago first baseman Derrek Lee, second baseman Mark DeRosa and third baseman Aramis Ramirez also placed in the top three at their positions.

Atlanta Braves third baseman Chipper Jones received the second-highest vote total with 420,664. A five-time All-Star, Jones leads the majors with a .418 batting average.

Houston's Lance Berkman (329,473 votes) owns a slight lead over St. Louis' Albert Pujols (317,317) for the overall lead at first base. Berkman also has belted 16 homers this season and leads the NL with 46 RBI.

Cincinnati Reds right fielder Ken Griffey Jr. is third among NL outfielders with 300,230 votes. Griffey, who is two homers shy of reaching 600 for his career, is bidding for his 14th All-Star berth.

Hanley Ramirez of the Florida Marlins has received 268,386 votes and owns a slim lead at shortstop over Houston's Miguel Tejada (256,613).