TORONTO

Jose Bautista tops American League all-star voting

The Canadian Press Published Wednesday, June 1, 2011 5:31PM EDT

Toronto Blue Jays' Jose Bautista follows through on a single during the eighth inning of a baseball game against the New York Yankees Wednesday, May 25, 2011, at Yankee Stadium in New York. The Blue Jays lost the game the game 7-3. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

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NEW YORK - Toronto Blue Jays' slugger Jose Bautista is the leading vote-getter among all American League players for baseball's annual all-star game.

Bautista had 1,261,659 votes Wednesday in fan polling so far.

New York Yankees second baseman Robinson Cano followed with 1,185,952.

Votes cast online and in stadiums determine the hitters for the event, which will be played July 12 at Chase Field in Phoenix, home of the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Toronto's right fielder also leads the majors with 20 home runs and 45 runs scored.

Bautista was selected to his first all-star game last season. If he is elected to start, he'll be the first Blue Jay so honoured since first baseman Carlos Delgado in 2003.