AL players voted for no Royals to start All-Star game

Jul 06, 2015 | 7:04 PM

For the weeks of All-Star voting, this debate captivated a voting nation: Just how many Kansas City Royals should start the All-Star game?

At one point, the American League starting lineup would have been Mike Trout and eight Royals. When the final vote was announced Sunday, four Royals had been elected to the starting lineup: shortstop Alcides Escobar, catcher Salvador Perez and outfielders Lorenzo Cain and Alex Gordon.

The players had their say too, on a ballot used to determine reserves and pitchers. But Major League Baseball releases the results of the player ballot, so we know exactly how many Kansas City players were chosen by their peers as worthy of starting the game.

The answer: none.

The winners of the AL player ballot: the Angels' Trout, Adam Jones of the Baltimore Orioles and Jose Bautista of the Toronto Blue Jays in the outfield; Miguel Cabrera of the Detroit Tigers at first base; Jason Kipnis of the Cleveland Indians at second base; Jose Iglesias of the Tigers at shortstop; Josh Donaldson of the Blue Jays at third base; Stephen Vogt of the Oakland Athletics at catcher; and Prince Fielder of the Texas Rangers at designated hitter.