DETROIT — Leading all American League shortstops in most of the key offensive categories all season long, there’s one spot where the Tigers’ Jhonny Peralta isn’t the leader: in the All-Star voting.

But he’s gaining spots in the race, at least, if not ground on the AL’s leading vote-getter at short, J.J. Hardy.

“I don’t want to tip my hand… I would be disappointed if he wasn’t voted in by the players. The kid (Hardy) in Baltimore is doing pretty good, looks like he might get the vote from the fans. So that would hopefully put Jhonny in position to get the votes from the players,” Leyland said.

“I think Jhonny falls in the category — ‘does he deserve to make the all-star team?’ At this point I would say the answer to that is yes. However there are other individuals in that same category — from other teams —not necessarily at his position. I’m talking in general.”

Peralta was third in the voting last week, behind Hardy and Texas’ Elvis Andrus, but leapfrogged into second place when the voting update was released Saturday night, thanks to a week where he garnered 515,709 votes. He actually lost ground on Hardy, who got 677,672 votes.

Miguel Cabrera (4,337,223) remains on pace to post one of the highest tallies in All-Star voting history, increasing his lead on second-place Manny Machado (2,097,804).

As of right now, he’s the only Tigers position player in line to start.

Prince Fielder (2,579,031) lost more than 300,000 votes in what’s become a two-man race with Baltimore’s Chris Davis (3,960,299) at first base.

Omar Infante (1,191,119) garnered 318,977 votes in the last week, but remains a distant fourth at second base.

Victor Martinez (959,646) jumped into the top five at designated hitter, but is well behind AL leader David Ortiz (3,247,462).

Torii Hunter was third in the outfield voting after the first update, but has slid one spot in the standings each week. Last week, Nick Markakis overtook him. This week, it was Toronto’s Jose Bautista (1,867,367), sliding Hunter (1,851,657), though not by much. Austin Jackson (983,469) leapfrogged over Texas’ Josh Hamilton, into 12th place in the outfield voting.

In-stadium voting runs through June 28, while online voting continues until July 4.


AL VOTING AS OF JUNE 22
FIRST BASE Chris Davis, Orioles 3,960,299
Prince Fielder, Tigers 2,579,031
Mike Napoli, Red Sox 902,562
Albert Pujols, Angels 872,602
Mitch Moreland, Rangers 750,674

SECOND BASE Robinson Cano, Yankees 3,032,183
Dustin Pedroia, Red Sox 2,135,499
Ian Kinsler, Rangers 1,329,136
Omar Infante, Tigers 1,191,119
Jose Altuve, Astros 850,577

SHORTSTOP
J.J. Hardy, Orioles 2,548,682
Jhonny Peralta, Tigers 1,838,500
Elvis Andrus, Rangers 1,616,834
Jed Lowrie, Athletics 1,207,486
Derek Jeter, Yankees 819,175

THIRD BASE
Miguel Cabrera, Tigers 4,337,223
Manny Machado, Orioles 2,097,804
Adrian Beltre, Rangers 1,334,195
Evan Longoria, Rays 1,106,984
Josh Donaldson, Athletics 635,581

CATCHER
Joe Mauer, Twins 2,788,972
Matt Wieters, Orioles 2,068,032
A.J. Pierzynski, Rangers 1,054,093
Carlos Santana, Indians 1,029,674
Jarrod Saltalamacchia, Red Sox 966,196

DESIGNATED HITTER David Ortiz, Red Sox 3,247,462
Lance Berkman, Rangers 1,519,503
Edwin Encarnacion, Blue Jays 1,091,593
Victor Martinez, Tigers 959,646
Mark Trumbo, Angels 919,036

OUTFIELD
Adam Jones, Orioles 3,571,693
Mike Trout, Angels 3,548,195
Nick Markakis, Orioles 1,915,860
Jose Bautista, Blue Jays 1,867,367
Torii Hunter, Tigers 1,851,657
Nate McLouth, Orioles 1,660,080
Nelson Cruz, Rangers 1,595,371
Jacoby Ellsbury, Red Sox 1,289,195
Alex Gordon, Royals 1,239,771
Yoenis Cespedes, Athletics 1,183,926
Coco Crisp, Athletics 1,115,204
Austin Jackson, Tigers 983,469
Josh Hamilton, Angels 897,181
Shane Victorino, Red Sox 823,363
Ichiro Suzuki, Yankees 759,154