Griffey jumps into second place in MLB all-star voting

The Cincinnati Reds' Ken Griffey Jr. celebrates a solo home run off the Colorado Rockies' Taylor Buchholz in Denver on Friday. PHOTO: AP

Ken Griffey Jr has jumped into second place among National Leaguers in the latest all-star balloting figures Major League Baseball (MLB) announced on Monday.

Griffey, a 12-time All-Star with the Seattle Mariners and Cincinnati Reds, is in position to be voted to his 13th all-star contest, a mark that would push him past Ozzie Smith into third place all-time.

Griffey drawn 499,132 votes, putting him second behind the New York Mets' Carlos Beltran (758,457) among National League outfielders.

His 13th selection would move him behind Cal Ripken Jr (17) and Rod Carew (15). On the season, Griffey is batting .280 with 12 homers and 32 RBI.

Other NL leaders include the St. Louis Cardinals' Albert Pujols at first base, second baseman Chase Utley of the Philadelphia Phillies and three New York Mets; Jose Reyes at shortstop, Paul Lo Duca at catcher and David Wright at third base.

In third place among outfielders is San Francisco Giants slugger Barry Bonds, who leads the Chicago Cubs' Alfonso Soriano by nearly 4,000 votes for the final outfield spot.