Music: {allcanada} JAYS SLUGGER BAUTISTA IS TOP VOTE-GETTER FOR ALL-STAR GAME

TORONTO -- Jose Bautista is the people's choice heading into the all-star game.

The Toronto Blue Jays slugger received a record 7,454,753 fan votes ahead of the annual game at Chase Field in Phoenix on July 12.

Bautista's total surpassed the previous mark of 6,069,688 set by Ken Griffey Jr. in 1994.

Bautista is the first Blue Jay to lead voting for the game and the first Toronto player to be voted to the game since first baseman Carlos Delgado in 2003.

"It's crazy," he said before Sunday's game against the Philadelphia Phillies. "It's a good feeling, something I'll never forget. Hopefully I can keep improving every year."

Yankees outfielder Curtis Granderson was second with 6,683,877 votes.

Bautista entered Sunday's game with a major-league leading 26 home runs even though he has missed eight games. He averaged a homer every 10.46 at-bats and led the majors with an on-base percentage of .471 and slugging percentage at .679 before Sunday.

He has played most of the season in right field but was moved to third base last Tuesday to help give the team more offence from the position.

"I got a lot of votes from different territories so it's a good feeling," Bautista said. "People are recognizing that you're doing well and for me it's been in three different territories, the United States and Canada and the Dominican. I can't even describe how good that feels."

Bautista, 30, is a native of the Dominican Republic.

He was added to the team last season when he went on to lead the majors with 54 home runs, but this year being voted in was more special for him.

"Definitely," he said. "And knowing that I'm probably going to get the start, it's even a bigger accomplishment than just making it last year. I had a good feeling about it, obviously I got off to a good start. Having been there last year, I knew I was going to be on everybody's radar.

"It's been great. It's been a fun year so far and it's going to be another honour to represent the team and two countries, the Dominican and Canada, in the all-star game."

Bautista will be joined by Jays manager John Farrell, who was picked by Texas manager Ron Washington to join him on the American League bench for the all-star game.

New York Yankee catcher Russell Martin of Chelsea, Que., is on the AL team as a reserve. He's batting .223 with 10 homers and 34 RBIs.

Cincinnati Reds first baseman Joey Votto of Toronto made the National League team as a reserve. He took a .316 batting average into Sunday with 12 homers, 51 RBIs with a .436 on-base percentage.

Bautista will lead an AL lineup that includes four players from the Yankees. Derek Jeter, Alex Rodriguez, Robinson Cano and Granderson were chosen from New York.

Philadelphia aces Roy Halladay, Cliff Lee and Cole Hamels are part of the NL pitching staff. The Phillies have the best record in the majors.

The Milwaukee Brewers had three players picked to start for the NL -- Prince Fielder, Ryan Braun and Rickie Weeks.

Bautista said he was disappointed that teammate Ricky Romero had not been selected for the game. The left-hander is 7-7 with a 2.75 earned-run average and his won-lost record has suffered because of a lack of run support.

"Obviously it's more the manager's choice but playing behind him I feel like he's pitched like an all-star," said Bautista. "He definitely deserves being there even though his wins and losses record might not reflect it. His ERA does, his innings pitched, his strikeouts, the way he holds runners, his WHIP, everything, he's an all-star in my eyes and hopefully he gets to go somehow."

Bautista has not heard officially whether he will be in the home run derby on the day before the game, but it seems likely he will be. He was overlooked for the contest last year.

"I'll take it just like batting practice," he said. "It's a one-day thing. It happens once. I'm not superstitious and I don't think it's going to mess up my swing.

"I'm not going there and try to change my swing for the sake of hitting more home runs. I'm just going to go out there and have fun and hopefully hit some out. If I win it'll be great, if not it'll be a great experience."

American League Starters

1B: Adrian Gonzalez, Red Sox
2B: Robinson Cano, Yankees
3B: Alex Rodriguez, Yankees
SS: Derek Jeter, Yankees
OF: Jose Bautista, Blue Jays
OF: Curtis Granderson, Yankees
OF: Josh Hamilton, Rangers
DH: David Ortiz, Red Sox
C: Alex Avila, Tigers