Victoria native Michael Saunders on verge of American League All-Star spot

Victoria native Michael Saunders is looking for your help. The Toronto Blue Jays outfielder is one of five finalists for the final spot on the American League All-Star team. 

"You get to watch the all-star game on TV and it crosses your mind sometimes how cool it would be to be able to play in that game.," said Saunders to Sportsnet. 

"I didn't ever think I would have the opportunity to play along with such names that are in the all star game. It is such an honour to even be mentioned." 

Saunders is in the midst of the best season of his career, with 15 HRs and 38 RBIs through his first 77 games. The 29-year-old missed almost all of the 2015 season to a bone bruise in his left knee.

The online vote for the final all-star spot closes on Friday. After the first day of voting Saunders is in the lead, mainly off the back of an aggressive social media campaign launched by the Toronto Blue Jays. 

The player with the most votes will be added as the 34th member of the American League team. The 33 players that were named to the team on Tuesday were selected by a combination of fan votes, players' votes and selections by team management, including Kansas City Royals manager Ned Yost.

The push for Saunders to make his first trip to the all-star game has rippled all the way across the country to Saunders hometown. Mike Chewpoy, the head coach of the Victoria Mariners, coached Saunders and now considers the big leaguer one of his best friends.

"It's really cool. Mike has overcome a lot of adversity in his life, be it the passing of his Mom, to the down seasons in Seattle. Sometimes, it felt like he never got the respect he deserved," said Chewpoy.

The baseball community in Victoria is a tight one. The Victoria HarbourCats of the West Coast League have launched an online campaign of it's own to encourage fans to vote for Saunders.

Brad Norris-Jones is the team's general manager. He said that Saunders fantastic season coupled with a potential trip to the All-Star Game would have a profound impact on baseball fans in British Columbia. 

"Let's take it back to 92 when they Jays won the World Series. if you take a look at all the kids that were young five year olds at that time there was a huge influx of players that made an impact in major league baseball one of them being Michael Saunders." said Norris Jones. 

"This is huge. We will see another 15 years from now there will be another big amount of children that will be playing the game and maybe the next Michael Saunders."