Derek Dietrich is tied for fifth in the Major Leagues in home runs, but he’s not one of the 120 National League players listed on the 2019 All-Star Game ballot.

Each MLB club nominates a player for each infield position and three outfielders. The Reds’ front office nominated José Peraza as the club’s representative at second base in early May. Entering Saturday, Peraza had 27 starts at second base and Dietrich made 23.

“We looked at it as José was the second baseman,” Reds general manager Nick Krall said Friday. “He has the most starts. He had the most innings played there. He led our team in hits last year. You’re looking at it for four weeks, five weeks (into the season). We thought he was the choice that should probably be at second base.”

Fans can write-in Dietrich on the online All-Star ballot, which is used to determine All-Star Game starters. Dietrich is still a candidate to be selected as a reserve via the players’ ballot or choices made by the Commissioner’s Office.

In April, Dietrich hit .204 with five homers and 14 RBI in 54 at-bats. He appeared in 28 games and made 12 starts at second base. By comparison, Peraza was batting .202 with two homers and seven RBI in 89 at-bats with 17 starts at second base.

“Dietrich has been awesome,” Krall said. “You can’t take anything away from that. It was tough to not nominate him somewhere. It was just kind of a numbers deal.

“I feel really bad. You feel bad that you can’t put everybody on there.”

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Dietrich was one of the top hitters in the NL throughout the last month, entering Saturday with a .260 batting average, 17 homers, 36 RBI and a 1.073 on-base plus slugging percentage. Dietrich, a native of Cleveland, where the All-Star Game will be played, has turned into a fan favorite in Cincinnati.

Among the NL second basemen on the All-Star Game ballot, Dietrich would lead in home runs and OPS, which are two of the four stats listed on MLB’s voting webpage. Dietrich would be tied for second in RBI with Milwaukee’s Mike Moustakas (36). Arizona’s Ketel Marte leads with 39 RBI.

Dietrich’s .260 batting average would rank fifth on the ballot among second basemen.

The top three vote-getters at each position by July 21 will advance to “The Starters Election.” After another 28-hour voting period involving the players in the Starters Election, the top vote-getter at each position will be chosen as a starter for the All-Star Game.

The All-Star Game will be played on July 9 at Progressive Field in Cleveland.