"American Idol" front-runner Mario Vazquez, citing "personal issues," withdrew from the talent competition early this week and producers of the Fox show quickly called in the son of a baseball Hall of Famer as backup.

Fox bumped 23-year-old Nikko Smith, the son of baseball great Ozzie Smith, into Vazquez's spot because Smith got more votes than Travis Tucker when both were voted off last week, the network said.

Now, viewers of the No. 1-rated series will get a chance to reconsider their votes as Smith and the other 11 finalists perform this week.

One contestant will be eliminated from the competition tonight when the results of viewer votes are announced. Tonight's half-hour show airs at 9 p.m. on Channel 9. Contestants perform during an hour-long show that airs at 8 p.m. Tuesdays.

Vazquez, 27, had been picked by many fans and three fellow finalists as a favorite to win the competition.

He said he dropped out to "take care of some personal issues with my family in New York."