MIAMI -- MLB's All-Star Game is Tuesday night, but the stars are already aligning in downtown Miami.
Each of this year's All-Star selections received his own star on the Miami Walk of Fame for MLB All-Star Week, and Miami Mayor Tomás Pedro Regalado visited the site on Thursday morning.
"We're very exited," Regalado said. "When the city of Miami applied to be the host, we never thought that we could get it. Not only that, this is something new, never done in any city. The walk of the stars with the names of the players. But also for Miami and Florida, this is important to have the All-Star Game."
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Regalado checked out each of the stars, which featured the player's name, team logo and number of All-Star appearances. The star-studded walk at Bayside Marketplace also features the stars of actors like Kevin Hart, Kevin James and Channing Tatum.
Afterward, Regalado was given a Giancarlo Stanton jersey with the 2017 All-Star Game patch on it.
Regalado said he and the local Latin American community are excited to welcome baseball's biggest superstars to Miami for the first time.
"I just came from the Dominican Republic and they are really excited about the players from the Dominican Republic that will be playing in the All-Star Game," Regalado said. "This is an invitation to Latin Americans to participate in the national pastime of the United States. But I think more important is that the Major Leagues and the Marlins are being good neighbors to the city of Miami and to the children of Miami."
MLB's All-Star Week festivities begin Friday with MLB All-Star FanFest, which runs until Tuesday at the Miami Beach Convention Center. All-Star Sunday features the SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game as well as the All-Star Legends & Celebrity Softball Game at Marlins Park.
Monday's activities include the Gatorade All-Star Workout Day, which features the T-Mobile Home Run Derby at Marlins Park. Then on Tuesday is the MLB All-Star Red Carpet Show presented by Chevrolet, which precedes the 88th MLB All-Star Game presented by Mastercard at 7:30 p.m. ET.
Regalado hopes and expects MLB All-Star Week will get Miami sports fans excited and invested in baseball.
"Oh absolutely," he said. "This is important because there is excitement. We have more than 40 parks in the city of Miami where children play baseball, and I think that this will create a momentum for baseball. You know, we're competing with soccer now but I think that baseball is still No. 1."
On Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. ET, tune in to the 2017 All-Star Game presented by Mastercard live on FOX, and during the game visit MLB.com to submit your choice for the Ted Williams Most Valuable Player Award presented by Chevrolet via the 2017 MLB All-Star Game MVP Vote. The 88th All-Star Game, in Miami, will be televised nationally by FOX, in Canada by Rogers Sportsnet and RDS, and worldwide by partners in more than 160 countries via MLB International's independent feed. ESPN Radio and ESPN Radio Deportes will provide national radio coverage of the All-Star Game. MLB.com, MLB Network and SiriusXM will also provide comprehensive All-Star Week coverage. For more information, please visit allstargame.com.