MIAMI -- Giants catcher Buster Posey was calm, cool and collected as he fielded questions on the left-field warning track at Marlins Park during Monday's Gatorade All-Star Workout Day.
Posey was set to play in the 2017 All-Star Game presented by Mastercard. It's his fifth career appearance in the Midsummer Classic in the last six years, and suddenly the once baby-faced National League Rookie of the Year is the veteran around the NL clubhouse.
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Even Yankees rookie Aaron Judge, already one of baseball's biggest superstars, was slightly awestruck upon meeting the three-time World Series champion Posey for the first time Monday.
"Being a Giants fan, I've watched him for years," said Judge, a Linden, Calif., native. "I was coming out of the bathroom and he was walking into the clubhouse. I had to stop him and say, 'Buster, I'm a huge fan.' I've had fun watching what he's doing, just the way he plays on the field, the way he acts off the field. He's the true definition of a professional."
And for Posey, that's what playing in the 88th All-Star Game is all about: meeting players he's normally throwing out on the basepaths.
But the reason Posey most enjoys playing in these games every year? He gets to share the experience with his wife and 5-year-old twin children, son, Lee and daughter, Addison.
"It's an honor for me. My children are getting a little bit older," he said. "I think it's something they'll be able to remember, so that's special for me."
Miami is also a place Posey knows well from his days at Florida State University. Posey's teams played against the University of Miami, a conference foe, every year from 2006-08.
"The games were great. [A's first baseman Yonder Alonso], who's here this year, was there all three years, when I was at FSU and he was at Miami. We had some good games," Posey said. "I remember coming down here and just the humidity being stifling even, gosh, it was probably May at the time. Good memories."
Alonso remembers those days well, too. He's watched Posey grow from that same baby-faced college player into the nine-year veteran he is now.
"He's a good player, he's still a good player. He's better now," Alonso said. "It was challenging. You could tell how much he's grown as a player. He's so much better now. Every time I see him, we always talk."
At this point, with an MVP, a trio of World Series rings, a Gold Glove and a batting title under his belt, what's left for Posey may be further down the road in Cooperstown.
However, Posey said that doesn't even cross his mind when playing in All-Star Games.
"No, not really," Posey said. "Again, each one is an honor and special and a unique experience to spend time with guys you're normally competing against. You gotta try to embrace it because it's a quick two days."