Harrison relishing homecoming as All-Star

CINCINNATI -- As waves of reporters passed in front of his locker Friday afternoon, Josh Harrison couldn't stop smiling. It was the contented smile of a young man who, theoretically, left the Queen City years ago to cut his baseball teeth and came home as a National League All-Star.

"It's always nice to come back home," said Harrison, who obviously makes frequent stops in the rival NL Central city. "But now, it's been amazing. I've had to clear my phone several times since last night, so many people were calling and texting me.

"Everybody's leaving the message, 'Hey, I'm coming to the game to see you. Look for me in the stands.'"

Harrison again started in absent Starling Marte's place in left field and batted second, meaning an early opportunity to take in the warm welcome he figured to be accorded by the hometown Great American Ball Park crowd.

"That's something to look forward to. But what I'm really looking forward to is us getting a win," Harrison said. Smiling, of course.