Upton to represent Padres in All-Star Game

PITTSBURGH -- Aside from playing in the actual game itself, one of the best parts about getting selected to play in the All-Star Game might be sharing the news with family.

To that end, Padres outfielder Justin Upton batted .500 on Monday when he got the word that he'll be the team's lone representative in the All-Star Game presented by T-Mobile on July 14 in Cincinnati.

Upton was able to reach his wife, Ashley, by phone. But when Upton attempted to phone his parents, Manny and Yvonne Upton, he struck out swinging.

:: All-Star Game on Fox: July 14, 7 ET air time | 8:15 game time ::

"They were in New Orleans with some friends and they flew back [to Virginia] this morning and were on a plane, so I didn't get to tell them," Upton said before the Padres faced the Pirates on Monday.

"But I told my wife. She was able to get the news early. She's excited to be going to Cincinnati, too."

This is the third All-Star Game nod for Upton. He was previously selected in 2009 and again in 2011 when he played for the D-backs. He's hitless in four All-Star at-bats.

Upton, in his first season with the Padres, leads the team in just about every pertinent offensive category and leads the team with his 694 innings played thus far.

Upton is hitting .262 with 14 home runs and 46 RBIs and has stolen 16 bases -- and he hasn't been caught yet.

Upton has also done something hitters at pitcher-friendly Petco Park have struggled to do -- tame the spacious ballpark. Consider that 11 of his 14 home runs have come at home.

"You have certain guys on teams you try to make sure don't beat you, and he's the guy on this club," said D-backs manager Chip Hale after Upton hit a two-run home run in a Padres victory on June 27.

Voting is open now at MLB.com to select the final player for each League's 34-man roster via the 2015 Esurance MLB All-Star Game Final Vote. Fans can cast their votes from a list of five players from each League until 4 p.m. ET on Friday.

And the voting doesn't end there. During the All-Star Game presented by T-Mobile in Cincinnati on Tuesday, July 14, fans can once again visit MLB.com to submit their choice for the Ted Williams Most Valuable Player Award presented by Chevrolet. Voting exclusively at MLB.com, online and via their mobile devices in the 2015 All-Star Game MVP Vote presented by Chevrolet, the fans' collective voice will represent 20 percent of the overall vote that determines the recipient of the Arch Ward Trophy.

MLB.TV Premium subscribers will be able to live stream the All-Star Game via MLB.TV through FOX's participating video providers. Access will be available across more than 400 supported MLB.TV platforms, including the award-winning MLB.com At Bat app. MLB.com will provide extensive online coverage of the All-Star Week festivities, including the 2015 Gillette Home Run Derby presented by Head & Shoulders, part of Gatorade All-Star Workout Day on Monday, July 13. The Derby will feature a new format with brackets and timed rounds and will be broadcast live by ESPN and MLB.com beginning at 8 p.m. ET.

The 86th Midsummer Classic will be televised nationally by FOX Sports (coverage begins 7 p.m. ET), in Canada by Rogers Sportsnet and RDS, and worldwide by partners in more than 160 countries. ESPN Radio and ESPN Radio Deportes will provide exclusive national radio coverage of the All-Star Game. MLB Network and SiriusXM will also provide comprehensive All-Star Week coverage. For more information, please visit allstargame.com.

As for Padres interim manager Pat Murphy, on the job since June 16, he has enjoyed managing Upton and watching him compete -- offensively and defensively. Beyond that, Murphy likes the way Upton handles himself professionally.

"He's played good defense from what I've seen. He's been a good teammate," Murphy said. "… He treats everyone with respect. He's the same going bad when he's going good from what I hear. To me, that's the test of a really good player. And his numbers show who he is."

Upton admitted that getting selected to the All-Star Game was bittersweet in the sense that San Diego has largely underperformed this season. They took a 39-45 record into the start of their three-game series with the Pirates at PNC Park.

"They thought I was playing well enough to make the All-Star team. It's kind of bittersweet. I wish we were playing a little better. But I'll get to go to Cincinnati, take it all in and enjoy my time there," said Upton, who has two home runs since May 25.

"I think I've played well in stretches. Obviously, I'd like to be a little more consistent with the way I've played."