Goldschmidt, Corbin selected to represent D-backs

PHOENIX -- First baseman Paul Goldschmidt and left-hander Patrick Corbin will represent the D-backs at the 2013 All-Star Game at Citi Field.

Goldschmidt, who finished second in the balloting at first behind the Reds' Joey Votto, and Corbin were selected in the players' voting.

"They got voted in by the players which shows how high of regard they're held around the league," Arizona manager Kirk Gibson said. "It's a great honor and they'll have a great time being there and doing it and having a chance to perform."

During the team's visit to Citi Field last week, Goldschmidt told reporters that he had not thought about the prospect of returning for the All-Star Game, saying he was not taking his selection for granted.

In reality, though, it was a no-brainer.

Goldschmidt entered play Saturday as the National League leader in RBIs with 71 to go with a .304 batting average. He has started all but three of the D-backs' 86 games this year, and he wound up playing in the later innings in two of those games.

"Obviously, it's a good honor, a cool honor, so it should be a fun experience," Goldschmidt said.

Goldschmidt, 25, made his big league debut on Aug. 1, 2011, and his play down the stretch helped the D-backs win the NL West that year.

After watching Goldschmidt post an .850 on-base plus slugging mark in 2012, the D-backs had seen enough and locked him up this spring to a five-year, $32 million deal.

Goldschmidt does not like talking about himself and makes it a point not to read anything written about him. He said he does not even watch his own team's highlights if they come on television.

"I hadn't thought about it," he said of making the All-Star team. "I just try to go out and play. It's a cool honor, but it was nothing where I was ever, 'Hey, I've got to do this or try to make an All-Star Game.' It just happened and it's a good honor. I'll enjoy the experience, and when it's over, go back to playing like I have been, or try to."

For Corbin, the game is an opportunity to return to his home state for the third time this season.

The 23-year-old native of Clay, N.Y., pitched seven innings of one-run ball at Yankee Stadium in April and also tossed six innings last week against the Mets at Citi Field.

"Honestly, I didn't know what to think," Corbin said of when he heard he made the team. "It's something pretty neat and something I think will sink in a little more when I actually get to New York. I never thought in a million years that I would be an All-Star or even play professional baseball so just hearing about it is neat. I'm just going to have the most fun that I can."

Corbin, who is 9-1 with a 2.49 ERA, outdueled a pair of other hurlers to win the No. 5 spot in the Arizona rotation this spring, but he quickly became the team's ace.

Corbin went 9-0 in his first 11 starts, and although he has been winless in his past six outings, his ERA in those games is a respectable 3.27.

"Fortunately I made the team out of spring and got off to a good start and kept it going," Corbin said.

Even if Corbin has not been getting wins lately, the D-backs do win when he's on the mound, going 15-2 in his starts this year.

Corbin is slated to start Sunday against the Rockies and Friday against the Brewers. That would leave him rested enough to pitch in the All-Star Game, though Gibson said he would ask NL manager Bruce Bochy to not use Corbin for more than one inning if possible.

Corbin plans on having his parents at the game, and regardless of whether he pitches or not, he knows what the most fun thing about the experience will be.

"I just think it will be neat to meet everybody," he said. "This is only my second year so I don't know too many players in the league, so it will be cool just to meet guys. Being my first time I don't really know what to expect. I'll just try to take everything in and try to bring back as many souvenirs that I can."

From Saturday to Thursday, July 11, be sure to return to MLB.com and cast your 2013 All-Star Game Final Vote Sponsored by freecreditscore.com for the final player for each League's All-Star roster.

And the voting doesn't end there. The final phase of All-Star Game voting will again have fans participating in the official voting for the Ted Williams All-Star Game Most Valuable Player Award presented by Chevrolet. During the Midsummer Classic, fans will vote exclusively online at MLB.com via the 2013 All-Star Game MLB.com MVP Vote, and their voice will represent 20 percent of the official vote determining the recipient of the Arch Ward Trophy.

The 2013 All-Star Game will be played at Citi Field on Tuesday, July 16. Come to MLB.com for extensive online coverage of the All-Star Week festivities.

The 84th All-Star Game will be televised nationally by FOX Sports, in Canada by Rogers Sportsnet and RDS, and worldwide by partners in more than 200 countries via MLB International's independent feed. ESPN Radio and ESPN Radio Deportes will provide national radio coverage of the All-Star Game. MLB Network and SiriusXM also will also provide comprehensive All-Star Week coverage. For more information, please visit allstargame.com.