MINNEAPOLIS -- A's catcher Stephen Vogt has been named an American League All-Star for a second consecutive season.
Vogt was announced as a reserve to Ned Yost's AL club on Tuesday in anticipation of next week's All-Star Game presented by MasterCard at Petco Park in San Diego (with coverage beginning Tuesday at 4:30 p.m. PT), as voted in by Yost himself.
"I'm obviously honored and blown away and excited," Vogt said. "Definitely surprised. Growing up, I never thought I'd be an All-Star, let alone two years in a row. It's just a really, really cool feeling for my family and I."
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Vogt's brother, Danny, a Colorado resident, planned to drive his family out to California during the All-Star break next week and rent a cabin with Vogt's family near Fresno. Vogt called him Tuesday to ask, "What's the cancellation policy on the cabin?"
"They'll turn south and drive a little bit further now," Vogt said, smiling.
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Vogt has enjoyed a career renaissance since joining Oakland in 2013. The catcher entered the day batting .267 with six home runs and 24 RBIs in 68 games, 55 of them started behind the plate, but his value as a batterymate cannot be overstated.
The 31-year-old didn't make his big league debut until age 27 with the Rays in 2012, and he's since established himself as one of the better two-way players in the game.
"To be recognized as an All-Star, it's just crazy," Vogt said. "In my mind, I'm pretty hard on myself, so I didn't think there was any way this year it would happen. I think it's just something so cool. I'm kind of at a loss for words at where I am mentally."
"That's quite a feather, to be named two years in a row, and I know Ned really likes him, for good reason," A's manager Bob Melvin said. "We're proud of the fact he made it. Certainly we felt like there was another guy or two that had a chance to make it, but it doesn't take from the fact that we're proud Stephen made it. I think he's making quite a name for himself in this game after a long time in the Minor Leagues and persevering. It's a really good story."
Vogt was one of several players considered from the A's as an All-Star candidate in recent weeks. Right-hander Ryan Dull, who has stranded all 36 inherited runners this season, most by a pitcher in the Expansion Era, was also seen as a potential pick, along with shortstop Marcus Semien and outfielder Khris Davis.
"I honestly think if Ryan Dull had been named, I'd have probably been more excited than when I got the news that I was going," Vogt said. "That kid's having an All-Star year. To me, inherited runners stranded is the No. 1 stat outside of, probably, saves. Other than if you're one of the 30 closers in baseball, inherited runners stranded is probably the most important reliever's stat.
"Obviously he's the best not only this year but ever, for what he's done up to this point. I still think he's going to get in. I think he'll be one of the first guys in when a pitcher pulls out, and he should. What Ryan Dull is doing is not sexy in the stats, it's not talked about on Baseball Tonight or MLB Network, but he should be talked about because he's one of the best stories in all of baseball. So I definitely think he's deserving of it as well as a few other guys."

Fans can vote for the 2016 Esurance MLB All-Star Game Final Vote until 4 p.m. ET on Friday. The winners, as chosen exclusively by online fan voting totals, will be announced during a Final Vote-themed telecast of "MLB Now" featuring commentary from political analyst Jeff Greenfield, live on MLB Network and MLB.com from 4-5 p.m. ET. MLB Network will provide extensive coverage across all of its studio programming during the Final Vote, including interviews with the candidates, frequent updates, heat maps indicating the cities where votes are being cast for each candidate, news on player and club campaigns and a running countdown clock leading up to the announcement.
Baseball fans have cast nearly 600 million online votes for Final Vote candidates since the program's inception in 2002. In addition to MLB.com and the official club websites, fans can use their mobile devices to cast votes at MLB.com/vote or via text message. To receive the ballot, text the word "VOTE" to 89269. To vote for a specific player, fans can text their choice to 89269. EXAMPLE: Text "A3" to vote for AL Player 3 or "N3" to vote for NL Player 3. Message and data rates may apply. Text "STOP" to end and "HELP" for information. Mobile voting in Canada also is available and fans should text their choices to 101010.
For the fifth consecutive year, the Final Vote will include social balloting, as Twitter support for the 10 candidates over the last six hours of balloting will count toward their vote totals. From 10 a.m.-4 p.m. ET on Friday, any tweet that includes a designated player hashtag will be tabulated as part of the official vote total used to determine the winners.
On Tuesday, July 12, watch the 2016 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 2016 MLB All-Star Game MVP Vote. The 87th All-Star Game, in San Diego, 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.