Padres first baseman Wil Myers has been named ambassador for the 2016 Major League Baseball All-Star Week events in San Diego. Myers joins a distinguished list of MLB stars who have previously served in this role on behalf of the host city, including Todd Frazier, Torii Hunter, Derek Jeter, Albert Pujols, Joe Mauer and Justin Upton.
In this role, Myers will help generate awareness for events during All-Star Week, including the 87th MLB All-Star Game presented by MasterCard at Petco Park (July 12th), Gatorade All-Star Workout Day featuring the T-Mobile Home Run Derby (July 11th), All-Star Sunday featuring the SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game and
All-Star Legends & Celebrity Softball Game (July 10th) and MLB All-Star FanFest at the San Diego Convention Center (July 8th-12th). Myers joins San Diego Padres legends Trevor Hoffman and Dave Winfield, who were named official spokespeople of the All-Star Week events in April.
Myers, 25, broke into MLB in 2013, when he won the American League Rookie of the Year award with the Tampa Bay Rays while leading AL rookies in RBI (53), doubles (23), extra-base hits (36), on-base percentage (.354) and slugging percentage (.478) in just 88 games. Now in his second season with the Padres, Myers has hit a career-high 15 home runs. He currently leads the team with 43 runs, and is second on the Padres in hits (74) and RBI (40). He is tied for the team lead in home runs with Matt Kemp.
Myers, who was named to the Midwest League All-Star team in 2010, was originally drafted by the Kansas City Royals in the third round of the 2009 MLB Draft. The North Carolina native was selected to play for the U.S. Team during the SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game, which features the top minor league prospects, in both 2011 at Chase Field in Phoenix and 2012 at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City. Playing in front of the home crowd in 2012, Myers helped the U.S. team to a 17-5 victory with two hits and three RBI.
"I first experienced MLB All-Star Week as a Futures player in 2011 and 2012, and I'm ready for more," said Myers. "I'm looking forward to representing the Padres and Major League Baseball during an action-packed week of All-Star festivities here in San Diego."
The announcement comes as the Padres play the Washington Nationals and Bryce Harper, another former Futures player who played alongside Myers in 2011 MLB All-Star Futures Game.
The 87th Midsummer Classic will be televised nationally by FOX Sports; 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, MLB.com and Sirius XM also will provide comprehensive All-Star Week coverage. For more information about MLB All-Star Week and to purchase tickets, please visit AllStarGame.com and follow @AllStarGame on social media.