"Tigers catcher Alex Avila wasn't sure what to think when manager Jim Leyland approached him in the clubhouse this morning.

Leyland was holding closer and resident wild man Jose Valverde by the hand. Leyland reached for Avila's hand.

"I felt like a little kid," Avila said. "I thought I was in trouble." Avila reluctantly offered his hand and the three walked down a hallway to Leyland's office, where team president Dave Dombrowski waited with good news.

Fans made up about a 400,000 vote deficit and voted Avila a starter for the All-Star Game on July 12 in Phoenix. He's the first Tiger to be voted by fans since 2007 and will be joined by three teammates: pitcher Justin Verlander, first baseman Miguel Cabrera and Valverde. Verlander won't play, but he will attend the game at Chase Field. "