"Rays outfielder Matt Joyce said he wasn't even thinking about the All-Star game selections when he arrived at Tropicana Field on Sunday morning. That changed quickly when Rays manager Joe Maddon entered the training room.

"It was fun telling him," Maddon said. "I'm not even sure he heard me at first."

Joyce, a graduate of Armwood High, will be part of a three-player Rays contingent for the July 12 All-Star game at Chase Field in Phoenix. Ron Washington of the Texas Rangers, the American League manager, selected Rays starting pitchers James Shields and David Price. Joyce was voted in by the players.

Joyce and Shields made their first All-Star team. Price was the starting pitcher in last season's game.

Meanwhile, infielder/outfielder Ben Zobrist is among five players contending for the AL's final roster spot, decided by a fan vote. Maddon said he thinks relief pitcher Kyle Farnsworth could be a prime injury replacement.

"Getting three guys on the team is amazing," said Shields (8-5, 2.45 ERA), expected to be Tampa Bay's lone representative by many prognosticators. "When I first got called up, they were begging just to get one of our guys on the team. It just shows how much respect they have for us now."

This is the fourth straight season for Tampa Bay to have three All-Star selections. In fact, 15 of the club's 26 all-time All-Star selections have come in the past four seasons.

Joyce, batting .300 with 11 home runs and 40 RBIs, might be the most appreciative of them all.

He hadn't made an all-star team at any level since playing for North Brandon Little League, probably when he was about 13 or 14 years old. Back then, he watched the All-Star game on television in some awe and remembers avidly watching one of his favorite players, Ken Griffey Jr., in the Home Run Derby.

"Shoot, man, what kid doesn't dream of being in the All-Star game?" said Joyce, who is the 16th all-time player from a Hillsborough County school to make the All-Star game. "It's one of those things where you achieve your dream. I just get to live it and enjoy it now."

Joyce said he will seek advice from Price, who termed last year's buildup to the event as a "circus" and said it was a bit exhausting. Joyce wants to take it all in, though."