Ty Wigginton spent much of spring training wondering if he would even have a role with the Orioles, and that doubt only increased when the veteran infielder didn't start the team's first four games.
But a long-term injury to second baseman Brian Roberts gave Wigginton an opportunity, and his emergence as one of the Orioles' few productive hitters was recognized Sunday when he was selected as an American League All-Star reserve by the team's manager, the New York Yankees' Joe Girardi.
Wigginton, 34, will be the lone Oriole representative in the July 13 game at Angels Stadium in Anaheim, Calif. It is the fifth straight year and the ninth time in the past 10 midsummer classics where the Orioles will have just one player in the game.
"Me and [backup catcher Craig Tatum], I remember the first week of the season, we were drawing straws to see who was going to get to play first," said Wigginton, who is hitting .246 and leads the Orioles with 14 homers and 43 RBIs. "It was the furthest thing from my mind. I didn't really think about it at any point. I am just blown away."
It will be Wigginton's first trip to an All-Star Game in a well-traveled career that has spanned five organizations and parts of nine big league seasons. Interim manager Juan Samuel, who made three All-Star teams in his 16-year playing career, gave Wigginton the news after the player arrived at Fenway Park on Sunday morning.
"It's nice to see them pick Wiggy," Samuel said. "As we all know in spring training, we didn't even know if Wiggy was going to be on the club. That's why you have to be patient, stay in shape and be positive, and things will work out. Just look what happened. Brian got hurt, and he got a chance to play. If you could imagine us without Wiggy's numbers the first few months of the season, where would we have been? He was the guy carrying the club. He deserves it. He's been a model guy for us."
Samuel said that he was told the AL squad needed another second baseman with the Boston Red Sox's Dustin Pedroia unable to play in the game because of injury. The Yankees' Robinson Cano will start, and Texas Rangers second baseman Ian Kinsler also made the squad as an injury replacement.
Wigginton sounded almost embarrassed by the honor, pointing out both opponents and teammates who are having better years. After hitting .288 with 13 homers and 32 RBIs in 48 combined games in April and May, Wigginton batted just .209 with one homer and 10 RBIs in 24 games in June.
After going 0-for-5 with an RBI on Sunday in the Orioles' 6-1 victory over the Red Sox, Wigginton has one hit in his past 28 at-bats and has homered just once in his last 35 games.
"I was just shocked, actually," Wigginton said. "I feel like at this point, there are some guys having better years than me, both on the team and around the league. But obviously, we know somebody has to go from here, and it feels good that it's me."
The veteran endorsed Nick Markakis to be the Orioles' representative, but the outfielder was done in by lower power numbers (four homers and 27 RBIs) and a crowded AL outfield. Markakis is hitting .307 and is in the top 10 in the AL in doubles, walks and on-base percentage.
"I'm not disappointed at all," Markakis said. "I'm happy for Wiggy. I told him to go have fun. He was picked for a reason. He deserves it. I'm still young. I'll have opportunities to be in that position. He's been in the league for eight, nine years now."
Outfielder Adam Jones and reliever Jason Berken were also discussed as potential candidates before Girardi opted to go with Wigginton as one of his seven selections.
Wigginton, who was born in San Diego and said he'll have some family and friends in attendance, had bought a plane ticket to return to his home in North Carolina for the break. He had planned to spend time with his family and hang out on his boat.
"I guess I'm out that money for the plane ticket to North Carolina," he joked.
"I haven't thought about it that much, I guess," he said. "The ultimate highlight is getting to put a jersey on each and every day. I take a lot of pride in just getting that opportunity. I'm sure when I have time to let it all soak in and look back, it will definitely be one of my career highlights. Truthfully, I never thought about it. I just wanted to get to play in the big leagues. I'll never forget the first time I got called up. That's definitely the coolest thing that's ever happened to me."