By Todd Wills / Special to MLB.com

ARLINGTON -- Gaby Sanchez was asleep in his room at 10:40 a.m. Texas time Sunday when he got a call from Marlins general manager Michael Hill. Turns out it was worth being awakened.

The Marlins will be represented at the 2011 All-Star Game by their homegrown first baseman, Sanchez, who makes it for the first time in his second full season in the Major Leagues.

This year's Midsummer Classic, on July 12 at the D-backs' Chase Field in Phoenix, is a big step for the 27-year-old Sanchez, who was named to the National League team as a manager's pick by the Giants' Bruce Bochy.

"It's always nice to be recognized as an All-Star," Sanchez said. "It's something people can't take away from you. To be able to have that in my second year playing, I feel it's a great honor."

The 82nd All-Star Game will be televised nationally by FOX Sports, in Canada by Rogers Sportsnet and Sportsnet HD and Le Reseau des Sports, and around the world by Major League Baseball International, with pregame ceremonies beginning at 8 p.m. ET. ESPN Radio will provide exclusive national radio coverage. MLB Network, MLB.com and Sirius XM also will provide comprehensive All-Star Game coverage.

Sanchez, in his fourth season overall and just his second full campaign, leads the Marlins with a .365 on-base percentage and is second on the team with a .292 average and 13 home runs. Sanchez was born in Miami, went to high school in Miami and was taken by the Marlins in the fourth round of the 2005 First-Year Player Draft out of -- where else -- the University of Miami.

Sanchez is one of three players from his Hurricanes squad to be selected as an All-Star -- Milwaukee's Ryan Braun and Cleveland's Chris Perez also will in Arizona.

"I traded text messages with Ryan this morning," Sanchez said. "With Ryan and Chris, it's pretty cool that three U of M guys from the same team are All-Stars."

Sanchez is already outpacing the numbers he finished with in 2010. He's six shy of his home run total from a year ago, and his average is 21 points higher.

"He was on my list of three guys from here to make it," Marlins interim manager Jack McKeon said. "I thought he could make it. He works hard. He's a very deserving kid. Up until the last week or so he's really been carrying us."

If anything, Sanchez has been consistent this season. He's gone more than two consecutive games without a hit just once, and that was in mid-April. Sanchez has also been Mr. Durability for the Marlins this season, playing in all 84 games.

"I don't think any starter has played close to that," Marlins right fielder Mike Stanton said. "Being able to be healthy and put those numbers up is impressive.

"He deserves it. The first basemen are stacked in the National League, and his numbers are right up there with all of them."

Sanchez could be helped in his All-Star debut by the game's host site. He's a career .320 hitter in 25 at-bats at Chase Field, including a pair of home runs.

Sanchez said he received "a billion texts" after the All-Star teams were announced Sunday morning. He called his parents and said his entire family will be with him in Arizona.

"I'm going to live the experience," Sanchez said. "Go over there with my wife, mom, dad and brother definitely are going to be there and are excited to go and see all the festivities and stuff. It's one of those things where you're going and learn by it."

Fans, having already decided the starters, this week will have the opportunity to select the final player on each All-Star team. Balloting began immediately following Sunday's Major League All-Star Selection Show presented by Taco Bell and continues until 4 p.m. ET on Thursday, July 7. The winners will be announced on MLB.com shortly thereafter.

Mobile voting in the U.S. is exclusive to Sprint, Nextel and Boost subscribers. To receive the 2011 All-Star Game Final Vote Sponsored by Sprint mobile ballot, text the word "VOTE" to 1122. To vote for a specific player, simply text message your choice to 1122. EXAMPLE: Text "A3" to vote for AL Player 3 or "N3" to vote for NL Player 3. Message and data rates may apply. Mobile voting in Canada is open to all carriers; fans should text their choices to 88555. Standard rates may apply.

On July 12, fans once again will have the opportunity to participate in the official voting for the Ted Williams Most Valuable Player presented by Chevy via the 2011 All-Star Game MVP Vote Sponsored by Sprint on MLB.com during the All-Star Game.