CINCINNATI — The first thing Cincinnati Reds rookie first baseman Sal Stewart did when he learned he’d made the National League All-Star team was call his father, who started crying.“Every year, I watch the Home Run Derby and the All-Star Game — everyone knew those days me and my dad were watching,” Stewart said. “We’ve always talked all about the All-Star Game and the Home Run Derby — he still thinks he can pitch to me. He can’t pitch to me. I would never let him do that. I want to win.”Reds starter Chase Burns will join Stewart for the July 14 All-Star Game in Philadelphia, two years to the day after he was drafted second by the Reds out of Wake Forest.If Burns’ meteoric rise from college through the minor leagues and to the All-Star Game came as any surprise to him, it’d be hard to tell. Burns seemingly took the news like he had 10 All-Star selections under his belt, not just 10 wins in the big leagues. Burns is in the thick of the Cy Young Award race, with a 10-1 record and a 2.40 ERA through 17 starts this season.Joey Votto on his post-retirement world travelsJayson StarkWhile Stewart immediately called home after getting the news, Burns went through his normal pregame workout, took a selfie with Stewart and met with local media before reaching out to his family to inform them he’d made his first All-Star team.“I’ve been keeping a low profile,” Burns said Saturday afternoon. “I’m sure I’ll call my parents here soon.”The reaction of the Reds’ two All-Stars is indicative of their personalities.While Stewart is gregarious and brings the goofy energy of a golden retriever, bouncing about, putting the “play” into “play ball,” Burns isn’t overly serious or unfriendly, just more unbothered. Burns portrays control in every movement, both on and off the mound, living the ethos of not letting the highs get him too high or lows too low.“A lot of emotions,” Burns said of his feelings about playing in the Midsummer Classic, even if he didn’t exactly seem overly emotional. “It’s kind of scary. I’ll get to face three really good guys, hopefully. (I’ll) just try to get out of that inning and take in that moment.”Fear, though, seems to be just another emotion that Burns talks about, but doesn’t display physically. In his debut just more than a year ago, Burns struck out the first five New York Yankees he faced, including three Most Valuable Player Award winners: Aaron Judge, Cody Bellinger and Paul Goldschmidt.“He’s not too shabby — I’m just playing,” Stewart said. “He’s one of my best friends. He’s honestly the best, and he’s earned it. I’m so happy for him, and we’ll enjoy it together. Hopefully, we can go a lot more times as Reds together.”Stewart went to the All-Star Game as a fan in 2017 when it was played in his hometown of Miami. That game is best remembered by Reds fans as the time Zack Cozart earned the nod as the National League’s starting shortstop in addition to a present of a donkey from teammate Joey Votto, who also made the NL All-Star team that season.Former Reds first-round draft pick Yonder Alonso, then with the Oakland A’s, made his only All-Star Game appearance in that game. Alonso, who played parts of 10 seasons in the big leagues, is a family friend of the Stewarts and, by that time, had been training with a young Stewart.Stewart was called up last September and earned an Opening Day start this season. He’s hitting .254/.339/.464 with 17 home runs entering Saturday night’s game. While Burns’ selection was expected, Stewart’s was less so, even to the über-confident Stewart.“I was just shocked, but yeah, this is a dream come true,” Stewart said. “There’s people that I watched as a kid that are going to be there now (in the All-Star Game). So I might let them know a few times, ‘Hey, I watched you like seven years ago! I mean you’re still here, but I’m a little younger.’ It’s incredible, man. I’m excited just to see everybody.”Jul 5, 2026Connections: Sports EditionSpot the pattern. Connect the termsFind the hidden link between sports terms