Relief pitcher Grant Balfour is only the second Australian to earn selection for Major League Baseball's All-Star game.
The 35-year-old right armer earned the honour after stellar form as a relief pitcher for the Oakland Athletics.
Balfour will be in the American League team for the annual All-Star game, to be played on Wednesday (AEST) in New York.
Dave Nilsson was the first Australian to make an All-Star team when the Milwaukee Brewers catcher also represented the American League in 1999.
'I feel like I've had some good years, but things have to go right and go your way sometimes,' Balfour told the Major League website.
'It's just an honour now to be named to it and I'm very happy to cross it off the list.'
Earlier this month, Balfour set an Athletics record for consecutive saves and has taken that streak to 43.
Balfour started the run in April last season and the closer already has 25 saves this year.
He has a formidable 1.67 ERA and 38 strikeouts in 37.2 innings pitched this year and is the only American League reliever not to have blown a save so far this season.
The NSW native signed with the Minnesota Twins in 1997 and made his Major League debut with them four years later.
He played for the Brewers and the Tampa Bay Rays before joining the Athletics at the start of 2011.
Balfour is renowned for his intense and fiery personality when he is on the mound.
He represented Australia at the 2000 Olympics.
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