ST. PETERSBURG -- Isaac Paredes doesn¡¯t seek the spotlight. He¡¯s as comfortable as anyone in the batter¡¯s box, where he has emerged as one of the American League¡¯s most productive hitters, but he would rather fly under the radar than be the center of attention.

But even he knew it would be hard to avoid the interest that comes with being named an All-Star. He¡¯s dealt with an unusual number of requests for his time, handling seemingly nonstop interviews and other requests over the past week while anticipating even more upon arriving in Texas.

For an honor like this, he¡¯ll embrace the spotlight.

¡°There¡¯s a first time for everything,¡± Paredes said last week through Rays interpreter Manny Navarro, ¡°so this is going to be the first time for me.¡±

Paredes may not be the most recognizable star at Globe Life Field this week, but the 25-year-old is certainly a worthy representative as the Rays¡¯ best player so far this season. There¡¯s much more to appreciate about Paredes, so here are five things to know about the first-time All-Star.

1. A branch on the tree

This one goes back to Delmon Young.

In November 2007, Tampa Bay traded Young, the top pick in the 2003 Draft, to Minnesota for a return headlined by starter Matt Garza and shortstop Jason Bartlett. That deal yielded immediate results, as Garza and Bartlett were key players on the worst-to-World Series Rays in 2008.

And the resulting trade tree has been one of the more remarkable things in baseball, producing 62.5 WAR and counting, multiple All-Stars and -- seriously -- three high-ranking MLB executives: Dodgers GM Brandon Gomes (for Bartlett), Phillies GM Sam Fuld (for Garza) and Rays director of baseball operations Cole Figueroa (Bartlett).

So, Young brought Bartlett and Garza. Then Garza brought Chris Archer, among others. Archer brought Tyler Glasnow, Austin Meadows and Shane Baz. And, finally, Meadows brought back Paredes -- who the Rays had been scouting since he was a shortstop prospect for Class A South Bend in the Cubs system -- just before Opening Day in 2022.

All the trade did was alter the trajectory of Paredes¡¯ career, leading to him joining Rays icon Evan Longoria as the only players in franchise history to earn an All-Star selection as a third baseman.

¡°It was a big change, but it brought a lot of confidence and definitely brought out the type of play I can bring to this game,¡± he said.

2. Hometown history

Paredes is from Hermosillo, Mexico, where his family still resides. He proudly played for his country in the 2023 World Baseball Classic, and he¡¯s humbled to represent Mexico in the Midsummer Classic.

Paredes grew up playing soccer and found his way to baseball in middle school, hoping he could make it as a professional. ¡°Didn¡¯t think I would,¡± he said, ¡°let alone get to the All-Star Game.¡±

Paredes said he idolized Alex Rodriguez, but there were many Mexican baseball players who influenced his career. The biggest one was Vinny Castilla. Appropriately enough, Paredes and Castilla (with the Rockies in 1995 and ¡¯98) are the only Mexican-born third basemen to be selected to an All-Star Game.

4. Family ties

Paredes¡¯ walk-up song is ¡°A Toda Prueba¡± by Miguel Y Miguel, a slower, emotional song about a complex romantic relationship that might sound a bit out of place at the ballpark. He picked it for a good reason.

¡°Being far away from my family, it motivates me. Those types of songs are what I grew up with,¡± he said through communications director Elvis Martinez. ¡°When we gather as a family, that¡¯s what my family will listen to ... so having that walk-up song just reminds me of them, even though I play far away.¡±

His nickname, ¡°Winsy¡± (pronounced WIN-see), also has roots in his childhood, he said.

¡°When I was little, at home, there was a cartoon that I used to watch. And I used to sing it a lot, ¡®Winsy, Winsy,¡¯¡± he said, smiling. ¡°It stuck, and people started calling me that.¡±

4. He¡¯s a pull-side power machine

Paredes has hit 68 home runs in the Majors. All 68 have gone out to left or left-center field. It¡¯s an unconventional profile, a massive part of his success and something the Rays encouraged from the moment he arrived.

He¡¯ll still spray opposite-field singles, especially with two strikes or in situations when the Rays need one. But his power is to left field, and coaches often remind him of that as a sort of running joke. Since the start of the 2022 season, Paredes¡¯ first with Tampa Bay, Anthony Santander (69) is the only player with more pulled homers than Paredes (66).

5. You can¡¯t see him

Paredes said he¡¯s always been a fan of professional wrestling, specifically WWE. His favorite wrestler growing up? John Cena.

Cena, of course, made famous the ¡°You can¡¯t see me¡± gesture in which he waves an open hand in front of his face. Inspired by Cena, Paredes adopted the ¡°You can¡¯t see me¡± wave as his signature home run celebration when he joined the Rays.

Now, you can see him at the All-Star Game.