PHILADELPHIA -- Matt Strahm could not put down his phone in the days immediately following the announcement that he made his first All-Star team.

People just couldn¡¯t stop congratulating him.

¡°My head is spinning,¡± Strahm said last week at Citizens Bank Park. ¡°I joked with my wife that my screen time has to be up 100 percent. I just want to reach out to everybody who¡¯s sent me a text. I guess it¡¯s the Midwesterner in me. I¡¯ve been thanking everyone.¡±

The Phillies are sending a franchise-record eight players to the 2024 All-Star Game on Tuesday at Globe Life Field in Arlington. (They had five All-Star selections in 2011, 2009, 1995, 1981, 1979 and 1976.) Bryce Harper, Trea Turner and Alec Bohm were elected starters by fans. It will be the first time the Phils will start three infielders in the All-Star Game since Mike Schmidt, Pete Rose and Manny Trillo in 1981.

Zack Wheeler, Ranger Suárez, Jeff Hoffman and Strahm, who grew up in North Dakota, made the team on July 7. Cristopher Sánchez was added on Saturday as a replacement for Braves lefty Chris Sale, who started Sunday and was unavailable to pitch in the All-Star Game.

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It will be the first time the Phillies have two relievers (Hoffman, Strahm) in the Midsummer Classic.

Strahm struggled to express himself on July 7, when he learned about his All-Star selection. He loves baseball, and he appreciates and understands its history as much as any player in the league.

He remembers watching the All-Star Game as a kid. It is surreal for him to know that he will be one of those players on the field Tuesday.

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¡°From my childhood, it was always cool seeing the home jerseys, road jerseys, on the field at the same time,¡± Strahm said. ¡°I know they¡¯re now new jerseys or whatever. But the talent is still there. So just to share the field with the amount of talent that¡¯s going to be there, it¡¯s going to be pretty cool.¡±

Strahm paused for a moment.

¡°It still really hasn¡¯t sunk in yet,¡± he said.

An avid baseball card collector, Strahm has collected countless All-Star cards over the years. There have been relatively few All-Stars like him. He finished the first half 4-1 with a 1.49 ERA and no saves in 39 games.

In the past, relievers with the most saves typically make the team. Perhaps the times are changing.

¡°Just the history of All-Stars, I guess, I wasn¡¯t expecting much,¡± Strahm said. ¡°I was hoping Jeff would get the nod, obviously, with what he¡¯s done and his saves. Saves usually look better than the ¡®H¡¯ [for holds]. He¡¯s done an unbelievable job with how he¡¯s turned his career around. He¡¯s so deserving of it.

¡°But the way the game is going, I think guys are starting to see that you win ballgames not only in the ninth inning. It¡¯s good to see. It¡¯s good for the game.¡±

Strahm and Hoffman did not bank on All-Star selections. Hoffman and his family planned to spend the break at the Jersey Shore.

¡°Everybody is really happy -- and happy to cancel our All-Star [break] plans and get to hang out and I play baseball instead,¡± Hoffman said.

Strahm planned to go to Kansas, where he bought a farm in the offseason. He, his brother and his brother-in-law love to hunt whitetail deer. Strahm planned to spend the break preparing the farm by cutting trails and setting up stands.

¡°We wanted to get it ready for hopefully after the World Series parade,¡± Strahm said.