ST. LOUIS -- Corey Hart's standing with the Milwaukee Brewers was so low coming out of spring training, the club didn't include his name on the fan ballot for the All-Star Game.
And he hasn't forgotten.
"I was hurt by how I was treated," said Hart. "I could either sulk or try to do something to change it. I was determined to prove them wrong."
Hart was named to the National League all-star team Sunday along with teammates Ryan Braun and Yovani Gallardo. Braun became the first player in club history to be elected to three consecutive All-Star Games, finishing first among all major-league outfielders in fan balloting and earning a starting spot.
Hart, a 2008 all-star, was selected for the club in outfield balloting by the players. He finished third on that ballot behind Los Angeles' Andre Ethier and Braun.
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Gallardo was one of three starting pitchers selected by NL manager Charlie Manuel and will be an all-star for the first time, though an injury later Sunday threatened his availability.
Struggling with vision problems that he later corrected with contacts, Hart had a miserable spring training, batting .172 with two homers and seven RBI in 21 exhibition games. He was not in the starting lineup on opening day, yielding to veteran reserve Jim Edmonds in right field.
Injuries eventually allowed Hart to see regular playing time and he took advantage, going on a power spree that had him leading the NL in home runs for several weeks. He still ranks among the leaders with 19 homers, 61 RBI and .572 slugging percentage, with an NL-best 19-game hitting streak still going.
If Jason Heyward is unable to play because of a left thumb injury that has him on the DL, Hart could find himself in the starting outfield with Braun and Ethier. Replacements are supposed to be the next-highest vote-getter on the players' ballot, which would be Hart.
Braun led all major-league outfielders in fan balloting for the third consecutive year with 2,972,525 votes, behind only St. Louis first baseman Albert Pujols (4,380,669) and Philadelphia second baseman Chase Utley (3,616,038) in the NL.
Gallardo's selection was rewarding because the competition was stiff among starting pitchers in the NL. He ranks among the leaders with 122 strikeouts and a 2.58 ERA to go with an 8-4 record, two shutouts and two complete games.
His status was put in immediate jeopardy, however, when he left his start against St. Louis in the third inning with a left oblique strain. If he doesn't return to action before the All-Star Game, there is little chance he would participate in that game.
