TORONTO -- What a difference six weeks can make. On June 4, Hideki Matsui was scuffling along with a .250 batting average, a paltry three homers and 33 RBIs. Since that low point in the season, the New York Yankees rookie outfielder has hit at a torrid .387 clip, while adding six homers and 33 RBIs in about half the number of at-bats.
Ichiro Suzuki, Shigetoshi Hasegawa and Hideki Matsui pose for a photo during a pregame ceremony for the All-Star Game at U.S. Cellular Field in Chicago.
With his improved play -- along with a flood of Internet votes from Japan -- Matsui has landed a starting spot in Tuesday's All-Star Game.