This story was excerpted from Adam Berry’s Rays Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.

ST. PETERSBURG -- Isaac Paredes prefers to fly under the radar. He says he’s always been that way, veering away from the spotlight and the pressure that often comes with it.

He might have a hard time keeping a low profile this summer, though. Phase 1 of the balloting for the 2024 MLB All-Star Game began on Wednesday, allowing fans to vote for the starting position players in both leagues, and Paredes is currently the Rays’ most deserving candidate for the July 16 Midsummer Classic at Globe Life Field in Arlington.

The slugging third baseman quietly said he wouldn’t mind the fanfare that comes along with an All-Star appointment.

“It would be one major event I would be able to accomplish in my career. I think it would be really cool if I were able to get those votes to get to the game,” Paredes said Wednesday through interpreter Manny Navarro. “The goal was just always to get to the big leagues. I think getting to the All-Star Game is something that you can never forget.”

There are several other good All-Star candidates at third base in the American League, of course. Cleveland’s José Ramírez is doing what he does every year. Boston’s Rafael Devers is having a great season. Baltimore’s Jordan Westburg and Kansas City’s Maikel Garcia have impressed in different ways.

But the 25-year-old Paredes has made a strong case for himself, building off what he did during his 31-homer, 98-RBI breakout last year and even improving in some aspects. He entered Friday leading the Rays in WAR (2.3), hits (64), doubles (13), home runs (10), RBIs (37), on-base percentage (.383) and slugging percentage (.498). His .298 batting average is second to Amed Rosario (.302) and a big step up from his .250 mark last season.

Paredes’ 155 wRC+ ranks eighth among qualified AL hitters behind Aaron Judge, Juan Soto, Kyle Tucker, Gunnar Henderson, Brent Rooker, Devers and Bobby Witt Jr. For all of Tampa Bay’s issues and inconsistency, headlined by stars who haven’t performed like stars, Paredes has been as steady as it gets.

“I don't see how you don't have him in consideration at the third-base spot. He’s done it really well for a couple seasons now,” Rays manager Kevin Cash said. “He’s been as consistent as anybody in our lineup, with big-time production. I hope he gets a bunch of votes -- and hopefully our other guys can start getting hot to where they're creating some momentum for themselves.”

Fans can vote as many as five times every 24 hours exclusively at MLB.com, on all 30 MLB club sites and on the MLB app through noon ET on June 27. The top two vote-getters at each position (and the top six outfielders) in each league will be revealed on MLB Network on June 27, with the leading vote-getter in each league receiving an automatic spot in the starting lineup while the others advance to the next phase. Phase 2 begins at noon ET on June 30 and runs until July 3.

Whether Paredes earns a spot in the starting lineup or not, he has certainly done enough to merit consideration. He has continued his assault on the left-field fence, launching all 10 of his homers this season (and all 63 in his career) to left or left-center.

But he’s also shown the ability to adapt a two-strike, contact-oriented approach that’s kept his strikeout rate in check while boosting his batting average with base hits to all fields. That’s a point of pride for Paredes, who said he wants to bat around .300 with power instead of being a one-dimensional home run hitter.

“It’s definitely something that I’ve felt a lot more comfortable learning the game, playing the game a little bit better, knowing where my strengths are, taking my hits to the other side but also being able to stay consistent with my strong suits,” said Paredes, who was acquired from Detroit for Austin Meadows shortly before Opening Day in 2022.

The consistency of that approach is what impresses Paredes’ coaches and teammates more than anything.

“It's hard to put it into just one word, honestly. To have a guy like that in the lineup that you know is going to roll out those at-bats every single time, it's very last-year-Yandy [Díaz]-esque,” second baseman Brandon Lowe said. “[It’s] that feel, especially with runners in scoring position, where he comes to the plate and you're like, ‘OK, we have at least one RBI coming through.’ You know he's gonna get the job done and we're gonna be in a good spot after.”

“He’s not a young player anymore. Maybe young, age-wise, but … he knows who he is as a hitter,” Cash said recently, “and he’s really good at going up and being that guy.”