The first time Marlins ace Sandy Alcantara picked up a baseball was at the age of 5.

A youngster from Azua in the southern part of the Dominican Republic, Alcantara grew up like many kids from Latin America: wanting to play baseball to take care of his family. Never in Alcantara's wildest dreams -- even after signing with the Cardinals as a teenager in 2013 and later becoming a top prospect -- could he imagine the career he has crafted so far.

• MLB All-Star Game presented by Mastercard: Tuesday on FOX

"I think I just started playing baseball, but I didn't even know if I was going to be here now," said Alcantara, who debuted with St. Louis in 2017. "I think my goal was to just keep playing baseball. You never know what happens. I'm here now. I feel so happy, and I'm so blessed."

Alcantara, who tossed an eight-inning gem in his first-half finale, has emerged as one the Majors' top pitchers thanks to an exceptional first half. This is where he ranks in the following categories:

• FanGraphs pitcher WAR: First (4.0)
• Innings pitched: First (138 1/3)
• Complete games: Tied for first (2)
• ERA: Second (1.76)
• Opponents' average: Fourth (.190)
• WHIP: Fifth (0.90)
• Strikeouts: Eighth (123)

The 26-year-old right-hander's 138 1/3 first-half innings are the most in the Majors since 2014 and the most in Marlins history. He has tossed at least seven frames in 13 straight starts -- the longest stretch by a pitcher in a single season since Félix Hernández in '14.

"I think he's just taken another step, confidence-wise," manager Don Mattingly said. "I see him when he faces some guys that he's faced in the past and he's kind of backed off of or pitched cautiously. Now, it's like there's no one out there that he doesn't just go attack, and I think that's what I like to see -- just that next level of confidence, even though we know he's had the stuff."

Alcantara will be joined by second baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr. (who will not play) and designated hitter Garrett Cooper at the Midsummer Classic. This Tuesday at Dodger Stadium will mark his second time appearing in baseball's biggest showcase.

When All-Star rosters were announced, Alcantara recorded 338 votes by his player peers -- the most for any MLB pitcher. Here's what has been said of Alcantara:

"He's the best in our league, I think. I really do. He's got good stuff. He was tough all night long. He kept us off-balance. You're not going to see anybody better than that right there. He's really good." -- Nationals manager Dave Martinez

"You have to get a good pitch to hit, and he's got good stuff -- some of the best I've seen. He's got great numbers. I talked to a lot of guys around the league, and he's up there with good stuff." -- Angels superstar Mike Trout

"I battled today. I felt locked in and ready to go, but [Alcantara] just beat me, and that’s going to happen when you face guys as good as he is. You’re going to lose battles like that. He’s really good and is one of the best, but he just doesn’t get a lot of credit." -- Cardinals All-Star Nolan Arenado

This is everything the Marlins could have hoped for when they inked Alcantara to a five-year, $56 million extension with a club option for 2027 before the lockout. At the time, general manager Kim Ng called him the quintessential ace, someone to build a foundation around with his combination of talent, performance, leadership, dedication and work ethic.

"First of all, baseball is finding out who this guy is, and with that being said, I think it's great for the organization," pitching coach Mel Stottlemyre Jr. said. "We're certainly proud of what he's done and representing all of us. It doesn't motivate him. It is important I think to the organization that people know who this guy is and what he's doing and take note of it, but he's not wired that way to worry about that part. For the people that don't, or maybe have second-guessed who this guy is, how good he actually is, and [he] is one of the best in the game -- I can say that -- they will take notice."