PHILADELPHIA -- Though Zack Wheeler's family and friends had already started making plans to be in Denver for next week's 2021 All-Star Game, the Phillies' right-hander hadn't let them finalize any of those travel details just yet.

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"You never know, crazy things happen," Wheeler said. "But yeah, I mean, I've kind of been looking forward to it and guessing that I would make it. But like I said, you just never know."

Well, they can go ahead and book their trips.

Wheeler was informed that he was named an All-Star for the first time in his seven-year career on Sunday -- fittingly, on a Wheeler T-shirt giveaway day at Citizens Bank Park. Manager Joe Girardi shared the news prior to the club's 11-1 loss against the Padres. Wheeler will have some company at Coors Field, with batterymate J.T. Realmuto receiving his third career All-Star nod as a reserve catcher for the National League.

"It's pretty cool. It's kind of what you dream about growing up," Wheeler said. "But yeah, to actually go out there, I've always kind of struggled the first half or the first couple months -- I always kind of shot it down kind of quick. But to be this consistent for this long means a lot to me also. The hard work is paying off now."

Wheeler has a 2.05 ERA across 17 starts this season, and he leads the Majors with 139 strikeouts over 114 innings. He's also pacing all players in bWAR (5.5), holding a slight edge over Angels two-way star Shohei Ohtani (5.1).

Though Wheeler is in the middle of a Cy Young-caliber campaign, his breakout actually began in the abbreviated 2020 season. He went 4-2 with a 2.92 ERA in 11 starts last year, giving him a 2.38 ERA over 28 starts since joining the Phillies.

"I haven't won many awards. I don't even think I've won anything since I've been in the big leagues, no Player of the Week or Month or whatever it may be," Wheeler said. "This is pretty cool, right? This is one of the biggest ones besides Cy Young or something like that. It is pretty cool. I can tell my son and future kids I was an All-Star."

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The NL has yet to name a starting pitcher, though Wheeler figures to at least be in the conversation. His next start is scheduled for Wednesday, which would put him on full rest heading into the All-Star break. His main competition for the starting gig obviously figures to be Mets ace Jacob deGrom, who has a 0.95 ERA in 14 starts. Wheeler has pitched 29 more innings than deGrom.

Most notable perhaps is that deGrom's next start is scheduled for Tuesday. That would put him on track to pitch again on Sunday, which could affect his availability to start the All-Star Game, especially after the two-time Cy Young Award winner has dealt with a some injury concerns in the first half.

Regardless, Wheeler said just being on the roster is enough for him. And depending on when exactly he pitches during the Midsummer Classic, he could find himself throwing to a familiar backstop.

Realmuto was voted in by a ballot of players, managers and coaches to serve as the NL's backup catcher behind starter Buster Posey. It's the third consecutive All-Star selection for Realmuto, who also took part in the festivities in 2018 with the Marlins and '19 with the Phillies. There was no All-Star Game in 2020 due to the shortened season.

Realmuto, who said finding out about the All-Star nod gave him a lift prior to hitting his eighth homer of the season Sunday, said he's "very excited" to be returning to the Midsummer Classic for a third time -- and he also had some advice for Wheeler on his first trip.

"Really just soak it all in. It happens so fast," Realmuto said. "You're really busy for a couple days, and there are a couple of things where you're like, 'Oh man, I don't know if I want to do this.' But you have to enjoy the whole process, because you're never guaranteed another All-Star Game, and it's so special and so fun for all the time that it lasts. So you just have to take it in in the moment and enjoy it as much as you can."