By Jim Owczarski Sports Editor Published Jul 16, 2013 at 1:03 PM Photography: David Bernacchi

Thus far in 2013, there hasn’t been much for the Milwaukee Brewers to hang their hats on. Injuries have decimated the pitching staff and the lineup, and a season that began with promise of competing for one of the two National League wildcard spots quickly spiraled to the depths of the division standings. But, through it all, there have been several bright spots and none have been brighter than the first half play of shortstop Jean Segura and centerfielder Carlos Gomez.

Both players were selected to the roster of the National League in the 84th Major League Baseball All-Star Game, which will be played tonight at Citi Field in New York.

As their teammates headed to a variety of locales to rest and recoup from a tough first half Sunday night, Gomez and Segura left Arizona and went straight to New York to take part in the NL team workouts under San Francisco Giants manager Bruce Bochy and the start of the All-Star festivities.

"With our team right now, I’m looking forward to the (All-Star break) because I think there are some guys that can get a rest and heal up some," Brewers manager Ron Roenicke said. "I know two guys who I would like to heal up also are going to the All-Star Game, but the first day is a workout, OK, they’ll play the second but they next two days off, so I still think they’ll get a break enough. They’re a little banged up and I’d like those guys to come back healthy."

Both players are making their first All-Star teams after making spectacular plays in the field and becoming forces at the plate. At various points in the season, both players led the league in batting average. While they have cooled off in that regard, Gomez enters the break with a NL-leading nine triples and Segura leads the league in hits with 121.

Segura, just 23, is hitting .325 with an OPS of .849. He also enters the break with 30 extra base hits and 27 stolen bases. Despite being one of the youngest players on either team, the soft-spoken shortstop says he’s not going to make it a social occasion, at least at the outset.

"Not really," he said. "I just want to go there, have fun and have a good experience. I don’t really want to meet any guys, just go there and see how it feels to be part of that team."

Gomez, initially signed by the host New York Mets as an international free agent in 2002, is finally putting all of his physical tools together at the age of 27. He has been slumping into the break, with his average falling to .295, but he also has an .870 OPS. Gomez already has 45 RBI, just six shy of matching his career high.

And while he is known for picking the brains of former major leaguers, he also is not going to seek out any other All-Stars for advice or tips.

Instead, he’s going "to have the experience to be in the All-Star (Game), to have the honor to be an All-Star, and how it’s going to impact me," he said. "I have no idea what’s going on over there. I’ll go and do whatever they tell me to do and enjoy it the most that I can."

As reserves, it is possible that Bochy does not play either. Since the All-Star Game ended in a tie at Miller Park in 2002 when both teams ran out of players, some are kept on the bench in case of extra innings. Both players know their number may not get called.

"I want to play, of course, but I don’t make that decision," Gomez said. "Whatever my manager wants me to do, I’ll be there to help."

Of the pair, Segura might be the one who plays and plays the most innings. Colorado Rockies shortstop Troy Tulowitzki was voted in as the starter, but he is recovering from a broken rib. Segura was the leading vote-getter on the player’s ballot and would have started had Tulowitzki withdrawn, so it is likely he'll be the first called to replace the Rockies shortstop.

"Everybody goes there wants to play, so I want to play too," he said. "Everybody who goes is going to be itching to play."

The Brewers have been well represented in the Midsummer Classic over the last decade. The team has sent multiple players to the All-Star game in eight of the last 10 years and in every year the team has had two representatives, including coaches.

2013: Carlos Gomez, Jean Segura
2012: Ryan Braun, Ron Roenicke
2011: Prince Fielder, Rickie Weeks, Braun
2010: Yovani Gallardo, Corey Hart, Braun
2009: Trevor Hoffman, Fielder, Braun
2008: Ben Sheets, Hart, Braun
2007: Francisco Cordero, J.J. Hardy, Fielder, Sheets
2006: Carlos Lee, Derrick Turnbow, Chris Capuano
2005: Lee, Ned Yost
2004: Danny Kolb, Sheets

Jim Owczarski is an award-winning sports journalist and comes to Milwaukee by way of the Chicago Sun-Times Media Network.

A three-year Wisconsin resident who has considered Milwaukee a second home for the better part of seven years, he brings to the market experience covering nearly all major and college sports.

To this point in his career, he has been awarded six national Associated Press Sports Editors awards for investigative reporting, feature writing, breaking news and projects. He is also a four-time nominee for the prestigious Peter J. Lisagor Awards for Exemplary Journalism, presented by the Chicago Headline Club, and is a two-time winner for Best Sports Story. He has also won numerous other Illinois Press Association, Illinois Associated Press and Northern Illinois Newspaper Association awards.

Jim's career started in earnest as a North Central College (Naperville, Ill.) senior in 2002 when he received a Richter Fellowship to cover the Chicago White Sox in spring training. He was hired by the Naperville Sun in 2003 and moved on to the Aurora Beacon News in 2007 before joining OnMilwaukee.com.

In that time, he has covered the events, news and personalities that make up the PGA Tour, LPGA Tour, Major League Baseball, the National Football League, the National Hockey League, NCAA football, baseball and men's and women's basketball as well as boxing, mixed martial arts and various U.S. Olympic teams.

Golf aficionados who venture into Illinois have also read Jim in GOLF Chicago Magazine as well as the Chicago District Golfer and Illinois Golfer magazines.