At the same time down in Texas, Dan Kolb was in the midst of a frustrating string of injuries that threatened his once-promising career. But then-Rangers GM Doug Melvin believed he still had a future as a Major League reliever.

For both players, the future is now.

Sheets, who has an 18-strikeout game and a near-perfect game under his belt this season, is going back to the Midsummer Classic. Kolb, who has not allowed an extra-base hit all season and has developed into one of the league's elite closers, is headed there for the first time. The 2004 All-Star Game is July 13 in Houston.

"It's always an honor," Sheets said. "This time it's probably a little better because after the first year you don't realize how big of an honor it is. You come in and everything happens so quick, but now you understand it."