NEW YORK – Former North Carolina standout Matt Harvey will become the third player in program history to start the Major League Baseball All-Star Game when he takes the mound for the National League, manager Bruce Bochy announced Monday.

Harvey, who joins Walt Weiss (1998) and Brian Roberts (2005) as Carolina All-Star starters, will oppose Detroit’s Max Scherzer in the Midsummer Classic Tuesday night at Citi Field. Harvey owns a 7-2 record with a 2.35 ERA in 130 innings of work for the Mets this season. He has struck out 147 batters in 19 starts and currently leads the National League in strikeouts.

“It’s a huge honor,” Harvey told MLB.com. “I appreciate it. It’s obviously here in New York. The fans have been great here all year. Hopefully I can make them proud.”

Harvey will be the first pitcher to start an All-Star Game at his home ballpark since Roger Clemens in 2004. Harvey will also be the third pitcher to make his first All-Star Game start at his home ballpark. The others were Carl Hubbell of the New York Giants in 1934 and Esteban Loaiza of the White Sox in 2003.

“What a tremendous year he’s had,” Bochy said. “It really wouldn’t have mattered what city we’re playing in, with the year he’s had.”

The Mystic, Conn., native starred for the Tar Heels from 2008-10 before being drafted by the New York Mets with the seventh overall selection in the 2010 MLB Draft.

With the selection to the All-Star Game, Harvey becomes the seventh Tar Heel to earn a roster spot at the MLB All-Star Game and is the first player since Brian Roberts in 2007.

UNC All-Star Game History

Nate Andrews – 1944 (Reserve)
Burgess Whitehead – 1935 (Reserve), 1937 (Reserve)
Snuffy Stirnweiss – 1945 (DNP) 1946 (Reserve)
Walt Weiss – 1998 (Started at SS)
B.J. Surhoff – 1999 (Reserve)
Brian Roberts – 2005 (Started at 2B), 2007 (Reserve)