LOS ANGELES — Russell Martin has officially arrived.

The Dodgers catcher's election by fans as the National League starter in this month's All-Star Game in San Francisco — announced Sunday afternoon — makes it clear: The 24-year-old, in his first full season in the major leagues, is no longer an up-and-coming star. He's up and come.

"I've enjoyed every bit of it," Martin said. "Being on a competitive team it's always fun to go out there and put the Dodger uniform on."

Fans appear to be having as much fun watching as Martin is playing. When the Dodgers announced the All-Star team late in Sunday's 5-0 win over the Padres, the selections of Brad Penny and Takashi Saito were greeted with solid applause. Martin's received a standing ovation.

The Dodgers may have helped Martin's cause with an aggressive PR campaign, but ultimately, that effort succeeded only because Martin so clearly deserved the honor.

His stats — a .297 batting average, nine homers, 53 RBIs and, most oddly for a catcher, 15 stolen bases — are one illustration how deserving he is, but they're only part of the story. Just as important is his defensive work — "He calls a great game," says Mike Lieberthal, the Dodgers veteran backup catcher from Westlake High — and a demeanor more in keeping with a 34- or 44-year-old than a 24-year-old who's only been in the major leagues since May 5 of last year.

"Everything that he does is good," said manager Grady Little. "It's really an oddity any time he messes up out there on the field.

"(Saturday) night he took off to try to steal third" — a costly and unsuccessful attempt in the 11th inning of a game the Dodgers eventually lost 3-1 in 12. "Some of that youthfulness took hold, and he just got carried away and tried to steal at an inopportune time.

"That's the first time I can think of him doing something that was not the right way to play baseball in the full year he's been here, to tell you the truth. And that's pretty admirable in himself."

It's not just the fans who have noticed. Dodger outfielder Luis Gonzalez says Martin's play is generating a lot of buzz in opposing dugouts.

"When you talk to other players on different teams," said Gonzalez, "they're all excited about the way he plays — his aggressiveness, his demeanor. He doesn't play like a guy who's only been in the big leagues barely a year now. He has a lot of poise out there."

That peer respect is reflected in the player balloting for the All-Star Game, used to select the reserves from each league. While Martin ultimately didn't have to rely on the player vote, he was the runaway leader, finishing with 583 votes to the 231 of Brian McCann, who becomes the backup catcher in the NL. (Only Prince Fielder, Chase Utley and Matt Holliday received more votes in player balloting.)

"It definitely feels good to get recognition for what you're doing on the field," Martin said.

That recognition comes at a position where there are particularly high expectations for the Dodgers franchise. John Roseboro, Tom Haller, Mike Scioscia, Mike Piazza and Paul Lo Duca precede Martin as L.A. Dodgers all-star catchers; if you go back a bit further, of course, there's Brooklyn's Hall of Fame catcher, Roy Campanella.

"It's all about history," said Martin. "I'm well aware of the fact that there's been a lot of great Dodger catchers in the past. It's definitely fun for me to be able to continue that. And hopefully, I'll be here for a little while."

In most years, you'd figure that the arrival of a new star — because clearly, that's what Martin is — would be greeted with unqualified enthusiasm by the All-Star fans. But this game is in San Francisco, and Martin plays for Los Angeles, and we all know how well that combination usually goes together. Boos are at least as likely as cheers.

"That would be kind of bittersweet, you know?" he said. "It's funny at the All-Star Game when you get booed.

"They won't boo me. I'm pretty confident."

If they do, it doesn't figure to bother him. After all, not much else does — except, perhaps, time on the bench.

"He's a warrior," said Gonzalez. "He doesn't like days off, and goes out there and grinds it out."

That was illustrated Sunday, with Martin catching a day game after going the distance in a 12-inning, 3-hour, 36-minute game the night before. Sunday was the Dodgers' 82nd game; he's appeared in 78.

"He wasn't going to sit this one out, especially playing in the division," said Gonzalez. "And he really doesn't like sitting any games out."

Apparently, that's even true of All-Star Games. He won't be sitting out the one on July 10 in San Francisco, and he could be in quite a few of them in the years to come.

— Contact columnist David Lassen at dlassen@VenturaCountyStar.com, and check out his blog, "All Over the Place," for developments involving local teams during the NHL and NBA free-agent signing period.