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MIAMI -- A year ago Marcell Ozuna was a newly demoted minor leaguer, sent to Triple-A following a 1-for-36 slump that erased his perpetual smile and magnified doubts about his future with the Miami Marlins.All of which makes his first All-Star Game that much more momentous for Ozuna, who will start in center field Tuesday for the National League.The smile is back as he reflects on his journey of the past 12 months.I dreamed of being an All-Star, he said. But a starter in one year? Its impossible.Ozuna was promoted to the starting lineup because of injuries to other players, but his statistics are All-Star worthy, thanks in part from the mentoring of first-year Marlins batting coach Barry Bonds. Ozuna is hitting .307 with 17 homers and 47 RBI, and ranks among NL leaders with 99 hits and five triples.As for defense, to underscore his excellent play in center field, Ozuna threw out the Reds Brandon Phillips on the bases on both Saturday and Sunday.Ozo is unbelievable, teammate Giancarlo Stanton said. Its what Ive seen over the years -- you got spurts of it. But its a matter of being able to lock that in day in and day out, which he has been doing. Its only the beginning for him.But in early July 2015, Ozuna was literally headed the wrong way -- to Triple-A New Orleans. An 0-for-3 performance at Wrigley Field, dropping his average to .249, sealed the Marlins decision to demote him midway through his third major league season.I remember it like it was yesterday, president of baseball operations Michael Hill said. He had been having a rough stretch, and in that particular game he just looked overmatched. They were bad at-bats.Ive seen him since he was 16, and it was the first time I had ever seen him hang his head. We spoke after the game, and I was like, `Ozo, whats up? He said, `I dont know. He had no answers. He was completely lost. That was when we decided it was in his best interests to send him down. Its hard when you dont see Marcell Ozuna with a big smile; thats who he is.Ozuna spent six weeks with New Orleans and showed some improvement when he rejoined the Marlins, batting .278 with six homers in 44 games. Even so, he was on the trading block during the offseason.Ozuna concedes he was out of shape in 2015, so this year he reported for spring training lighter and fitter. He immediately began to bond with Bonds, and the home run king began preaching strike zone discipline to the free-swinging Ozuna.He talked to me about how you have to be patient and selective, Ozuna said. Right now I trust what I can do. I say, `Dont rush.As a result, he no longer swings so often at bad pitches. His walks are up and his strikeouts down.What did Ozuna tell Bonds upon learning he would start for the NL stars in San Diego?I said, `Thank you, Ozuna said.The All-Star Game will be his first since Class A in Florida in 2009. His parents, two sisters and two children will be at the game.I feel happy for my family because theyre proud of me, he said.Hes not the only Ozuna smiling these days.San Diego Padres Shirts . However, he did make them miss him a little less. Cundiff, who had the unenviable job of replacing Dawson last season, agreed Thursday to a one-year, $1. Custom San Diego Padres Jerseys . "Were just throwing s--- at the wall hoping something sticks," said Tortorella about the possible line combinations for Fridays game against Columbus. The Canucks have lost five straight games and six of their last seven, leaving them in a logjam in the Pacific Division, currently sitting fifth - good for ninth in the Western Conference. https://www.cheappadresjerseys.us/ . PAUL, Minn. Fake Padres Jerseys . -- Running backs Darren McFadden and Rashad Jennings were back at practice for the Oakland Raiders on Wednesday despite being hampered by hamstring injuries. San Diego Padres Store . Its an influence in football and a big part of the game.AUBURN HILLS, Mich. -- In the long run, Andre Drummond and Reggie Jackson are going to be the most important players on the Detroit roster.Tuesday, though, they were spectators.Pistons coach Stan Van Gundy went with his bench in the fourth quarter against the Bulls, and they outscored Chicago 31-19 to pull out a 102-91 victory.Its tough for guys like Andre and Reggie to have to watch a close game down the stretch, because they want to be out there, Van Gundy said. Marcus (Morris), too, but the bench guys were doing such a good job that I couldnt take them off the floor.Tobias Harris, who led Detroit with 22 points, was the only Pistons starter to get his usual playing time in the final 12 minutes. He was joined by Ish Smith, Darrun Hilliard, Aron Baynes and Jon Leuer.Tobias was scoring and Ish got us 10 assists, but it was mostly great defense, Van Gundy said. That group took the game away from the Bulls.Drummond added 15 points and 10 rebounds for the Pistons, who won for the fourth time in five games.Jimmy Butler scored 32 points and Dwyane Wade added 19 points and seven assists for Chicago, which lost its third straight. The Bulls were playing their fourth game in five nights and struggled in the fourth quarter.We battled back from a 17-point deficit and took the lead into the fourth, Chicago coach Fred Hoiberg said. That just takes so much energy out of you. We have to stop digging holes for ourselves.Drummond dominated early, scoring 10 points on three dunks and two tips. Even when he went to the bench with foul trouble, the Pistons put together an 11-0 run to lead 36-21 early in the second quarter.Rajon Rondo had 10 points in his return to the Chicago lineup.Detroit maintained a double-digit lead for most of the second period, but Chicaago rallied after Jackson picked up his third foul.dddddddddddd The Pistons were ahead 51-44 at the half, thanks to a 16-6 edge on points off turnovers. Drummond had 14 in the half, while Butler had 16 for the Bulls.Chicago was within 51-50 in the first two minutes of the third, and took a 72-71 lead into the fourth. Butler and Taj Gibson both had eight points in the period, while Drummond didnt score for Detroit.Hillards 3-pointer capped Detroits 12-3 run to start the fourth, giving the Pistons an 83-75 lead with 7:28 to play.We had things rolling and Coach let us keep going, Leuer said. You appreciate that as a player, if you get it going and you are allowed to ride it out.The Pistons pulled away down the stretch against the weary Bulls.Weve just got to win a couple games, Butler said. When we do that, everything will be fine and dandy again.TIP-INSBulls: Rondo missed Mondays loss to Portland due to a team suspension.Pistons: Due to his foul problems, Jackson only played 10 minutes in the first half. Hes still on limited minutes after missing the seasons first 21 games with knee tendinitis, and played eight minutes in the second half. Ish Smith played the entire fourth quarter.ROTATION PROBLEMSLeuer, normally Detroits sixth man, only played seven minutes in the first half, and Van Gundy blamed himself. I was trying to keep Tobias away from Jimmy Butler and screwed up my rotation. As it turned out, it didnt matter who guarded Jimmy, but we should never have a half where Jon only plays seven minutes.UP NEXTBulls: Visit the Charlotte Hornets on Wednesday.Pistons: Host the San Antonio Spurs and Pau Gasol on Thursday. ' ' '