Joe Girardi is hasty in announcing Michael Young will replace Adrian Beltre

New York Yankees Manager Joe Girardi announced Monday morning that Michael Young would replace the injured Adrian Beltre on the American League roster for Tuesday night’s All-Star game, giving Texas, which leads the American League West, seven all-stars.

When Rangers slugger Josh Hamilton, who will start in center field and bat cleanup for the AL, heard the news, he said, “Yes! I was thinking that might happen.”

One problem … it didn’t.

Girardi, who is managing the AL team, jumped the gun on the announcement, and Beltre, the Boston Red Sox third baseman who tweaked his left hamstring Sunday in Toronto, said after Monday afternoon’s workout that he expects to play.

“I’m in for now,” said Beltre, a first-time all-star who was the players’ choice to back up starter Evan Longoria of the Tampa Bay Rays at third base.

Young remained in Texas, but the Rangers still had designated hitter Vladimir Guerrero, a no-show for Monday’s media session, Hamilton, second baseman Ian Kinsler, shortstop Elvis Andrus and pitchers Neftali Feliz and Cliff Lee on the AL roster.

“I hope people realize how good we are,” Kinsler said of the Rangers, who lead the Angels by 4 ½ games but were swept in a four-game series by the Baltimore Orioles heading into the All-Star break. “We’re a very exciting team.

Hunter watches home run derby from sidelines

Torii Hunter had a blast watching former teammate David Ortiz win the home run derby Monday night. Had the Angels center fielder accepted an invitation to participate in the event, he could have competed against the Boston Red Sox slugger in his home park.

Instead, Hunter, who felt his participation in the 2002 home run derby might have hurt his swing in the second half of that season, declined Major League Baseball’s offer last week because he did not want to risk aggravating a few minor shoulder and back injuries.

“Kendry Morales went down for the season, and Maicer Izturis is out for a couple more weeks,” said Hunter, the Angels’ cleanup batter. “I really didn’t want to go out there a little sore, swing with all my might and end up on the disabled list, because my team really needs me.”

Visions of Vladdy

Jered Weaver, the Angels ace who was named to the American League all-star team on Sunday, did a double take when he walked into the Angels’ clubhouse Monday and saw Vladimir Guerrero at the same locker he had inhabited for six years in Anaheim.

Guerrero, of course, left the Angels to sign with Texas last winter and is batting .319 with 20 homers and 75 runs batted in for the Rangers, earning a spot as the AL’s starting designated hitter for Tuesday night’s game.

Guerrero’s replacement, Hideki Matsui, is batting .252 with 10 homers and 47 RBIs for the Angels.

“That brought back some memories,” Weaver said of his Guerrero sighting. “I’m so used to seeing him there … I wish he was still over here.”

Looking ahead

Controversy is already surrounding next year’s All-Star game, which is scheduled for Chase Field in Phoenix.

Many players have called for the game to be moved out of Arizona because of that state’s new immigration law, SB 1070, which allows local police to request documents and possibly detain anyone suspected of being an illegal immigrant.

“If the game is in Arizona, I will totally boycott,” Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Yovani Gallardo said Monday.

Toronto outfielder Jose Bautista and Detroit closer Jose Valverde can also see themselves steering clear.

“It’s a really delicate issue,” Bautista said. “Hopefully, there are some changes in the law before then. We have to back up our Latin communities.”

Valverde, one of 13 Dominicans and 23 Latino players on the All-Star roster, pitched for the Diamondbacks from 2003-2007.

“We’ve accomplished our goals. But what about the young kids who have only been here for a year or for months?” he said. “They’re unable to make their way in the world.”

Kansas City reliever Joakim Soria, who leads the majors with 25 saves, told the Associated Press that he too would support a Latino protest and stay away.

“They could stop me and ask to see my papers,” Soria said. “I have to stand with my Latin community on this.”

Ubaldo vs. Josh

National League manager Charlie Manuel had a good problem on his hands when he had to choose a starting pitcher for his All-Star team.

He ultimately went with 15-game winner Ubaldo Jimenez of the Colorado Rockies over Florida’s Josh Johnson, who leads the majors with a 1.70 earned-run average.

But Johnson was philosophical about it.

“It happens from year to year,” the Marlins’ ace said. “Maybe next year you’ll have four guys who hit 60 home runs. That’s just how baseball goes.”

A ticket to memories

A young niece and nephew saved Yankees pitcher Phil Hughes some grief.

He was struggling to get enough tickets to Tuesday’s All-Star game for his family and realized his niece and nephew were under the age of 2 and so he would only need 10 tickets, not 12.

The Tustin native and Foothill High graduate said chasing after tickets didn’t lessen his enjoyment about being a first-time All-Star and playing in Angel Stadium, which is within an earshot of his childhood home.

“I knew the All-Star game was going to be here,” Hughes said. “But at the beginning of the year, I really had no hopes of trying to make it. To have a good first half and actually be able to play on this team is just kind of surreal.”

Hughes was 11-2 in 16 starts with a 3.65 ERA. He’s one of three Yankee pitchers to post 10 wins and be added to the 81st All-Star game’s AL roster.

Although he inherited a love of the Red Sox from his father, Hughes grew up going to 15 Angels games a year. He said he has “fond memories about the stadium” and that this visit as a player will hold more meaning than ones before it.

“This will definitely be something special because of the fact that there’s no other games going on and it’s really an honor to be an all-star,” he said. “You never know if you’re going to get the opportunity again.”

Don’t talk streak

The National League hasn’t won the All-Star game since 1996, but designated hitter Ryan Howard said the team doesn’t discuss the losing streak.

“It’s not like we go up to each other and say ‘Hey bro, did you know we lost the last 14? Want to make it 15?’” the Phillies’ first baseman said. “No, I don’t think anybody comes in with that mind-set. It’s a whole new year.”

mike.digiovanna@latimes.com

laura.myers@latimes.com

Times staff writers Dylan Hernandez and DeAntae Prince contributed to this report.