It was the best of times, it was the worst of times for Oakland Athletic pitcher Jeff Samardzija in Oakland on Sunday. The right-handed pitcher and former Notre Dame football standout found out that he had been named to his first Major League All-Star game, slated to pitch for the National League in July 15th's game at Target Field in Minneapolis. But, then he got the bad news.

The problem is, Jeff was selected to represent the Chicago Cubs in next Tuesday's "Mid-Summer Classic." Samardzija was 2-7 with a 2.83 E.R.A. and 103 strike-outs before being traded, along with pitcher Jason Hammel, by the Cubs, who play in the National League's Central division, to the Oakland A's, who currently sit atop the American League's Western division on Saturday in exchange for 3 minor league prospects and a player to be named later.

Major League Baseball has a strict rues regarding eligibility for All-Star contests, and playing in the league other than the one you are representing, definitely goes against those. MLB has stated the Samardzija will appear and be recognized during the pregame introductions for the July 15th contest. It is not clear whether he will be wearing a Cubs jersey, an A's jersey or a generic National League jersey.

Further good news for the right-hander on Sunday; he won his first start as a member of the A's, allowing one run in seven innings of a 4-2 Oakland win over the Toronto Blue Jays.

Target Field Minneapolis, MN
Photo by Brace Hemmelgarn/Minnesota Twins/Getty Images
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