Martin has look of an All-Star

Scioscia. Piazza. Lo Duca.

Martin?

Russell Martin is putting together a strong bid to become the latest in a long line of Dodgers catchers to appear in the All-Star game.

In his first full major league season, Martin is hitting .307 with three homers and leads major league catchers with 31 runs, 22 walks and eight stolen bases. He also leads National League catchers with 33 runs batted in and 51 hits.

“It’s just one of those things that if the fans vote me in it would be great and I’d love it,” said Martin, who could become the first Dodgers All-Star catcher since Paul Lo Duca in 2004 and the first to win fan balloting since Mike Piazza in 1997.

“It’s a personal achievement that everyone wants to be part of. To do it my second year would be awesome.”

Martin is also among the major league leaders with seven game-winning RBIs, including a dramatic walk-off grand slam against Pittsburgh’s Shawn Chacon on April 21, but his value goes beyond offense. He is adept at handling a diverse pitching staff and possesses a strong defensive presence.

“He’s tremendous,” Dodgers pitcher Randy Wolf said. “He’s a guy that impresses me every day with his defense and offense, getting big hits, stealing bases, putting himself in a chance to succeed and wanting to get better every day.

“I think if he stays the way he’s been playing, he could see himself in San Francisco in July” at the All-Star game.

Martin drew one of the biggest ovations Sunday at Dodger Stadium during the Dodgers’ 2-1, 11-inning victory over the Chicago Cubs with his acrobatic catch of a pop fly behind the plate in the seventh inning. He made a backhanded catch and then went tumbling backward into the first row of seats.

“It was amazing,” Wolf said. “A lot of times you see a ball like that and because of the way a catcher’s mitt is, it’s really hard for the ball to stick in there. And the way he kind of went over the net and kept the ball, it was a great play.”

Said Dodgers Manager Grady Little: “I can’t think of a better person for that to happen to. He can make stuff like that happen.”

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Wolf is another Dodger making a case for All-Star consideration. He is among the league leaders with 71 strikeouts and six victories, and over his last five starts he is 3-0 with a 1.48 earned-run average and 35 strikeouts.

“He goes out there and throws strikes, uses both sides of the plate, elevates when he needs to,” Martin said. “He just knows what to pitch in different situations. He’s been tremendous for us lately.”

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Satisfied that Jason Schmidt is recovering adequately from shoulder inflammation, the Dodgers are allowing the pitcher to skip an anticipated simulated game and instead progress directly to a rehabilitation start Wednesday for Class-A Inland Empire. Schmidt, who has not pitched for the Dodgers since April 14, was sidelined last week because of flu-like symptoms.

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For a second consecutive year, the Dodgers will allow fans to bring sleeping bags and spend the night at Dodger Stadium -- for a hefty fee.

The cost of the program on July 27 is $200 per adult and $100 per child, with a special family rate of $500 for two adults and two children 14 and under.

The package includes televised coverage of the Dodgers’ game against the Colorado Rockies that night at Coors Field projected on the Dodger Stadium scoreboard as well as dinner, a late-night movie, breakfast and the opportunity to play catch on the field.

Participation is limited to 500 and the deadline to enroll is July 1. Those interested can register at dodgers.com/sleepover.

ben.bolch@latimes.com