A year ago at this time, Ryan Braun was hitting the interview circuit as hard as he does fastballs that catch too much of the plate.

Radio, TV, print — anything the Milwaukee Brewers’ media relations staff set up to help the club’s star left fielder drum up votes for the All-Star Game. And it worked, as Braun surged into a starting berth on the National League team for the first All-Star appearance of his young career.

So why haven’t you seen as much of Braun in the buildup to this year’s Midsummer Classic? Simply put, he hasn’t needed to.

“I think the fans from the get-go have been obviously extremely supportive,” said Braun, who is hitting .326 with 16 home runs and 58 RBIs. “They’ve been voting early and often, I guess.”

Braun figures to be named a starter once again for the July 14 game at Busch Stadium in St. Louis when the All-Star rosters are announced Sunday. In the final voting update released Monday, he ranked second among NL outfielders, behind only the Phillies’ Raul Ibanez.

Only one Brewer has previously started back-to-back All-Star games — Hall of Famer Robin Yount, who did it in 1982 and ’83.

“That’s cool man. To me, that makes it that much more special, that much more important,” Braun said of being in the same company as Yount. “Whenever you’re mentioned in the same breath as somebody like that, it really kind of puts it in perspective, what that accomplishment means. And it means a lot to me, it’s awesome. It means a lot to me to be able to represent the organization and the city of Milwaukee. It’s something that I’m really proud to do.”

The fact that Braun has collected so many fan votes in consecutive years speaks to both his star power and the progress the Brewers have made in recent years to haul themselves back into national relevance. First baseman Prince Fielder started two years ago, the first time a Milwaukee player had been voted into the lineup since Paul Molitor, another Hall of Famer, in 1988. The Brewers have never previously had starters in three straight All-Star games.

That’s what winning games will do.

“I think things like that come full circle, because then when guys like myself and Prince and Trevor Hoffman get national exposure, you get more nationally televised games, you get larger sponsorship and endorsement deals from companies, it makes it a much more appealing and attractive place for free agents to come,” Braun said. “A few years ago, a guy like Trevor Hoffman probably wouldn’t have even considered Milwaukee. So it’s pretty cool that the organization’s come so far in such a short period of time.”

And, in all likelihood, Braun won’t be alone in St. Louis.

The Brewers have a realistic shot at sending four representatives, as they did in 2007. Here are the other three candidates:

1B Prince Fielder

Has anyone outside the Cardinals’ Albert Pujols had a better first half than Fielder?

Entering Saturday’s games, his 75 RBIs ranked second in the majors, while his 21 homers were tied for sixth. He was also hitting .309 with a .428 on-base percentage, the third best in the majors.

And yet a logjam at first base in the NL — Pujols, San Diego’s Adrian Gonzalez and Philadelphia’s Ryan Howard all could be on the team — means Fielder doesn’t necessarily have a lock on a roster spot.

RP Trevor Hoffman

Few could have predicted Hoffman, baseball’s all-time saves leader, would be this effective in his first half-season with the Brewers after inking a one-year, $6 million contract over the winter.

The 41-year-old closer has converted 18 of 19 save opportunities while allowing only five earned runs in 23 1/3 innings.

Seven NL closers have more saves than Hoffman, but remember, he missed the first 19 games of the season with a strained right oblique.

SP Yovani Gallardo

The Brewers’ 23-year-old budding ace has lived up to the advance billing.

His 8-5 record isn’t dazzling, but a 2.75 ERA and 114 strikeouts in 104 2/3 innings sure are head-turning numbers.

Clearly Milwaukee’s best starter, Gallardo’s ERA is better than the likes of the Marlins’ Josh Johnson, the Dodgers’ Chad Billingsley and the Mets’ Johan Santana. The fact Gallardo is scheduled to pitch July 12 — two days before the All-Star Game — could complicate matters, though.