Holliday was selected to Team USA for the 2006 World Baseball Classic prior to the start of the MLB season. Despite batting just .255 through May 1, 2006, Holliday accumulated 24 RBI in 25 games. From May 1 until the end of the season – a span of 131 games – he collected 169 hits for a .339 batting average, the fourth-highest in the major leagues. He batted .404 from June 1–27, second in the NL in that period. An All-Star selection to the game at PNC Park in Pittsburgh for the first time in his career, Holliday was hitting .339 with 16 home runs and 56 RBI at the time of his selection. In the game, Holliday played right field for the first time as a major leaguer.