International League Announces Roster For Triple-A All-Star Game

 

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MLN Newswire - www.mlntherawfeed.com - The International League today announced the members of its 2008 All-Star team. The squad of 28 IL standouts will take on the Pacific Coast League’s best in the 21st annual Triple-A All-Star Game, slated for July 16 in Louisville, Kentucky. First pitch is set for 7:05 p.m. eastern daylight time and can be seen live on ESPN2.

Leading the way with five All-Stars is the Pawtucket Red Sox, owners of the best record in Triple-A Baseball (55-32). Four of the five PawSox All-Stars were elected to the team, including IL batting leader Joe Thurston (.324) at second base. Joining Thurston are three of the IL’s top sluggers – outfielder Jeff Bailey, designated hitter Chris Carter, and outfielder Jonathan Van Every, who was selected to the team.

PawSox right-hander Charlie Zink (8-2, 2.63 ERA) is one of two starting pitchers elected to the team, along with Syracuse southpaw David Purcey (6-6, 2.97 ERA). Zink and Purcey have the two lowest ERA’s among current IL pitchers.

The two players tied for the circuit’s home run lead at 26 both find themselves amongst the elected All-Stars. First baseman Brad Eldred, one of three Charlotte Knights on the squad, is currently tied atop the leaderboard with reigning IL Most Valuable Player Mike Hessman, one of three Toledo Mud Hen All-Stars. Blaine Neal, the Mud Hens closer, is far and away the League leader with 22 saves thus far.

The IL’s three division leaders – Pawtucket, Durham, and Toledo – combine for a total of 12 All-Stars (43% of the entire team). Charlotte and newcomer Lehigh Valley will send three All-Stars apiece to Louisville Slugger Field, giving catcher Jason Jaramillo, infielder Mike Cervenak, and pitcher Brian Mazone the honor of being the first IronPigs to represent Lehigh Valley at the Triple-A All-Star Game. The host Louisville Bats are the only other club with multiple All-Stars (catcher Ryan Hanigan and relief pitcher Jon Adkins).

Jaramillo and Hessman are both back for their second consecutive All-Star Game, two of five players on the IL squad making a return trip to the event. Durham’s Chris Richard played in the 2000 Game (while with Memphis) and Lehigh Valley’s Mike Cervenak played in the 2005 contest (while with Fresno). Pawtucket’s Joe Thurston will be making his fourth appearance in the Triple-A All-Star Game (2002 & 2005 with Las Vegas, 2006 with Scranton/Wilkes-Barre), tying the all-time record held by Lee Stevens and Todd Williams.

The 2008 International League All-Star squad is made up of 13 elected players who have received the most votes from ballots submitted by clubs’ field managers and general managers (1/3), members of the media (1/3), and online fan voting (1/3). The elected players are joined by 15 additional All-Stars selected by the International League office. Each of the IL’s 14 clubs will be sending representatives to Louisville.

The International League will look to pick up its third consecutive win at the mid-summer classic after coming out victorious in the 2006 All-Star Game held in Toledo, Ohio and the 2007 Game in Albuquerque, New Mexico. This will be the 11th showdown under the current IL vs. PCL format, as the first ten contests pitted All-Stars selected from National League affiliates against those from the American League.

The IL and PCL are currently tied 5-5. The winning League this year will once again earn the right to have its champion play as the “home team” at the Triple-A Championship Game – the Bricktown Showdown – in Oklahoma City this September.

Additional information about the 2008 Triple-A All-Star Game and its festivities can be found on the official websites of the host Louisville Bats (www.BatsBaseball.com), the International League (www.ILBaseball.com), and the Pacific Coast League (www.PCLBaseball.com).

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2008 will mark the first time Pawtucket has sent more than three players to the Triple-A All-Star Game. The PawSox had three All-Stars in 1991 (Scott Cooper, Daryl Irvine, & Phil Plantier), 2003 (Bronson Arroyo, Lou Collier, & Anton French), 2004 (Andy Dominique, Tim Kester, & Earl Snyder), and 2007 (Craig Breslow, Travis Hughes, & Brandon Moss). The last team with more than three All-Stars was Charlotte in 2006 (Jeff Farnsworth, Josh Fields, Charlie Haeger, Heath Phillips, Jorge Velandia, & Ernie Young).

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