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Lehigh Valley IronPigs

10th Anniversary Team Vote: LH Reliever

February 20, 2017 - International League (IL1)
Lehigh Valley IronPigs News Release


With the 10-Year Anniversary season around the corner, the IronPigs are enlisting fans to help assemble a 10-Year Anniversary Team. This All-IronPigs squad will be featured in team publications and on select promotional items during the 2017 season.

Each week, the IronPigs will host an "election" for a different position via Twitter. The player with the most votes will be named to the team. There will be four candidates for each position. Each candidate has been selected in advance and must meet certain requirements - first, and foremost, that each played his listed position as a primary position for at least one season with Lehigh Valley. Some players will appear at multiple positions throughout the voting process.

A summary making a case for each candidate will appear in a position feature on www.ironpigsbaseball.com. It is encouraged that votes be cast for each player's performance as an IronPig as opposed to prospect status or later success in Major League Baseball.

Feb. 20-26: Left-Handed Relief Pitcher

Click here to vote!

Left-Handed Relief Pitcher (L to R in photo above):

Adam Loewen, Jake Diekman, Cesar Jimenez, Mike Zagurski

Adam Loewen (2015)

Career Stats: 1-3, 2.15 ERA in 33 G

Bacon Bits: In just one season with the IronPigs, Loewen was a dominant force out of the 'Pigs bullpen. The Vancouever native began his IronPigs career by not allowing a run in his first four appearances and gave up just five hits in 6.2 IP while striking out four batters. After Loewen began season converting 3 out of his first 4 save opportunities, he did not blow a save for the remainder of the season converting 10 out of 11 opportunities overall. Loewen's 10 saves ranks him tied for 10th on the 'Pigs single-season saves list. In his final 15.1 IP as a IronPigs reliever, Loewen did not surrender a single run from July 8, 2015, to his last appearance on Aug. 3, 2015. During the 12-game stretch, Loewen notched seven saves and struck out 21 batters -- retiring 40 of his last 50 batters faced.

Jake Diekman (2012-2013, 2015)

Career Stats: 2-1, 3.39 ERA in 61 G

Bacon Bits: Jake Diekman sits at fourth on the all-time saves list with his 21 saves over the span of three seasons with the 'Pigs. The majority of his 21 saves came in the 2013 campaign, when he notched 13 -- good enough for seventh on the single-season Top-10 list. For his IronPigs career, the Wymore, Neb., native converted 21 of 25 save opportunities (84%) -- placing him fifth all-time in save percentage with a minimum of 15 opportunities. After starting his 2013 campaign converting just 3 out of 5 save opportunities, Diekman did not blow a save for the remainder of the season - successfully converting his last 8 opportunities.

Cesar Jimenez (2013-2015)

Career Stats: 10-9, 2.80 ERA in 115 G, 6 GS

Bacon Bits: The franchise's all-time holds leader set the new record of 21 holds in a 'Pigs uniform previously held by fellow nominee Mike Zagurski, who notched 20 holds in his two-year career. The Cumana, Venezuela, native also ranks second on the all-time list in games pitched as an IronPig with 115 behind only Phillipe Aumont's 140. In the 2014 season, In 2014, Jimenez did not give up a run in 29 of his last 33 appearance after April 28, going 2-1 with a 0.72 ERA, three saves and nine holds (37.2 ip, 26 h, 3 er). In the same season, the southpaw had a 21.0 IP scoreless streak over 18 games from April 28 through June 18 (1-0, 3 SV, 7 H; 12 h, 5 bb, 16 k).

Mike Zagurski (2010-2011)

Career Stats: 6-3, 2.95 ERA in 98 G

Bacon Bits: The 2011 was Zagurski's best season as an IronPigs reliever, as the southpaw went 4-0 with a 2.65 ERA in 54.1 IP over 46 games. The Omaha, Neb., native also converted a team-high 11 of 12 save opportunities and notched nine holds. His 11 saves in the 2011 campaign rank him tied for 8th on the all-time single-season top-10 list and the nine holds sits him in fifth place. For his efforts in the 2011 season, Zagurski was named an I.L. midseason all-star. He is also is ranked third on the single-season list for most games pitched in a single season when he toed the rubber for 52 contests for the 'Pigs in 2010. Zagurski ranks among the best in multiple career statistics for 'Pigs pitchers: games pitched (3rd, 98), saves (9th, 14) and holds (2nd, 20).

Catcher: Erik Kratz (68%)

Other Nominees: Andrew Knapp (28%), Jason Jaramillo (5%), John Suomi (3%)

First Base: Andy Tracy (49%)

Other Nominees: Darin Ruf (34%), Cody Overbeck (9%), Russ Canzler (8%)

Second Base: Cesar Hernandez (43%)

Other Nominees: Kevin Frandsen (40%), Tyler Henson (14%), Josh Barfield (3%)

Shortstop: Freddy Galvis (42%)

Other Nominees: J.P. Crawford (39%), Chase d'Arnaud (13%), Andres Blanco (6%)

Third Base: Maikel Franco (52%)

Other Nominees: Cody Asche (32%), Mike Cervenak (13%), Cody Ransom (3%)

Left Field: Darin Ruf (48%)

Other Nominees: Brandon Moss (25%), Nick Williams (21%), Leandro Castro (6%)

Center Field: Rich Thompson (56%)

Other Nominees: Cam Perkins (28%), Brian Bogusevic (11%), Brandon Watson (5%)

Right Field: Domonic Brown (43%)

Other Nominees: John Mayberry Jr. (41%), Steve Susdorf (14%), Jon Knott (2%)

C2 Kevin Frandsen (52%)

Other Nominees: Mike Cevenak (21%), Tyler Henson (17%), Russ Canzler (10%)

RH Starter: Jake Thompson (38%)

Other Nominees: David Buchanan (25%), Tyler Cloyd (23%), Drew Carpenter (14%)

LH Starter: JA Happ (85%)

Other Nominees: Anthony Vasquez (7%), Brian Mazone (6%), Greg Smith (2%)

RH Reliever: Scott Mathieson (75%)

Other Nominees: Luis Garcia (11%), Michael Schwimer (8%), Phillippee Aumont (6%)

Check out the Lehigh Valley IronPigs Statistics

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