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Eastern League announces 2005 All-Star team

August 26, 2005 - Eastern League (EL1) News Release


The Eastern League of Professional Baseball is pleased to announce the selections for the 2005 Eastern League All-Star Team, as voted on by respective Eastern League team managers and coaching staffs, sportswriters, radio and television broadcast personnel and other members of the media. (Statistics for games played through August 25, 2005)

Catcher: Mike Jacobs, Binghamton Mets (.321, 25 HR, 93 RBI) In 117 games with the Binghamton Mets this season, Mike Jacobs put up some very impressive numbers, hitting .321 with 37 doubles, 25 home runs, 93 RBI and 66 runs scored. The 6'2", 200 lb. slugger was rewarded for his performance with a promotion to the New York Mets on August 17, where he blasted a three-run pinch hit home run in his Major League debut on August 21. At the time of his promotion Jacobs had a 22-game hitting streak, was leading the league in RBI and doubles, was tied for second in home runs and was ranked fourth in the league batting average. The 24-year old was selected to the Northern Division roster for the 2005 Eastern League All-Star Game and was also named the Eastern League Player of the Week for the week ending June 5 earlier this season.

First Base: Shelley Duncan, Trenton Thunder (.231, 30 HR, 79 RBI) Trenton Thunder first baseman Shelley Duncan currently leads the Eastern League in home runs, with 30. Duncan is only the second player in the history of the Trenton franchise to hit 30 homers in a season, joining Mitch Jones, who blasted a league-best 39 home runs for the Thunder last season. The 25-year old slugger is also ranked among the league leaders in extra-base hits (58-2nd), total bases (237-4th) and RBI (79-5th). Duncan was named the Eastern League Player of the Week for the week ending April 24, was chosen as a member of the Northern Division roster for the 2005 Eastern League All-Star Game where he won the Eastern League Home Run Derby and was also selected by Baseball America as the "Best Power Prospect" in the Eastern League this season.

Second Base: Dustin Pedroia, Portland Sea Dogs (.324, 8 HR, 40 RBI) Despite being promoted to Triple-A in late June, Portland Sea Dogs second baseman Dustin Pedroia made enough of an impression that he was still selected as the top second baseman in the Eastern League. At the time of his promotion the 22-year old was ranked fifth in the league with a .324 batting average to go along with 19 doubles, eight homers, 40 RBI, 39 runs scored and seven stolen bases. Pedroia, who was rated as the sixth best prospect in the Red Sox organization prior to this season by Baseball America, is batting .272 in 40 games with the Pawtucket Red Sox. The 2004 second round pick was selected by Baseball America as the "Best Defensive Second Baseman" and as having the "Best Strike Zone Judgment" in the Eastern League this season.

Third Base: Jose Bautista, Altoona Curve (.283, 23 HR, 90 RBI) Altoona Curve third baseman Jose Bautista batted .283 and set new career-highs in doubles (27), RBI (90) and home runs (23) in 117 games with the Curve this season before receiving a promotion to Triple-A Indianapolis on August 23. The 24-year old was selected as a member of the World Roster for the 2005 MLB Futures Game in Detroit and was also named to the Southern Division roster for the 2005 Eastern League All-Star Game. Bautista was also selected by Baseball America as having the "Best Infield Arm" and as being the "Best Defensive Third Baseman" in the Eastern League this season.

Shortstop: Hanley Ramirez, Portland Sea Dogs (.275, 6 HR, 51 RBI) Portland Sea Dogs shortstop Hanley Ramirez was ranked by Baseball America as the best prospect in the Boston Red Sox organization and the 10th best prospect in all of baseball prior to this season and he has lived up to the hype, hitting .275 with 19 doubles, seven triples, six homers, 64 runs scored, 51 RBI and 26 stolen bases while leading Portland to the second best record in the Eastern League. The 21-year old played for the World Team at the 2005 MLB Futures Game in Detroit and was selected for the Northern Division squad at the 2005 Eastern League All-Star Game where he went 2-for-3 with two stolen bases and a run scored in front of the hometown crowd at Hadlock Field. Ramirez was also selected by Baseball America as being the "Best Defensive Shortstop" in the Eastern League this season.

Outfielders:

Dan Ortmeier, Norwich Navigators (.274, 20 HR, 77 RBI) After batting .252 in 106 games with the Norwich Navigators last season, outfielder Dan Ortmeier returned to the club this season and has become one of the top players in the Eastern League. The 24-year old is hitting .274 for the Navigators and is currently ranked among the league leaders in runs scored (82-3rd), stolen bases (33-5th), total bases (226-5th), RBI (77-8th), triples (6-tied 8th), home runs (20-tied 9th) and hits (131-tied 10th). With his 20 homers and 33 stolen bases this year, Ortmeier became the first player in the history of the Norwich franchise to collect at least 20 home runs and 20 stolen bases in a single season. Ortmeier was also chosen as a member of the Northern Division roster at the 2005 Eastern League All-Star Game.

Chris Roberson, Reading Phillies (.313, 15 HR, 66 RBI) Chris Roberson currently leads the league in hits (160) and runs scored (84) and is also ranked among the league leaders in total bases (243-3rd), triples (8-tied 3rd), stolen bases (31-6th) and batting average (.313-6th) while making his Double-A debut for the Reading Phillies. The 26-year old native of Oakland, California has not only had an outstanding season offensively, but has also been one of the top defensive players in the league. Chris currently leads all outfielders with 303 putouts and is also ranked second among all outfielders in assists, with 15. Roberson, who is just two hits shy of breaking the Reading Phillies record for hits in a season, was selected as a member of the Southern Division roster for the 2005 Eastern League All-Star Game and was also chosen by Baseball America as having the "Best Outfield Arm" in the Eastern League this season.

Alexander Romero, New Britain Rock Cats (.301, 14 HR, 74 RBI) New Britain Rock Cats outfielder Alex Romero, a career .308 in four minor league seasons coming into this season, has continued to excel in his first year at the Double-A level this season. In 130 games with the Rock Cats this season, Romero is batting .300 (9th in the E.L.) and is ranked among the league leaders in hits (142-2nd), doubles (30-tied 7th), RBI (74-9th) and total bases (218-9th). The 21-year old was named the Eastern League Player of the Week for the week ending July 17 earlier this season.

Utility Player: Don Kelly, Erie SeaWolves (.340, 9 HR, 54 RBI) Infielder Don Kelly has filled in where he has been needed with the Erie SeaWolves this season, playing games at both third base and shortstop while batting .340 with 22 doubles, nine homers, 54 RBI, 54 runs scored, 10 stolen bases, a .402 on-base percentage and a .508 slugging percentage in 82 games. The 25-year old is currently ranked second in the league in batting and third in on-base percentage. Kelly, who received a promotion to Triple-A Toledo for the second time this year on August 14, was selected by Baseball America as the "Best Batting Prospect" in the Eastern League this season.

Designated Hitter: Randy Ruiz, Reading Phillies (.353, 26 HR, 86 RBI) Reading Phillies slugger Randy Ruiz currently leads the Eastern League batting race with a .353 average and has an outside chance at becoming just the fifth player in the history of the Eastern League to win the Triple Crown. The 27-year old is currently ranked second in the league in home runs (26), trailing the leader by four, and is ranked third in the league in RBI (86), seven behind the leader. Ruiz is also currently ranked among the league leaders in slugging percentage (.674-1st), on-base percentage (.408-2nd), extra-base hits (55-4th), total bases (225-6th) and doubles (29-10th). Randy was a member of the Southern Division roster for the 2005 Eastern League All-Star Game and was also named the Eastern League Player of the Week for the week ending May 1 earlier this season.

Right-Handed Starting Pitcher: Joel Zumaya, Erie SeaWolves (8-3, 2.77 ERA) After going 2-2 with a 6.30 ERA in four starts with the Erie SeaWolves last season, Joel Zumaya returned to Erie this season and has been one of the top pitchers in the league. Zumaya, ranked by Baseball America as the fourth best prospect in the Tigers organization prior to this season, went 8-3 with a 2.77 ERA and 143 strikeouts in 18 starts for the SeaWolves this season. Despite being promoted to Triple-A Toledo in early July, the 20-year old is still ranked second in the league in ERA and strikeouts and held opposing batters to a .187 batting average while pitching in Erie. Zumaya was selected as a member of the United States team for the 2005 MLB Futures Game in Detroit and was also chosen as a member of the Southern Division roster for the 2005 Eastern League All-Star Game. Joel was also selected by Baseball America as having the "Best Fastball" and as being the "Best Pitching Prospect" in the Eastern League this season and was also named the Eastern League Pitcher of the Week for the week ending May 29 earlier this season.

Left-Handed Starting Pitcher: Jon Lester, Portland Sea Dogs (9-6, 2.86 ERA) Portland Sea Dogs southpaw Jon Lester has compiled a record of 9-6 with 151 strikeouts and a 2.86 ERA in 24 starts this season while helping lead Portland to the best record in the Northern Division. Lester, who was ranked by Baseball America as the fourth best prospect in the Red Sox organization prior to this season, currently leads the league in strikeouts, is tied for the league lead in shutouts (1) and complete games (3), is ranked third in ERA and is tied for fifth in wins. The 21-year old was named to the Northern Division roster for the 2005 Eastern League All-Star Game and was also named the Eastern League Pitcher of the Week for the week ending July 10 earlier this year.

Relief Pitcher: Edwin Almonte, Erie SeaWolves (1-5, 5.14 ERA, 33 Saves) Erie SeaWolves right-handed closer Edwin Almonte has a league-leading 33 saves while appearing in 50 games this season, which is tied for seventh most in the league. The 28-year old hurler has recorded 49 strikeouts while allowing only 11 walks in 49 innings of work this season. Almonte was selected by Baseball America as the "Best Reliever" in the Eastern League this season and was also named the Eastern League Pitcher of the Week for the week ending May 8 earlier this season.


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