EL1 Altoona Curve

Four Curve Players Selected To E.L. All-Star Game

Published on July 2, 2008 under Eastern League (EL1)
Altoona Curve News Release


ALTOONA- Four Altoona Curve players today were announced as Southern Division all-star selections for the 2008 Northeast Delta Dental Eastern League All-Star Game, which will be played on Wednesday, July 16 in Manchester, New Hampshire. Representing the Curve and the Pittsburgh Pirates' organization in the E.L. Mid-Summer Classic will be pitchers Pat Bresnehan and Yoslan Herrera and infielders Jason Delaney and Shelby Ford. The selections were announced today by the Eastern League, in conjunction with the host New Hampshire Fisher Cats (AA/Toronto Blue Jays).

Ford and Herrera were voted into the game by Curve fans as part of the league's on-line all-star voting process. Fans in all 12 Eastern League cities selected one pitcher and one position player from their respective clubs to send to the E.L. All-Star Game. Bresnehan and Delaney were selected through voting which was conducted among league managers and coaches, broadcasters and media representatives. Native New Englanders, both Bresnehan and Delaney will be playing in the E.L. All-Star Game just a short distance from their hometowns in Massachusetts.

Bresnehan is 0-1 with six saves and a 4.05 ERA (26.2 IP/12 ER) in 22 relief appearances through July 1. The right-hander has limited opposing Eastern League hitters to just a .200 batting average and his six saves in six opportunities leads the Curve bullpen. Drafted by Pittsburgh in the 5th round of the 2006 First-Year Player Draft, Bresnehan is in his third season in the Pirates' organization and is the youngest player (23 years, 2 months) on Altoona's current 24-man roster. The Sherborn, Massachusetts native played three seasons of college baseball at Arizona State University before making his pro debut in the Bucs' system with short-season Williamsport (A) in 2006.

Delaney enters action on July 2nd as the only Eastern League player to have appeared in each of his team's games. The first baseman has appeared in all 82 games, hitting .291 with 13 doubles, three triples, six home runs and 34 RBI. His 53 walks and .406 on-base percentage lead all Curve batters. Delaney, 25, is in his fourth season in the Pirates' organization after originally being drafted in the 12th round of the 2005 Draft out of Boston College, where he set a school record for hits and was a two-time All-Big East Conference selection. The native of Hanson, MA will be playing in his second league All-Star Game. In 2007, he represented the Lynchburg Hillcats in the Class-A Carolina/California League All-Star Game in Stockton, California and went 2-for-4 with a home run.

Ford earned a selection to the E.L. All-Star Game despite being limited to only 35 games at the time of the announcement. A switch-hitting second baseman, the 23-year old Ford missed 39 games between April 13 and May 27, when he was placed on the Disabled List with a hip flexor. In his first 35 games with the Curve, Ford, in his first season at the Double-A level, is hitting .303 with 10 doubles, four triples, two home runs, 14 RBI and 10 stolen bases. He was selected by Pittsburgh in the third round of the 2006 June Draft out of Oklahoma State University. A native of Fort Worth, Texas, Ford, is only in his third professional season. In 2007, he earned a spot on the Carolina League's Post-Season All-Star Team after batting .281 with 26 doubles, seven triples, five home runs, 55 RBI and 14 stolen bases in 94 games with Lynchburg (A).

Herrera has posted a 4-7 record and staff-leading 3.12 ERA (80.2 IP/28 ER) in 15 starts for Altoona. The 27-year old right-hander has allowed 80 hits and 27 walks, while striking out 47 batters in 80 2/3 innings of work entering July 2. The right-hander has also made one start for Triple-A Indianapolis, winning his Triple-A debut last Friday at Columbus (AAA/Nationals) after allowing only seven hits and scattering two runs over seven innings. Herrera is in his second season with Altoona and his second in the Pirates' system after signing a major league contract with Pittsburgh in December 2006. He defected from Cuba in July 2005 after a successful career with the Cuban National Team and in the Cuban Professional League.

Complete rosters for the 2008 Northeast Delta Dental Eastern League All-Star Game can be viewed at www.easternleague.com.

Media requesting additional information should contact Jason Dambach at (814) 943-5400 x194 or jdambach@altoonacurve.com.

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