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2009 Eastern League All-Star Team Announced

August 28, 2009 - Eastern League (EL1) News Release


The Eastern League of Professional Baseball is pleased to announce the selections for the 2009 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 27, 2009)

Catcher: Carlos Santana, Akron Aeros (.285, 21 HR, 89 RBI, 82 R)

Akron catcher Carlos Santana entered the season rated by Baseball America as the top rated prospect in the Cleveland organization, and he has lived up to the billing with the Aeros this season, hitting .285 with 27 doubles, 21 home runs and 89 RBI in 121 games. The 23-year old has drawn a league-high 84 walks this season and he is also among the league leaders in home runs (21-2nd), RBI (89-2nd), on-base percentage (.410-3rd), extra-base hits (50-tied 3rd), slugging percentage (.523-4th), total bases (207-4th) and OPS (.933-4th). Santana, who is a native of Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, has been especially impressive in the second half of the season, hitting .326 with 10 doubles, seven home runs, 31 RBI and 26 runs scored in 38 games since the All-Star Break. Carlos was the starting catcher for the Southern Division at the 2009 Eastern League All-Star Game and was also a member of the World Team for the 2009 Futures Game.

First Base: Brett Pill, Connecticut Defenders (.293, 15 HR, 97 RBI, 63 R)

Connecticut first baseman Brett Pill has been one of the top hitters in the league this season while leading the Defenders to first place in the Northern Division standings. Pill, who was selected by the San Francisco Giants in the seventh round of the 2006 draft, is hitting .293 with 15 home runs in his first season at the Double-A level. The 24-year old has driven in a league-high 97 runs for the Defenders this season and he is also ranked among the league leaders in hits (141-3rd), doubles (34-3rd), total bases (222-3rd), and extra-base hits (50-tied 3rd). Brett also leads all Eastern League first baseman in fielding percentage (.996), making just four errors over 122 games. The San Dimas, California native has twice been named the Eastern League Player of the Week this season, winning the award for the week ending July 5th and the week ending August 9th.

Second Base: Brock Bond, Connecticut Defenders (.337, 1 HR, 31 RBI, 88 R)

Connecticut Defenders second baseman Brock Bond got a single in his first career Double-A at bat on April 16th against Trenton and he hasn't stopped hitting since. The 23-year old had his batting average as high as .360 for the Defenders this season and is currently leading the league with a .337 average. Bond, who is a native of St. Louis, Missouri, also leads the league in runs scored (88) and on-base percentage (.432) and is ranked among the league leaders in hits (139-4th), walks (62-6th) and OPS (.841-tied 6th). The 5'10", 195 lb. switch hitter was the starting second baseman for the Northern Division at the 2009 Eastern League All-Star game and drove in one run.

Third Base: Neil Sellers, Reading Phillies (.318, 15 HR, 79 RBI, 64 R)

After hitting .275 with 19 homers and 78 RBI with the R-Phils last season, third baseman Neil Sellers returned to Reading this season and has been one of the top hitters in the league, batting .318 in 128 games. The Robards, Kentucky native currently leads the league in hits (152) and he is also currently ranked among the league leaders in total bases (232-2nd), doubles (31-4th), batting average (.318-4th), RBI (79-5th), OPS (.870-5th), slugging percentage (.485-7th) and on-base percentage (.384-tied 8th). The 6'0", 195 lb. slugger was named to the Southern Division roster for the 2009 Eastern League All-Star Game and started the game at third base.

Shortstop: Eduardo Nunez, Trenton Thunder (.317, 8 HR, 51 RBI, 63 R)

Despite being just 21 years old at the start of the season, Trenton Thunder shortstop Eduardo Nunez has adjusted quite well to his first season at the Double-A level. Nunez, who is a native of Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, is hitting .317 with 23 doubles, eight home runs, 63 runs scored, 51 RBI and 19 stolen bases in 111 games for the Thunder. Nunez is currently ranked second in the league in hits (144), fifth in batting average (.317) and eighth in stolen bases (19). Eduardo, who hit .271 with Class-A Tampa last season, was the starting shortstop at the 2009 Eastern League All-Star Game and went 2-for-3 with one RBI in front of his home crowd.

Outfielders

Quintin Berry, Reading Phillies (.276, 4 HR, 24 RBI, 85 R)

For the third consecutive season Reading outfielder Quintin Berry has been selected to the season ending All-Star Team for his respective league. After being named a Florida State League All-Star in 2008 and a South Atlantic League All-Star in 2007, Berry continued the streak by hitting .276 with 17 doubles and 85 runs scored in 125 games with the R-Phils this season. In addition to making three consecutive All-Star Teams, Quintin is also in position to lead his respective league in stolen bases for the third straight year, as he currently leads the league with 48 steals. He is also ranked second in the league in runs scored (85). The 24-year old, who was rated by Baseball America as the "Best Baserunner" in the Eastern League this season, was selected as a member of the Southern Division roster for the 2009 Eastern League All-Star Game and went 1-for-1 with a walk in the game.

Brennan Boesch, Erie SeaWolves (.272, 25 HR, 87 RBI, 81 R)

The Erie SeaWolves have hit more home runs than any other team in the league this season and a large part of that is due to outfielder Brennan Boesch, who has a league-high 25 homers this season. The 6'6", 210 lb. slugger is hitting .272 with 87 RBI and 81 runs scored in 120 games with Erie this season. In addition to leading the league in home runs, Brennan is also ranked among the league leaders in total bases (243-1st), extra-base hits (55-1st), RBI (87-3rd), triples (7-tied 3rd), runs scored (81-5th) and slugging percentage (.505-5th). Boesch, who was selected by the Detroit Tigers in the third round of the 2006 draft, was named the Eastern League Player of the Week for the week ending July 26th and was named to the Southern Division roster for the 2009 Eastern League All-Star Game.

Michael Taylor, Reading Phillies (.279, 19 HR, 74 RBI, 78 R)

Reading outfielder Michael Taylor entered the season rated by Baseball America as the sixth best prospect in the Philadelphia organization, and he will certainly be moving up the list even higher following his performance this season. Taylor hit .333 with 22 doubles, four triples, 15 home runs, 65 RBI, 59 runs scored and 18 stolen bases in 86 games with the R-Phils this season prior to receiving a promotion to Triple-A on July 16th. He has continued his strong performance with Lehigh Valley, hitting .282 with five homers, 19 RBI and 15 runs scored in 30 games while making his Triple-A debut. Despite not playing in the Eastern League since mid-July, the 23-year old is still currently ranked among the league leaders in batting average (.333-2nd), slugging percentage (.569-2nd) and on-base percentage (.408-4th). Michael has taken home numerous awards this season including being named the Eastern League Player of the month for the month of June, being selected as the Eastern League Player of the Week for the week ending June 7th and being chosen as a member of the Southern Division roster for the 2009 Eastern League All-Star Game and went 1-for-4 with one walk, one RBI and one run scored.

Utility Player: Brian Dinkelman, New Britain Rock Cats (.300, 8 HR, 63 RBI, 57 R)

Brian Dinkelman has appeared in games at second base, right field and left field while hitting .300 with 36 doubles, eight home runs, 63 RBI and 57 runs scored in 119 games for the New Britain Rock Cats this season. The 25-year old has been playing especially well in the month of August, hitting .353 with nine doubles, four home runs, 20 RBI and 17 runs scored in 25 games during the month. Dinkelman, who is a resident of Irvington, Illinois, is currently ranked second in the league in doubles (36) and is also among the league leaders in OPS (.841-tied 6th), on-base percentage (.389-7th), batting average (.300-10th), and total bases (191-tied 10th). Brian was a member of the Northern Division roster for the 2009 Eastern League All-Star Game and went 1-for-2 in the game.

Designated Hitter: Brian Dopirak, New Hampshire Fisher Cats (.308, 19 HR, 68 RBI, 44 R)

Brian Dopirak hit .287 in a 22 game cameo with New Hampshire to end last season and proved that was no fluke this year, batting .308 with 19 homers and 68 RBI in 87 games for the Fisher Cats this season. Dopirak was rewarded for his performance in New Hampshire with a promotion to Triple-A Las Vegas on July 16th. At the time of his promotion the 25-year old was leading the league in home runs (19), RBI (68), slugging percentage (.576), doubles (29) and extra-base hits (49). Brian has continued his strong performance at Triple-A, hitting .322 with 11 doubles, seven homers, 24 RBI and 24 runs scored in 41 games at Las Vegas. The 6'4", 230 lb. slugger was named the Eastern League Player of the Week for the weeks ending May 3rd and June 21st this season and was also selected to the Northern Division roster for the 2009 Eastern League All-Star Game.

Right-Handed Starting Pitcher: Jeanmar Gomez, Akron Aeros (10-4, 3.09 ERA)

Since being promoted from Class-A Kinston to Akron on April 29th, right-hander Jeanmar Gomez has been the ace of an Aeros pitching staff that has the best ERA in the league. The 21-year old has started 20 games for the Aeros this season and posted a record of 10-4 with 101 strikeouts and a 3.09 ERA in 113.2 innings of work. Gomez, who is a native of Caracas, Venezuela, was especially impressive when he took the mound on May 21st against the Trenton Thunder at Waterfront Park and became seventh pitcher in Eastern League history to throw a perfect game. The 6'4", 190 lb. hurler is currently ranked second in the league in ERA (3.09) and WHIP (1.20), is tied for fourth in wins (10) and tied for fifth in strikeouts (101). Jeanmar was the winner of the Eastern League Pitcher of the Week Award for the week ending May 24th and was also chosen as a member of the Southern Division roster for the 2009 Eastern League All-Star Game where he pitched one perfect inning.

Left-Handed Starting Pitcher: Joe Savery, Reading Phillies (12-4, 4.41 ERA)

Prior to being promoted to Triple-A on July 31st, Reading southpaw Joe Savery posted a record of 12-4 with 77 strikeouts and a 4.41 ERA in 112.1 innings of work over 21 appearances for the R-Phils. Savery, who is a native of Houston, Texas, earned his first career Double-A win on April 28th against Altoona and went on to earn a win in 12 consecutive games in which he earned a decision. The 23-year old, who was selected by Philadelphia in the first round of the 2007 draft, was especially impressive in the month of June, going 5-0 with 21 strikeouts and a 1.76 ERA in 30.2 innings of work during the month. Joe pitched one scoreless inning as the starting pitcher for the Southern Division at the 2009 Eastern League All-Star Game and was also selected as the Eastern League Pitcher of the Week for the week ending June 21st.

Relief Pitcher: Anthony Slama, New Britain Rock Cats (4-2, 2.48 ERA, 25 Saves)

New Britain reliever Anthony Slama was dominant at the back of the Rock Cats bullpen this season before receiving a promotion to Triple-A Rochester on August 12th. The 25-year old appeared in 51 games for the Rock Cats and had a record of 4-2 with 25 saves and 93 strikeouts in 65.1 innings pitched. Despite being a reliever the 6'3", 207 lb. hurler is still ranked 10th in the league in strikeouts (93). He is also leading the league in saves (25) and games finished (43) and is tied for third in appearances (51). Slama, who is a native of Orange, California, did not allow a run in 40 of his 51 appearances for the Rock Cats, including a streak of 11 straight innings at the time of his promotion to Triple-A. Anthony, who allowed just 46 hits in 65.1 innings with the Rock Cats, was a member of the Northern Division roster for the 2009 Eastern League All-Star Game.

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