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Wilmington Blue Rocks

Former Blue Rocks Make U.S. Pan American Qualifying Team

September 9, 2010 - Carolina League (CarL1)
Wilmington Blue Rocks News Release


Wilmington, DE - Five former Wilmington Blue Rocks have been named to the United States Pan American qualifying team. Danny Duffy, Michael Montgomery, Everett Teaford, Eric Hosmer and Mike Moustakas will all be representing the red, white and blue during the fall qualifying tournament.

Moustakas spent the 2009 season in Wilmington, and became the first Blue Rock in a decade to hit 16 home runs in a season. The third baseman was named the Texas League Player of the Year and the Sporting News Minor League Hitter of the Year this season. He also represented the Kansas City Royals in the XM All-Star Futures Game in July along with Hosmer.

Hosmer went 4-for-5 in that nationally televised affair. The first baseman was in Wilmington during the final two months of the 2009 campaign and the first half of 2010. He led the Carolina in hitting by a wide margin at the time of his promotion with a .354 batting average.

Teaford spent parts of two seasons on the Riverfront in 2008 and 2009. The left-handed hurler was named a mid-season Carolina League All-Star in 2009. Duffy also excelled in 2009 with the Blue Rocks, as he finished among the league's top five in strikeouts and ERA. He had a cup of coffee with the Blue Crew in 2010, making three starts and posting an ERA of just 2.57.

Montgomery wrapped up the '09 season as a Blue Rock and spent April with Wilmington in 2010. The left-hander entered 2010 as the top-ranked prospect in the Royals system according to Baseball America. He won the first two CL Pitcher of the Week awards and then got promoted to Double-A.

The Kansas City Royals led all Major League clubs with six players from its farm system named to the team. Six players from one organization also stands as a record for the most named to a single USA Baseball professional team. The federation first began fielding teams made up of minor and Major League players at the 1999 Pan American Games.

The Pan American qualifying team will first gather in Cary, NC at the USA Baseball National Training Complex from September 25-28. The squad will work out on September 25 and square-off against the Canadian Pan American qualifying team from September 26-28. The U.S. will then depart for San Juan, Puerto Rico where the qualifier is set to run from October 1-10. The 12-team tournament will feature top Pan Am talent, including host Puerto Rico, Canada, Cuba, Mexico and Venezuela.

The Blue Rocks return to the field on April 8, 2011 as they open their season in Myrtle Beach, SC against the Pelicans. The full 2011 schedule will be announced later this off-season.

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