SAL1 Greenville Drive

Drive Sending Four to the 2011 South Atlantic League All-Star Game

June 7, 2011 - South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Greenville Drive News Release


Greenville, SC - When the 52nd Annual South Atlantic League All-Star Game is played on Tuesday, June 21st at Perdue Stadium in Salisbury, MD, the Greenville Drive will be well represented with four members on the Southern Division team, including a pair of starters at their respective positions.

Miles Head, who was the leading vote getter for the Southern Division, gets the nod at first base and Brandon Jacobs will start in leftfield, while southpaw Manuel Rivera is amongst the 11-man pitching staff. Additionally, head athletic trainer David Herrera was selected to serve in that capacity on the Southern Division's field staff for the second straight season.

After stellar tenures with the Drive to begin the 2011 season, outfielder Bryce Brentz and right-handed pitcher Anthony Ranaudo were also selected, but will not participate due to their recent promotions to the Salem Red Sox of the Carolina League.

For each of the players it is their first All-Star selection during their respective professional careers.

"Each of these players have done a great job during the first half of the regular season and are all well-deserving of their spots on the South Atlantic League All-Star Team," noted Drive manager Billy McMillon. It is always nice to be recognized for your play on the field and I'm sure that Brandon, Miles and Manuel are excited about their selection. These guys - along with Bryce and Anthony, who made the team despite their mid-season promotions - are prime examples of the kid of players that the Red Sox hope to develop in their minor league system, and we couldn't be prouder."

Having turned just 20-years-old just four weeks ago, Head currently leads all hitters in the 14-team South Atlantic League in runs scored (48), extra-base hits (32), and total bases (127), while also ranking amongst the circuit's best in batting average (7th, .340), home runs (T-3rd, 13), hits (2nd, 69), doubles (T-2nd, 19), slugging percentage (3rd, .626) and home run/at-bat ratio (5th, 1/15.62).

Head hit an astounding .366 (34-for-93) during the month of May, the third highest total in the league, while also pacing all batters with 24 runs scored.

A 26th round draft pick in the 2010 First-Year Player Draft, Head is the second first baseman in the Drive's franchise history to be named the starter at his position, joining Anthony Rizzo (2009).

In his third season in the Red Sox organization, Jacobs has already set career-highs with 12 stolen bases and 58 base hits, while matching personal bests with six home runs and 30 runs scored, through 46 games with the Drive. The 20-year-old is also on pace to set career marks in runs batted in and doubles.

Jacobs, a 10th round selection in 2009, currently ranks 4th in the Red Sox farm system with a .319 (58-for-182) average. Earlier in the 2011 season, the Snellville, GA native recorded a 14-game home hit streak from April 15 through May 18th, which ranks 3rd in the South Atlantic League while batting .394 (26-for-66) over that span.

Jacobs is the fourth outfielder in franchise history to be selected to the league's mid-Summer classic - Reid Engel (2007), David Mailman (2009), and Ronald Bermudez (2010) - and first since Engel to be chosen as a starter.

Rivera rounds out the Drive's selections, posting a 4-2 record with a 3.75 ERA through 12 starts this season. The lefty, who is making his second straight appearance with Greenville, is tied for 1st in the South Atlantic League in games started (12), while ranking 3rd in strikeouts (66), and 3rd in K/9 IP ratio amongst starting pitchers (10.30).

The native of San Cristobal in the Dominican Republic was named the league's Pitcher of the Week for April 25 through May 1 earning a victory in his only start over that span on April 28, holding the Greensboro Grasshoppers scoreless over 6.0 innings while allowing just two hits and striking out a season-high eight batters.

"The Red Sox are among the best in the game at scouting, drafting, and developing Major League talent," noted Drive Co-Owner/President, Craig Brown. "By having five players and one member of the field staff selected to this year's South Atlantic League All-Star Game, further demonstrates the importance of the amateur draft and international scouting, and the overall quality of the Boston Red Sox minor league system as they continually build for the future."

The Drive conclude a three-game homestand with the Lexington Legends, affiliate of the Houston Astros, tonight at Fluor Field with first pitch set for 7:05 PM. For more information regarding single-game tickets, luxury accommodations, group outings, and ticket plan packages call (864) 240-4500 or visit www.GreenvilleDrive.com.

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South Atlantic League Stories from June 7, 2011


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