NFL, MLB, NHL, NBA, CFL stats



Akron RubberDucks

RubberDucks Place Six on EL All-Star Team

June 30, 2016 - Eastern League (EL1)
Akron RubberDucks News Release


(AKRON, OHIO) - The Eastern League of Professional Baseball Clubs has announced the 2016 Eastern and Western Division All-Star teams, and six current RubberDucks players have been selected to play for the Western Division squad.

Outfielders Clint Frazier and Bradley Zimmer, first baseman Nellie Rodriguez, catcher Jeremy Lucas, left-handed pitcher Shawn Morimando and right-handed pitcher Perci Garner have all been named Western Division All-Stars.

Players are chosen for the All-Star team in a combination of fan voting and balloting among the league's managers, broadcasters and writers. The All-Star game will be played at Canal Park in Akron on Wednesday, July 13th at 7:05 p.m. Here is a look at the Akron RubberDucks 2016 All-Stars:

Clint Frazier has been among the EL's leading hitters for much of the season. After starting the season on an 11-game hitting streak, the 21-year-old phenom hasn't looked back. He is currently hitting .286 with nine home runs and 38 RBI. He is tied for second in the league with 21 doubles. A versatile outfielder who has played all three positions this season, Frazier can also impact a game defensively. He cut down the potential tying run at home plate with a perfect throw from left field to end the game and preserve a 5-4 Akron win at Richmond on June 27th. Frazier has also been selected to play for the US team in the Sirius/XM Futures game on July 10th in San Diego.

Perci Garner has been one of the most effective middle relievers in the league in 2016. The Dover, Ohio, resident has appeared in 22 games for the RubberDucks, crafting a 4-1 record, two saves and stellar 1.84 ERA. He has fanned 45 batters in 49 innings while walking only nine. He sports a 0.92 WHIP and has held opposing hitters to a collective .202 batting average. From April 29th through May 8th, Garner picked up relief wins in three straight appearances, allowing just one earned run in nine innings pitched.

Jeremy Lucas is hitting .241 with seven homers and 25 RBI for the RubberDucks. He has chipped in 11 doubles while filling his role as one of Akron's dependable middle-of-the-order hitters. He hit .333 during an eight-game hitting streak in late May. He blasted a pair of homers at Altoona on April 11th, and mashed a grand slam against Erie on May 10th. An accomplished defensive catcher, he has yet to make an error in 33 games behind the plate this season.

Shawn Morimando has emerged as one of the dominant left-handed starters in the EL this season. At 10-3 on the season, he leads the circuit in wins, and his 3.09 ERA ranks seventh. He is tied for the league lead with 16 starts and ranks second in innings pitched with 93.1. He has held the opposition to a .225 average which ranks third in the EL. Morimando began the season with nine straight winning decisions, and has crafted a 6-0 record at Canal Park.

Nellie Rodriguez came into his first full season at the Double-A level with a reputation as one of the most feared young power hitters in the game, and he has lived up to that billing. An All-Star and post-season MVP in the Carolina League last season, Rodriguez ranks fourth in the EL in homers (15) and fifth in RBI (49). He is batting a respectable .252 and has chipped in 18 doubles and two triples. Rodriguez has delivered clutch hits all season, including a walk-off sacrifice fly against Binghamton on April 20th and a go-head solo homer in the 11th inning at Binghamton on May 7th.

Bradley Zimmer, Cleveland's overall, number-one minor league prospect, is a rare five-tool player. In 73 games, Zimmer is batting .237 with 12 homers, 16 doubles, six triples, 12 homers and 44 RBI. A patient hitter, Zimmer leads the EL with 45 walks. Once on base, Zimmer has devastating base-stealing ability. He has swiped 27 bases so far, which ranks second in the EL. He homered in three straight games, May 7th through the 9th, and belted a timely, two-out, two-strike home run in the ninth inning to tie a game at Harrisburg on June 12th. No stranger to sliding and diving catches in both center and right, Zimmer has the range and speed to alter a game defensively.

In addition to the above players, the EL Western Division squad will be managed and coached by the RubberDucks field and support staff of manager David Wallace, coaches Tony Arnold, Tim Laker and Luke Carlin, trainer Jeremy Heller, and strength and conditioning coach Scott Nealon.

The Eastern League All-Star festivities span two days, July 12-13. Tuesday, July 12, will feature a Celebrity Softball Game at 7:00 p.m., which will be followed by the 2016 Eastern League Home Run Derby at 8:05 p.m. The softball game will feature a team led by three-time Major League all-star and Indians Hall of Famer Carlos Baerga against a team led by RubberDucks manager David Wallace. Participants for the Home Run Derby will be announced soon. Following the Derby, there will be an Akron-themed fireworks show.

On the date of the 2016 Eastern League All-Star Game, Wednesday, July 13, gates will open at 4:30 p.m. for an autograph session. From 5:00-7:00 p.m., there will be a Main Street Festival on S. Main St. featuring live music, street entertainers, inflatables, and more fun and games. The All-Star Game is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. and will be followed by an Akron-themed fireworks show.

Co-sponsors of the 2016 Eastern League All-Star Game and festivities are Summa Health, Akron/Summit Convention & Visitors Bureau, Medical Mutual of Ohio and Northern Ohio Honda Dealers.

Tickets for the Eastern League Home Run Derby and RubberDucks Celebrity Softball Game are $10 for reserved seats and $6 for general admission. Tickets for the 2016 Eastern League All-Star Game are $18 for reserved seats, $10 for general admission, groups of 24 or more can get $15 reserved tickets, and McDonald's Family Territory seats are $35, which includes a two-hour, all-you-can-eat picnic. Tickets can be purchased by calling the RubberDucks at 330-253-5151 or at www.akronrubberducks.com/allstar.

The 2016 Eastern League All-Star Game will be broadcast on Fox Sports 1350 AM, the WARF iHeart channel, and the TuneIn Radio App., and it will be available on MiLB.TV.

The Akron RubberDucks are the Double-A affiliate of the Cleveland Indians. The 2016 season is its 20th since moving to Akron and third since becoming the RubberDucks. For more information about the team, please visit the RubberDucks' website, www.akronrubberducks.com, Facebook page www.facebook.com/AkronRubberDucks, Twitter feed @AkronRubberDuck, and Instagram at @akronrubberducks.

Check out the Akron RubberDucks Statistics

• Discuss this story on the Eastern League message board...

Eastern League Stories from June 30, 2016


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

Other Recent Akron RubberDucks Stories



Sports Statistics from the Stats Crew
OurSports Central