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Tennessee Smokies

Five Smokies Invited to Participate in Arizona Fall League

September 1, 2015 - Southern League (SL1)
Tennessee Smokies News Release


SEVIERVILLE - The Chicago Cubs honored five Tennessee Smokies players, including pitchers Corey Black, Pierce Johnsno and Rob Zastryzny, as well as catcher Willson Contreras and infielder Jeimer Candelario, with invitations to represent the club in the prestigious Arizona Fall League following the 2015 regular season.

Contreras has enjoyed a breakout 2015 campaign, and has been rated the sixth-best catching prospect by MLBPipeline.com. The 23-year-old enters play on September 1 with a .326 batting average, adding eight homers and 72 RBI, and ranks tied for first for the Southern League batting title along with Chattanooga OF Max Kepler. Contreras also ranks second in the circuit in on-base percentage (.408), tied for second in RBI (72), third in hits (141) and tied for third in doubles (32) and slugging percentage (.475).

Johnson is considered one of the top starting pitching prospects in the Cubs organization, and owns a 6-2 record and 2.15 ERA (21 ER in 88.0 IP) in 15 starts with the Smokies. Dating back to his 2015 debut on June 11, the right-hander ranks second among all Southern Leaguers in earned-run average, in addition to fourth in batting average against (.216), eighth in strikeouts (69) and tied for eighth in WHIP (1.13).

Candelario entered the 2015 campaign rated as the No. 24 prospect among Cubs farmhands, and has split this year between Tennessee and High-A Myrtle Beach. In 122 contests between those two clubs, the 20-year-old has tallied a .278 average (127-457), adding 62 runs, 35 doubles, four triples, nine homers and 61 RBI. Over his 40 games with the Smokies this season, the switch-hitter has compiled a .295 average (41-139) with 20 runs, ten doubles, one triple, four homers and 22 RBI.

Black came into this year ranked by Baseball America as the No. 16 prospect in the Cubs organization, tallying a 3-5 record and 4.83 ERA (44 ER in 82.0 IP) with 98 strikeouts in 34 appearances, including nine starts. The right-hander comes into tonight tied for third among all Cubs farmhands with his 98 strikeouts, even with fellow Smokies hurler Ryan Williams and Low-A South Bend's Trevor Clifton, who was selected by the Cubs out of nearby Maryville High School.

Zastryzny came into this season rated as the No. 14 prospect in the Cubs system by Baseball America, and has posted a 2-5 record and 6.23 ERA (42 ER in 60.2 IP), adding 48 strikeouts. The southpaw was selected by the Cubs in the third round of the 2013 MLB Draft out of the University of Missouri.

Those five players will also join two other Cubs prospects, including former Smokies catcher Cael Brockmeyer and pitcher David Garner, on the Mesa Solar Sox roster, along with other top prospects from the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, Miami Marlins, Oakland Athletics and Tampa Bay Rays. Former Smokies shortstop Elliot Soto was also invited to play with the Solar Sox by the Miami Marlins organization after being acquired by Miami in a July 31, 2015 trade deadline deal along with fellow 2015 Smokie Ivan Pineyro in exchange for pitcher Dan Haren.

The 2015 Arizona Fall League campaign begins on October 13 and runs through the championship game on November 21. The Arizona Fall Stars Game is also scheduled for Saturday, November 7.

The Smokies are set to complete their series and 2015 home slate against the Jacksonville Suns this evening, with first pitch scheduled for 7:05 p.m. Tennessee is anticipated to send LHP Jeffry Antigua to the hill, while Jacksonville is expected to give the nod to RHP Austin Brice.

The first 2,000 fans through the gates for Fan Appreciation Night tonight will receive a free hot dog, bag of chips and drink, while there will also be a pre-game autograph session with all of the players. In addition, all fans will leave Smokies Stadium with a special surprise courtesy of the Smokies and their partners.

Tickets for tonight's contest at Smokies Stadium are still available and can be purchased online at smokiesbaseball.com, or by calling the Smokies Ticket Office at 865-286-2300.

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