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International League Announces 2010 All-Star Team, Special Award Winners

August 31, 2010 - International League (IL1) News Release


The International League today announced its postseason All-Star Team and Award Winners as selected by the circuit's managers, coaches, media, and club representatives. Durham slugger Dan Johnson has been named the IL's Most Valuable Player on the strength of his League-leading 30 home runs and 95 RBI. Heralded pitching prospect Jeremy Hellickson, also of Durham, has been named the IL's Most Valuable Pitcher. Hellickson's 2.45 ERA leads the circuit. 20-year-old first baseman Freddie Freeman of Gwinnett lived up to his billing by MLB.com as one of the top 40 prospects in the game, earning IL Rookie of the Year honors. Rounding out the list of 2010 Special Award winners is Manager of the Year Charlie Montoyo of Durham. Montoyo's Bulls have the League's best record (84-52) and have already clinched their fourth straight IL South Division championship. Durham is the first franchise to win at least three of the League's four Special Awards since Norfolk swept the honors in 1995.

Most Valuable Player - Dan Johnson, Durham

Dan Johnson has been named the International League Most Valuable Player for 2010. Though he has been with the Tampa Bay Rays since the beginning of August, Johnson still leads the IL in home runs (30), RBI (95), slugging percentage (.624), on-base percentage (.430), and walks (75). The heart of the League's highest scoring offense in 2010, Johnson came out of the gate strong this season and never looked back. In 19 April games, he hit .333 with 8 homers and 23 RBI, igniting a stellar season for Johnson and the eventual IL South Division champion Bulls. Johnson was elected to his first Triple-A All-Star Game this July, where he won the Home Run Derby. The versatile 31-year-old has split time this season as Durham's first baseman, third baseman, outfielder, and designated hitter. It was third base, where he has played the most games, that he was elected to the postseason All-Star Team. Johnson is the fourth Durham Bull since the club joined the League in 1998 to be named Most Valuable Player, following Steve Cox (1999), Toby Hall (2001), and Kevin Witt (2006).

Most Valuable Pitcher - Jeremy Hellickson, Durham

After a brief stint with the Bulls last season in which he was named MVP of the Triple-A National Championship Game, Jeremy Hellickson continued his dominance this year, his first full season at the Triple-A level. Hellickson was on pace to win the League's Pitching Triple Crown when he was promoted to Tampa Bay at the beginning of August. His 2.45 ERA still leads the IL, while he remains near the top in wins (12) and strikeouts (123). Hellickson surrendered just 103 hits and 32 earned runs in 117.2 innings of work for the Bulls, with opponents hitting .238 against him. The right-hander was particularly tough on left-handed batters, who hit just .208 off of Hellickson. He made his Major League debut on August 2 versus Minnesota, and picked up the first of three consecutive wins for the 23-year-old. Hellickson is the first ever member of the Durham Bulls to be named IL Most Valuable Pitcher.

Rookie-of-the-Year - Freddie Freeman, Gwinnett

First baseman Freddie Freeman, who will turn 21 on September 12, is the 2010 IL Rookie of the Year. It has been an incredible first season at the Triple-A level for Freeman, who leads the League with 147 hits and 240 total bases, and is 2nd in the IL in average (.319), RBI (87), doubles (35), and extra-base hits (55). He also leads all first baseman with a .994 fielding percentage. Freeman was hitting below .250 as late as June 11, but has been one of the League's toughest outs since. He has continued to improve this August, hitting .394 for the month with 24 RBI and a .606 slugging percentage. Freeman is just three years removed from playing at El Modena High School in California. The last Braves player to win IL Rookie of the Year honors was Chipper Jones in 1993.

Manager-of-the-Year - Charlie Montoyo, Durham

Durham skipper Charlie Montoyo is the 2010 IL Manager of the Year. The defending National Champions have clinched a fourth straight IL South Division title under Montoyo, on the strength of the League's best record (84-52) and largest lead (15.0 games over 2nd place Gwinnett). Durham has the highest scoring offense (720 runs) , the stingiest pitching staff (3.51 ERA), and the top defense (.984) in the IL this season, as the Bulls prepare to meet the champion of the IL West Division in the postseason playoffs. In July, Montoyo led the IL All-Stars to a 2-1 victory at the Triple-A All-Star Game. He is now the first skipper since Durham joined the International League in 1998 to receive Manager of the Year honors.

In addition to first baseman Freddie Freeman, third baseman Dan Johnson, and starting pitcher Jeremy Hellickson, nine other players have been named to the International League Postseason All-Star Team. In all, six IL clubs are represented on the All-Star Team, led by Durham and Scranton/Wilkes-Barre with three players apiece.

25-year-old Chris Valaika was elected to the IL midseason All-Star Team in July, and the Louisville Bats second baseman has now been elected to the Postseason All-Star Team. Valaika, who has been with the Cincinnati Reds for the past week, is 8th in the IL this season with a .304 batting average. He is one of two members of the Louisville Bats, who currently lead the IL West Division by a half-game, to be named to the Postseason All-Star Team.

Triple-A rookie Eduardo Nunez of Scranton/Wilkes-Barre is the IL's All-Star shortstop. Nunez, who was also a mid-season All-Star, has been one the best players on the Yankees team that clinched the IL North Division this past Sunday. Nunez leads the club in hits (134), stolen bases (23), games played (118), and at-bats (464). He made his Major League debut with the New York Yankees on August 19, and hit his first career big league home run this past Sunday at Chicago. Nunez is 23-years-old.

The catcher on the IL Postseason All-Star Team is Jesus Montero of Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. Another of the top prospects in the Yankees organization, the 20-year-old Montero is the youngest All-Star this season. Montero leads the SWB Yankees in home runs (18), RBI (66), doubles (30), and runs scored (60). After appearing in the Triple-A All-Star Game in July, Montero has hit .350 with 11 home runs down the stretch to help the Yankees run away with another IL North Division title.

Outfielder Wladimir Balentien is a Postseason All-Star, having helped the Louisville Bats surge back to the top of the IL West by being one of the League's best hitters in recent weeks. No one in the IL has more home runs than Balentien's 13 since the All-Star break, which is a major reason why the Bats have gone 32-12 in that time frame to pass Columbus for the West Division lead. Balentien, 26, was the Pacific Coast League Rookie of the Year in 2007.

Jose Constanza of Columbus is an IL All-Star outfielder. He is tied for the League lead with 8 triples, and is currently 3rd with a .318 batting average and 4th with 33 stolen bases. Since being moved to the leadoff position midway through the season, Constanza has hit .345 with an on-base percentage of .402 for the Clippers. The Triple-A rookie, who turns 27 years old tomorrow, was also a mid-season All-Star for the International League.

Another mid-season All-Star to make the Postseason All-Star Team is 28-year-old Jeff Frazier. The Toledo outfielder leads the League with 58 extra-base hits, including 24 home runs, which is good for 4th in the IL. Frazier also leads his Mud Hens team with 117 hits, 32 doubles, 72 RBI, and 69 runs scored. He's even played in nine games with the parent Detroit Tigers so far this season. The versatile Frazier has split time between the outfield and first base this year for the Mud Hens.

Scranton/Wilkes-Barre closer Jonathan Albaladejo has been elected as the relief pitcher on the IL Postseason All-Star Team on the strength of one of the greatest seasons of any reliever in League history. The 27-year-old has established a new IL record with 43 saves this season, shattering the former standard of 38 by Richmond's Matt Whiteside in 2004. In 63.1 innings of work, "Alby" has allowed just 38 hits and 18 walks while striking out 82. His ERA has been below 2.00 since April 13, and currently sits at 1.42. He also earned the save for the International League in the Triple-A All-Star Game this July, pitching a perfect 9th inning against the PCL All-Stars.

In July, 30-year-old Barbaro Canizares tied a record by playing in his third straight Triple-A All-Star Game, and now he is the first player in International League history to be elected to the postseason All-Star Team as the designated hitter in consecutive seasons. Canizares is chasing his first batting title in the IL, as he currently leads the circuit with a mark of .339 with less than a week to go. Canizares, who occasionally plays first base for the Braves, has hit .398 in August.

The final All-Star spot goes to Durham's Elliot Johnson, who has been selected as the International League's top utility player for 2010. The 26-year-old Johnson was primarily a shortstop this season, but he has also seen significant time at second base and in the outfield for the Bulls. His .314 average is 4th in the IL, while he is also 5th in the League with 30 stolen bases. Johnson was also a member of the victorious International League squad at the Triple-A All-Star Game this July.

2010 INTERNATIONAL LEAGUE AWARD WINNERS

Most Valuable Player Dan Johnson, Durham Bulls

Most Valuable Pitcher Jeremy Hellickson, Durham Bulls

Rookie of the Year Freddie Freeman, Gwinnett Braves

Manager of the Year Charlie Montoyo, Durham Bulls

2010 INTERNATIONAL LEAGUE ALL-STAR TEAM

First Baseman Freddie Freeman, Gwinnett Braves

Second Baseman Chris Valaika, Louisville Bats

Shortstop Eduardo Nunez, Scranton/WB Yankees

Third Baseman Dan Johnson, Durham Bulls

Catcher Jesus Montero, Scranton/WB Yankees

Outfielders Wladimir Balentien, Louisville Bats

Jose Constanza, Columbus Clippers

Jeff Frazier, Toledo Mud Hens

Designated Hitter Barbaro Canizares, Gwinnett Braves

Utility Player Elliot Johnson, Durham Bulls

Starting Pitcher Jeremy Hellickson, Durham Bulls

Relief Pitcher Jonathan Albaladejo, Scranton/WB Yankees

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