IL1 Lehigh Valley IronPigs

16 Pigs Crack Triple-A All-Star Ballot

Published on May 30, 2017 under International League (IL1)
Lehigh Valley IronPigs News Release


Online voting for the Triple-A All-Star Game is officially open, and several Lehigh Valley IronPigs are pushing for a bid to the Triple-A Midsummer Classic. Cheney Stadium, home of the Tacoma Rainiers in Tacoma, Wash., will host the Triple-A Home Run Derby on Monday, July 10, followed by the All-Star Game on Wednesday, July 12.

16 of your first-place IronPigs have been named to the International League ballot. Fans may also place a write-in ballot for a player on the IronPigs roster that they feel deserves the All-Star nod that is not listed among those on the ballot. Fans can vote an unlimited number of times until the voting deadline through Friday, June 23. Votes can be placed on MiLB.com, ILBaseball.com, ironpigsbaseball.com and through the MiLB First Pitch app.

Catcher - Jorge Alfaro : Among the catchers on the ballot, Alfaro leads the pack with his 23 RBI as the backstop for the Pigs. In 147 games, the Sinceljo, Columbia native is batting .286-3-23 with a stolen base and has thrown out 33% (6-of-18) potential base stealers thus far. The Phillies No. 3 prospect has also reached base safely in 25 of his 36 games played this season at the time of print. During the stretch, Alfaro is batting .286-3-23 (42-147; 5 2B, 2 3B, 3 BB, 4 HBP, 18 R).

First Base - Rhys Hoskins : Arguably the hottest hitter in all of Minor League Baseball. Hoskins leads or is in the top five in the International League in many offensive categories including: HR (13, 1st), Games (47, T-1st), RBI (37), Hits (51, 5th), OBP (.433, 1st), XBH (26, 1st), SLUG PCT (.677, 1st) and Runs (36, 1st). Hoskins also had a 23-game on-base streak as he hit (.368-7-15; 28-76, 5 2B, 13 BB) from April 8 through May 2.

Shortstop - J.P. Crawford : The Phillies No.1 overall prospect has turned it on of late, as the former first round pick has hit safely in 7 of his last 11 games to the tune of a .244 average in that span with a home run and seven RBI. From April 22 through May 10 reached base safely in 17 consecutive games (.217-0-5; 13-60, 2B, 12 BB, 9 R, .347 OBP).

Third Base - Taylor Featherston : One of the more veteran players in the Pigs 2017 lineup has been a major catalyst in the success for the team this season. Featherston's glove as well as his bat have kept the Pigs in many games this season as the Houston native has committed just two errors and is hitting .271-2-14 in 34 games. Featherston has also hit safely in 18 of his last 27 games (.314-2-14; 27-86, 7 2B, 10 BB, 15 R).

Outfielder - Dylan Cozens : The 22-year-old has hit safely in 14 of his last 17 games (.286-8-16; 20-70, 2 2B, 4 BB, 13 R) and also has hit five game-winning home runs (two walk-offs). Cozens was named International League Batter of the Week for his performance from 5/7-5/14 while batting .393-4-8 (11-28, 2B, 8R, 1.290 OPS). In 20 games in the month of May, he is batting .293-8-19 (24-82, 2 2B, 3B, 6 BB, 15 R; .979 OPS) as opposed to .136-4-15 in the month of April.

Designated Hitter - Cameron Perkins : The 2016 International League midseason All-Star makes a case for a repeat entrance into this season's midsummer classic. The 26-year-old has hit safely in 21 of his last 33 games (.293-2-13; 29-99, 8 2B, 2 R) after a 6-for-40 skid in the prior 13 games played.

Outfielder - Roman Quinn : Has hit safely in nine of his last 14 games, sporting a .286-2-4; 15-56, 2B, 3B, 7 BB and 8 R. In his last 27 games, the University of Miami product has hit .299-2-7, .375 OBP (32-107, 4 2B, 2 3B, 15 BB, 17 R) raising his average from .207 on April 22.

Outfielder - Nick Williams : Has hit safely in 27 of his last 37 games, batting .288-7-22 (38-132, 7 2B, 14 R) after he started the season 5-for-28. At the time of print, Williams had homered in 4 of his last 6 games and hit one game winning home run and three game tying home runs.

Starting Pitcher - Ben Lively : Lively is tied for first with five wins in International League play this season. The Pensacola, Fla native is 5-1, with a 2.79 ERA in 8 GS for the Pigs. He is undefeated in his last six starts, going 4-0, with a 2.41 ERA while tossing 37 1/3 innings and surrendering just 10 earned runs since April 22.

Relief Pitcher - Pat Venditte : Venditte began the 2017 season with a 22 scoreless innings streak that ended May 21 at Syracuse. In total, Venditte is unscored upon in 16 of his 17 relief appearances this season. The switch-pitcher also went 10 2/3 innings without surrendering a single hit.

Relief Pitcher - Pedro Beato : The International League's save leader at 14 saves thus far in the 2017 season is unscored upon in his last 14 appearances. Over the hot stretch, Beato has accumulated a record of 0-0, 0.00, 11 saves in 14 2/3 innings surrendering just seven hits while striking out 14.

Relief Pitcher - Hoby Milner : Another member of a solid Pig 'Pen who has yet to yield a run in 18 1/3 innings pitched this season over 14 appearances. The University of Texas product has allowed just 10 hits, walked two batters and struck out 15 in the first two months of the 2017 campaign.

Other members of the 2017 IronPigs who are not mentioned above and are listed in the ballot are Tom Eshelman, Pedro Florimon, Jake Thompson and Cesar Ramos .

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International League Stories from May 30, 2017


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