CarL1 Carolina League

2008 California-Carolina League All-Star Game Rosters Announced

June 10, 2008 - Carolina League (CarL1) News Release


MYRTLE BEACH, SC - The Myrtle Beach Pelicans in conjunction with the Carolina and California Leagues have announced the rosters for the 2008 California-Carolina League All-Star Game presented by Hard Rock Park to be contested at BB&T Coastal Field on Tuesday, June 24th.

The 13th installment of the joint-league All-Star Game will feature prospect-laden rosters from both leagues, with Carolina League Southern Division first half champion Myrtle Beach sending the largest number of All-Stars from either league with six. Defending California League champion, San Jose, will send the largest contingent from the West Coast with five players selected to participate.

The two-day event will also include the 2008 California-Carolina League All-Star Gala to be held at Hard Rock Park on Monday, June 23rd at 7 PM.

Complete Rosters for the California & Carolina League All-Star Teams are Attached to this Email

***All statistics sited in this release are current through games of 6/8***

CAROLINA LEAGUE: Despite the fact that Southern Division first half champion Myrtle Beach boasts the most All-Stars with six, Baltimore Orioles' top-prospect Matt Wieters of the Frederick Keys, highlights the 2008 Carolina League All-Star team. The fifth overall selection in the 2007 draft, Wieters, who will serve as the starting catcher, currently leads the league in home runs with 13, while running second in the league batting race with an average of .344. Joining Wieters from the Keys are RHP Jake Arrietta and one of the starting outfielders, Brandon Tripp. Arrietta is the #7 rated prospect in the Orioles' chain according to Baseball America. Tripp checks in at #17 on the organizational list of prospects. Arrietta currently leads the Carolina League in strikeouts with 72.

The largest contingent of All-Stars won't have to travel far, with six Pelicans representing Southern Division first half champion Myrtle Beach. Included are starting shortstop Brandon Hicks, starting designated hitter Ernesto Mejia, RHP Deunte Heath, LHP Bryan Dumesnil, RHP Ryne Reynoso and infielder Travis Jones. Hicks is presently second in the league with 12 home runs while also rating as the #14 prospect in the Braves' system. Mejia leads the Carolina League in extra base hits with 36 and ranks second in RBIs with 40. Heath is currently second in the league with eight wins, while placing 10th in the loop in ERA with a mark of 3.23. The Pelicans field staff will also lead the Carolina League All-Stars. The field staff includes manager Rocket Wheeler, hitting coach Rick Albert, acting pitching coach Mike Alvarez and trainer Will Morin.

With the best record in the Northern Division, the Potomac Nationals will send the second most players from the Carolina League with four representatives. Making the trek for the P-Nats are RHP Adrian Alaniz, RHP Craig Stammen, starting second baseman Matt Rogelstad and outfielder Edgardo Baez. Alaniz currently leads the Carolina League with nine wins, while Stammen boasts the lowest ERA in the league at 2.08.

The Wilmington Blue Rocks will supply three players to the Carolina League squad. Right-handers Everett Teaford and Tyler Chambliss represent the Blue Rocks' pitching staff, while Joe Dickerson will make the start at one of the three outfield spots. Dickerson, tabbed by Baseball America as the #26 rated prospect in the Royals' system, is currently second in the Carolina League in stolen bases with 23. Chambliss, the Rocks closer, is fourth in the league with nine saves.

Representing the Salem Avalanche are starting outfielder James Van Ostrand and catcher Koby Clemens. Van Ostrand, the #30 rated prospect in the Houston Astros' chain, is eighth in the Carolina League in batting average with a mark of .304.

The Kinston Indians will send a pair of outstanding right-handers. Luis Perdomo, who leads the league with 13 saves, will be joined by Steven Wright. Wright is currently second in the Carolina League in ERA with a mark of 2.24.

Lynchburg will send starting third baseman Jim Negrych and infielder Brian Friday to the Grand Strand. Negrych has set a torrid pace to the league batting race, currently leading the way with an average of .357. Negrych's 81 hits also lead the way in the Carolina League. Friday, a 2007 third round draft pick out of Rice University, rates as the #12 prospect in the Pirates' chain. Friday cracks the top-ten in batting average as well, hitting to an average of .301.

Winston-Salem's Brandon Allen rounds out the Carolina League roster. Allen, the #29 rated prospect in the White Sox chain is currently third in the Carolina League with a slugging percentage of .571. The former division-1 linebacker recruit will start at first base.

CALIFORNIA LEAGUE: The California League roster represents most of the statistical leaders in the league. Starting catcher Pablo Sandoval of the San Jose Giants presently leads the race for the league batting title with an average of .364 and also has accumulated the most hits with 83. He will be joined on the Grand Strand by essentially the entire Giants starting pitching rotation. Right-handers Tim Alderson and Kevin Pucetas will represent the Giants along with left-handers Jesse English and Ben Snyder. Snyder is currently ranked the #21 prospect in the Giants organization by Baseball America. The Giants five representatives are the most from any single team in the California League along with the coaching staff of the defending league champions, which consists of manager Steve Decker, hitting coach Gary Davenport, pitching coach Pat Rice and trainer Yukyia Oba.

The Stockton Ports and Lake Elsinore Storm each placed three players on the California League All-Star Team. Stockton's Sean Doolittle will start at first base and Archie Gilbert will make the start in left field. The duo will be joined by RHP Trevor Cahill who will also represent the Ports. Cahill is currently the #2 rated prospect in the Oakland Athletics chain and is also the top pitching prospect in the estimation of Baseball America. Lake Elsinore will send starting second baseman Eric Sogard and starting right fielder Sam Carter. Utility outfielder Cedric Hunter, the #8 ranked prospect in the San Diego Padres system, will complete the Storm trio.

The Modesto Nuts contribute two pitchers to the California League squad, with RHP Aneury Rodriguez and RHP Andrew Johnston making the trip to Myrtle Beach. Rodriguez is currently the #28 prospect in the Colorado Rockies organization, while Johnston leads the league in saves with 12.

Two Lancaster Jethawks will start for the California League. Jon Still will serve as the designated hitter, while Jorge Jimenez will make the start at third base.

The Visalia Oaks and Inland Empire 66ers will each send two players to the All-Star Game. The California League starting shortstop is Visalia's Pedro Ciriaco. The Oaks will also send RHP Cesar Valdez. Ciriaco is among the Diamondback's top 30 prospects, presently #29. Inland Empire will send catcher Carlos Santana and RHP Paul Koss.

Starting center fielder Peter Bourjos of the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes, infielder Jose Vallejo of the Bakersfield Blaze and RHP Kyle Parker of the High Desert Mavericks round out the California League roster. Bourjos is presently the #9 rated prospect in the Angels system.

Tickets for the 2008 California-Carolina League All-Star Game are currently available for purchase by calling the Pelicans at (843) 918-6000 or toll-free (877) 918-TIXX, visiting the Pelicans Box Office at BB&T Coastal Field or logging on to MyrtleBeachPelicans.com.

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