Columbia's All-Stars and Manager Jose Leger
Published on June 6, 2017 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Columbia Fireflies News Release
COLUMBIA, SC - Columbia's five All-Stars - Merandy Gonzalez, Jordan Humphreys, Max Kuhns, Michael Paez, Dash Winningham - and manager Jose Leger will be available to the media at Spirit Communications Park at 5:20 p.m. this evening. The South Atlantic League announced the rosters for the 58th annual All-Star Game to be played in Columbia on June 20. Leger will address the media at 5:20 p.m. followed by the players at 5:30 p.m.
WHO: Jose Leger and the five players selected to the 2017 SAL All-Star Game
WHERE: Spirit Communications Park media room, field level
WHEN: Today, 5:20 p.m.
Leger, the 2015 South Atlantic League Manager of the Year, is in his second season as skipper of the Fireflies and eighth overall as a manager in the New York Mets organization. The 35-year-old mentored four SAL All-Stars last season, including pitcher P.J. Conlon, who the Mets eventually named Minor League Pitcher of the Year.
Humphreys was the first pitcher in Minor League Baseball this season to reach eight wins. The 20-year-old has an 8-1 record and a miniscule 1.40 ERA - lowest in the SAL. Humphreys is third in the league with 73 strikeouts and has only walked seven batters over nine starts. The Floridian has not absorbed more than two earned runs in any of his outings this season.
Gonzalez was named the South Atlantic League Player of the Month for April. The native of the Dominican Republic was the only hurler in all professional baseball (MLB & MiLB) who did not allow a run during the first month of the season. His impressive scoreless inning streak eventually reached 28.2 IP. Gonzalez is 7-1 with the second-best ERA in the SAL (1.73).
Kuhns has been a strong force out of the bullpen for Columbia. The right-hander from Parker, Colorado, tossed 16.0 consecutive scoreless innings from April 18 to June 2 (11 appearances). The 22-year-old has notched three saves and posted a 2.38 ERA.
Winningham and Paez will also represent the Fireflies in the All-Star Game. Winningham is hitting .251 with seven home runs and a league-best 38 RBIs. The first baseman set three single-game franchise records for the club on May 29 against Augusta: two home runs, six RBIs and 10 total bases.
Meanwhile, Paez leads the squad with a .306 batting average and is also tied atop the league with 19 doubles; only one player in the league has more extra-base hits than Paez. The native of Miami, Florida, has also bashed six homers and driven in 33 runs.
South Atlantic League Stories from June 6, 2017
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- Crawdads Edge Past Drive on Tuesday - Greenville Drive
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- RiverDogs Washed Out, Will Play Doubleheader Tomorrow - Charleston RiverDogs
- Grasshoppers Tuesday Night Game Postponed Due to Field Conditions - Greensboro Grasshoppers
- Bullpen Dominates in Big Win - Kannapolis Cannon Ballers
- BlueClaws Lose 16-Inning Heartbreaker to Kannapolis - Jersey Shore BlueClaws
- Columbia's All-Stars and Manager Jose Leger - Columbia Fireflies
- Tourists Place Six on South Atlantic League All Star Team - Asheville Tourists
- Legends' Peterson, Vines Selected for SAL - Lexington Legends
- 2017 Mid-Season SAL All-Stars Announced - Charleston Dirty Birds
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- Four Rome Braves Named to SAL All-Star Team - Rome Emperors
- Drive Sending Four to South Atlantic - Greenville Drive
- All-Star Worthy; Four RiverDogs Named to SAL All-Star Roster - Charleston RiverDogs
- 2017 South Atlantic League All-Stars - Augusta GreenJackets
- Shorebirds to Send Three to SAL All-Star Game - Delmarva Shorebirds
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