Cooper, Jones Named Carolina League All-Stars
June 8, 2016 - Carolina League (CarL1)
Winston-Salem Dash News Release
Winston-Salem Dash Outfielder Hunter Jones
(Winston-Salem Dash, Credit: Jody Stewart/Winston-Salem Dash)
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - Both right-handed pitcher Matt Cooper and outfielder Hunter Jones have earned a spot on the Carolina League's Midseason All-Star team, the league office announced Wednesday afternoon. Cooper and Jones will suit up in the California-Carolina League All-Star Game on Tuesday, June 21.
A 16th-round pick in 2014, Cooper leads Minor League Baseball in strikeouts by a healthy margin. Entering Wednesday's action, Cooper's 92 whiffs are 15 more than the next-closest competitor, while only four other Minor Leaguers have struck out 75 or more batters. Only five Major League pitchers have more strikeouts than Cooper.
The former University of Hawaii star is 4-4 with a 3.22 earned run average, which is seventh-lowest among Carolina League qualifiers. In his first professional season as a starting pitcher, Cooper is second in the CL in innings pitched (72.2), WHIP (1.02) and opponent batting average (.211).
Jones is the only Winston-Salem hitter who has played in every game of the season. He is one of four men in the Carolina League who has not missed any of his team's contests. Jones' .297 batting average is second to Mason Robbins (.314) on the Dash and seventh among CL qualifiers.
The former Cleveland farmhand paces the league in games played (59) and at-bats (232), while he shares the top spot in hits (69) and triples (7). Jones is also fourth in stolen bases (25), runs scored (44) and total bases (100).
The 20th installment of the California-Carolina League All-Star Game is set for Tuesday, June 21, at 9:30 p.m. EDT from The Diamond, the home of the Lake Elsinore Storm. Thanks to an active two-game winning streak, the California League enjoys a 9-8-2 advantage in the interleague series.
The Carolina League selected its All-Stars via a voting process that involved its managers and general managers, along with one media vote per market. Since becoming the Dash in 2009, at least two players have represented Winston-Salem in the All-Star Game.
After a week-long road trip to Carolina and Wilmington, the Dash return to BB&T Ballpark on Thursday, June 15, for a four-game set against the Salem Red Sox to conclude the season's first half. Thursday's series opener is another Throwback Thursday, presented by Parr Investments, that will feature commemorative Warthogs jerseys. For tickets, call the Dash at (336) 714-2287 or visit wsdash.com.
The Winston-Salem Dash are the Class A-Advanced minor league affiliate of the Chicago White Sox. To purchase tickets and for more information, please call (336) 714-2287 or visit www.wsdash.com.
Images from this story
 Winston-Salem Dash Pitcher Matt Cooper (Jody Stewart/Winston-Salem Dash) |
 Winston-Salem Dash Outfielder Hunter Jones (Jody Stewart/Winston-Salem Dash) |
Carolina League Stories from June 8, 2016
- Peterson Transferred to Double-A Mississippi - Carolina Mudcats
- INF Daniel Lockhart Heads to Tennessee - Myrtle Beach Pelicans
- Two Red Sox Tabbed Carolina League All-Stars - Salem Red Sox
- Cary's Povse and Clayton High's Phillips Named Carolina League All-Stars - Carolina Mudcats
- Three Pelicans Named Carolina League All-Stars - Myrtle Beach Pelicans
- Brinley, Keller, Stevenson & Ward Named Carolina League All-Stars - Potomac Nationals
- Three Keys Named to Carolina League All Star Team - Frederick Keys
- Cooper, Jones Named Carolina League All-Stars - Winston-Salem Dash
- Hillcats Place League-High Six on All-Star Roster - Lynchburg Hillcats
- Humberto Arteaga Named to Carolina League All-StarTeam, Jamie Quirk Manager - Wilmington Blue Rocks
- RHP Brandon Brennan promoted - Winston-Salem Dash
- Grimes Named Carolina League Player of the Month - Frederick Keys
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