Diaz Tabbed League MVP, Five Named All-Stars
September 4, 2015 - Pioneer League (PL)
Missoula PaddleHeads News Release
MISSOULA, MONT. - The Pioneer Baseball League announced its end-of-season All-Star Team on Friday afternoon, with Missoula shortstop Isan Diaz earning the Ralph Nelles Award (MVP). Diaz, along with Luke Lowery (catcher), Austin Byler (first base), Cameron Smith (pitcher) and Dan Savas (pitcher), was also named an All-Star at shortstop.
The MVP honor is the first for Missoula since Jesus Cota took home the award in 2001.
A Pioneer League midseason All-Star, Diaz was originally drafted by the D-backs in the Competitive Balance-Round B (70th overall) in the 2014 First-Year Player Draft out of Springfield (Mass.) High School. Diaz enters Friday's play tied for the league lead in homers (13), and leads all Pioneer League players in extra-base hits (43), total bases (169), runs (55) and hits (94), while his .356 batting average ranks fourth overall. He has hit safely in all but nine games played this year, and has reached in 61 of his 65 games played, claiming the fifth-best on-base percentage in the league at .429. His .640 slugging percentage is second in the League, while his 51 RBI are third. The left-hand hitting shortstop, who was named Pioneer League Player of the Week for the Week ending July 27 and D-backs Minor League Player of the Month for July and August, has managed six triples (t-5th) and 24 doubles (1st) to accompany his 13 homers.
Lowery earns the nod at catcher after hitting .303 (67-for-221) with 43 runs scored, 11 doubles, five triples, nine homers and 42 RBI entering Friday's contest. The native of Midlothian, Va. has slugged .520 and reached base at a .392 clip. Lowery, a midseason All-Star, won the inaugural PBL/NWL All-Star Game Home Run Derby by belting 28 total homers (eight in the first round, 12 in the championship round and 4 plus the bonus grand slam in a swing-off).
Byler, the starting first baseman during the midseason All-Star Game, enters Friday hitting .305 (64-for-210), and is tied for the League lead in home runs (13) while leading all players in walks (48), runs scored (55) and slugging percentage (.643). He is second in extra-base hits (40), RBI (52) and total bases (135), while ranking third in on-base percentage (.433) and doubles (22). Byler, who was named Pioneer League Player of the Week for the week ending August 9, is also averaging a home run every 16.15 at bats, ranking first in Pioneer League.
A midseason All-Star as well, Smith enters Friday carrying a 7-1 record and a 1.78 ERA over 12 appearances and four starts this year. The left-hander has thrown 50.2 innings and has struck out 58 hitters - good for a share of third in the League. Named Pioneer League Pitcher of the Week for the week ending July 12 and August 30, Smith has limited opponents to a .201 average while registering a 0.83 WHIP. His seven victories, four in relief and three as a starter, rank second only to teammate Bo Takahashi (eight) in the League rankings.
Savas earns the selection having converted a Pioneer League-best 14 saves over 16 chances headed into Friday's contests. The right-hander owns a 1-2 record and a 2.70 ERA over 24 appearances and 23.1 innings. A native of Rosemont, Ill., the midseason All-Star selection has struck out 23 batters and walked just five while registering a 1.24 WHIP.
Missoula will continue a stretch of eight straight games against the Great Falls Voyagers tonight with the final game of a four-game series at 6:35 pm MT. Tonight's game is also the final regular-season home game for Missoula. The Osprey, by way of winning the first-half Pioneer League title, have already earned a spot in the 2015 Pioneer League playoffs, which begin on September 9.
Pioneer League Stories from September 4, 2015
- Another Close One Goes Brewers' Way - Helena Brewers
- Voyagers Escape with Victory - Missoula PaddleHeads
- Great Falls Hangs on to Earn Split - Great Falls Voyagers
- Banks Named Co-Logan Hurlbert Pitcher of the Year - Great Falls Voyagers
- Diaz Tabbed League MVP, Five Named All-Stars - Missoula PaddleHeads
- Voyagers Game Notes: September 4 at Missoula - Great Falls Voyagers
- Rockies Double up Raptors 16-8 - Ogden Raptors
- Bats Explode in Win over Raptors - Grand Junction Jackalopes
- Mustang Edge out 8-7 Win - Helena Brewers
- Owlz Early Lead Not Enough for Victory - Northern Colorado Owlz
- Chukars Topple Orem 8-5 - Idaho Falls Chukars
- Holtmann Deals Six in Shutout - Missoula PaddleHeads
- Voyagers Shutout for First Time in 2015 - Great Falls Voyagers
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