SAL1 Delmarva Shorebirds

Five Shorebirds Selected to 2011 All-Star Game

Published on June 7, 2011 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Delmarva Shorebirds News Release


Salisbury, Md. - In conjunction with the South Atlantic League, the Delmarva Shorebirds are excited to release the rosters for the 2011 South Atlantic League "Strike Out Hunger" All-Star Game presented by Perdue, which will be contested on June 21 at Arthur W. Perdue Stadium. Five Shorebirds players have been selected to the mid-season classic; Manny Machado, Ty Kelly, Michael Ohlman, Jacob Pettit and David Walters. The 2011 All-Star Game will feature the top three overall picks from the 2010 First Year Player Draft, Bryce Harper (Hagerstown Suns), Jameson Taillon (West Virginia Power) and Manny Machado (Delmarva Shorebirds).

Arthur W. Perdue Stadium will play host to eight former first round selections; Jiovanni Mier (Lexington), Kyle Parker (Asheville), Slade Heathcott (Charleston), Jameson Taillon (West Virginia), Manny Machado (Delmarva), Bryce Harper (Hagerstown), Anthony Hewitt (Lakewood) and Christian Yelich (Greensboro).

Additionally, 16 players amongst the "Top 30" prospects in their respective organizations according to Baseball America will play in the 2011 South Atlantic League All-Star Game.

The Delmarva Shorebirds, Hagerstown Suns and Lakewood BlueClaws each had five representatives, most on the Northern Division squad. The Savannah Sand Gnats placed a league best six players on the Southern Division team.

Machado, 18, was the third overall pick in the 2010 draft and is the top overall prospect in the Orioles farm system according to Baseball America. Through 27 games played, he is batting .320 with five home runs and 22 RBIs. He has ten multi-hit games and seven multi-RBI games. The Miami, Florida native was named the South Atlantic League Player of the Week for the week of April 25 through May 1 and the Orioles Minor League Player of the Month for April. Machado will be the starting shortstop for the Northern Division team.

Ty Kelly, who is in his second year with the Shorebirds, exploded in the month of May to earn his second professional all-star selection. Kelly was a New York-Penn League All-Star in 2009. He batted .351 in 26 games in May with 29 hits and 13 RBIs. Overall, Kelly is batting .313 with 20 RBIs. The Tracy, California native strung together a 16-game hitting streak between May 2 and May 19.

Michael Ohlman, a 10th round selection of the Orioles in 2009, will appear in his first professional all-star game. The catcher is batting .242 with 11 doubles and two home runs. Ohlman connected on the first Shorebirds grand slam since 2008 on May 8 against the Asheville Tourists.

Jacob Pettit, 24, is 5-1 with a 3.95 ERA through 11 starts this season. He leads the Shorebirds pitching staff in wins (5), innings pitched (66.0) and strikeouts (46). Pettit had his finest start of the season against the Charleston RiverDogs on May 1 when he tossed an eight-inning shutout and fanned a season high eight batters. Pettit has worked through the sixth inning in eight of his 11 starts.

David Walters, the South Atlantic League's saves leader with 16, will make his first professional all-star appearance. Through 21 outings this season, Walters has posted a 1-3 record with a 4.32 ERA. The 23-year old saved or earned the win in nine consecutive appearances between April 22 and May 23. Walters ranks sixth in all of Minor League Baseball in saves with 16.

In addition to the five Shorebirds, the Northern Division roster features top overall pick Bryce Harper. Through 56 games, he is batting .342 with 14 home runs and 42 RBIs. The 18-year old was the South Atlantic League Player of the Week for the week of May 2 through 8. Jameson Taillon, the second overall pick in the 2010 draft, is 2-1 with a 3.71 ERA through eight starts with the West Virginia Power. The Woodlands, Texas native sports a 27 to four strikeout to walk ratio.

The Northern Division roster also features Blake Kelso (Hagerstown), who ranks fifth in the league in batting average at .344 and Jim Murphy (Lakewood), who ranks tied for third in the league with 13 home runs.

The South Division's roster is highlighted by Bryce Brentz (Greenville), who ranks third in the SAL in batting average (.359), second in slugging percentage (.647) and third in runs scored (43). The Southern Division roster also features Asheville catcher Bryce Massanari, who ranks fourth in the league in batting average (.356) and fifth in the league with 12 home runs.

Former Clemson University quarterback Kyle Parker will roam the outfield for the Southern Division. Parker leads the league in runs-batted-in with 47.

The Northern Division will be managed by Hagerstown skipper Brian Daubach, who won a World Series Championship with the Boston Red Sox in 2004. Shorebirds manager Ryan Minor will be on the coaching staff along with Hagerstown pitching coach Chris Michalak. The Southern Division will be lead by Savannah manager Ryan Ellis. Jose Carreno of Savannah and Steve Kline of Augusta will make up the rest of the coaching staff.

Shorebirds athletic trainer Will Lawhorn will serve as the athletic trainer for the Northern Division while Savannah athletic trainer David Herrera while be the trainer for the Southern Division.

The Shorebirds are hosting the marquee game for the first time since 1999. Recent SAL All-Star success stories include: Josh Hamilton, Madison Bumgarner, Jason Heyward, Brian Wilson, Brad Bergeson and more.

The Shorebirds will host the All-Star Game Fan Fest presented by Cheerwine and Strawberry Crush starting at 2:30 p.m. in the parking lot of Perdue Stadium. Fan Fest will feature an autograph signing by legendary Orioles manager Earl Weaver from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. plus inflatable's and exhibits set up for fans of all ages.

The BB&T Home Run Derby, which will pit the best home run hitters in the league against each other, will begin at 5:30 p.m.

First pitch of the All-Star Game is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.

Tickets still remain for the 2011 South Atlantic League "Strike Out Hunger" All-Star Game presented by Perdue at Arthur W. Perdue Stadium. To purchase tickets and for more information, contact the Delmarva Shorebirds Box Office at 410-219-3112.

Check out the Delmarva Shorebirds Statistics

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South Atlantic League Stories from June 7, 2011


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