SAL1 Greensboro Grasshoppers

Four Hoppers Selected for SAL All-Star Game

Published on June 7, 2016 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Greensboro Grasshoppers News Release


CLEARWATER, FL - Eric Krupa, president of the South Atlantic League, has announced the rosters for the 57th Annual SAL All-Star Game, scheduled to be played on June 21, 2016, at Whitaker Bank Ballpark in Lexington, Kentucky, home of the Lexington Legends.

For the Northern Division, the Hagerstown Suns placed five players on the roster, including second baseman Max Schrock, third baseman Kelvin Gutierrez, and center fielder Victor Robles. The Delmarva Shorebirds, Greensboro Grasshoppers, Hickory Crawdads and Kannapolis Intimidators each provide four players. The Delmarva Shorebirds provide starting catcher Yermin Mercedes and designated hitter Alex Murphy, the Greensboro Grasshoppers provide first baseman Josh Naylor, and the Hickory Crawdads provide shortstop Yeyson Yrizarri. The West Virginia Power contribute three players, including starting pitcher Mitch Keller and left fielder Tito Polo. The Lakewood BlueClaws contribute two players, including right fielder Jose Pujols.

Hagerstown manager Patrick Anderson will skipper the Northern Division All-Stars for the second time in three years, having also been named manager in 2014. Anderson is in his third season managing in the league, and his fourth year as a manager in the Minor Leagues. Anderson will be assisted by Hagerstown coaches Amaury Garcia and Sam Narron. Handling the athletic trainer's duties for the Northern Division for the second consecutive year will be West Virginia's Dom Cappozzo.

For the Southern Division, the Greenville Drive and Rome Braves both placed five players on the team, with Greenville providing designated hitter Josh Ockimey and Rome contributing center fielder Ray-Patrick Didder. The Asheville Tourists and Augusta GreenJackets each provided four players, with Asheville providing first baseman Brian Mundell, shortstop Brendan Rodgers, right fielder Yonathan Daza and left fielder Sam Hilliard. The Charleston RiverDogs and Columbia Fireflies each contributed three players, with Columbia providing starting pitcher P.J. Conlon, second baseman Vinny Sienna and third baseman David Thompson. The Lexington Legends provided two players, including catcher Chase Vallot.

Charleston skipper Luis Dorante will manage the Southern Division squad. Dorante is in his fourteenth season as a manager. Dorante will be joined on the Southern Division coaching staff by Lexington's Omar Ramirez and Charleston pitching coach Justin Pope. Lexington's Mark Keiser will serve as the team's athletic trainer.

Both all-star teams will be represented by 26 players, selected by the votes of the team's managers and coaching staffs, local media and front office executives. Whitaker Bank Ballpark will be hosting its second SAL All-Star Game. The first time was in 2003, when the Southern Division beat the Northern Division 3-2. The annual SAL All-Star Game dates to 1960, when the All-Stars defeated the Salisbury club, 6-2, in Newton, NC.

"Once again, we look forward to enjoying a game showcasing the incredible talent in this league," said Krupa. "Lexington Legends President Andy Shea, General Manager Gary Durbin and the entire staff in Lexington have been working for more than a year to live up to the tradition and host one of the most enjoyable events on our baseball calendar."

A variety of events have been scheduled in Lexington in conjunction with the 57th SAL All-Star Game. The Monday Night Live Gala in downtown Lexington will be held on Monday, June 20th. A luncheon will be held at 11:30am on Tuesday, June 21 at Tony's of Lexington. Gates open at 2:30pm at Whitaker Bank Ballpark for FanFest and autographs. The Legendary Derby (a whimsical combination of elements from a traditional home run derby with the Kentucky Derby) will begin at 4:45pm. Brad Redmon will be inducted into the South Atlantic League Hall of Fame during a pre-game ceremony and first pitch of the 57th Annual South Atlantic League All-Star Game at Whitaker Bank Ballpark on June 21st is scheduled for 7:05pm. More information can be found at www.lexingtonlegends.com.

2016 South Atlantic League All-Stars

NORTHERN DIVISION

MANAGER

Patrick Anderson, Hagerstown

COACH

Amaury Garcia, Hagerstown

COACH

Sam Narron, Hagerstown

PITCHERS

Mitch Keller, West Virginia

Tanner Banks, Kannapolis

Garrett Cleavinger, Delmarva

Ben Holmes, Greensboro

Ryan Meisinger, Delmarva

Pedro Payano, Hickory

Mariano Rivera, Hagerstown

Jefry Rodriguez, Hagerstown

C.J. Robinson, Greensboro

Erik Swanson, Hickory

Zach Thompson, Kannapolis

CATCHERS

Yermin Mercedes, Delmarva

Tyler Sanchez, Hickory

Seby Zavala, Kannapolis

FIRST BASEMAN

Josh Naylor, Greensboro

SECOND BASEMAN

Max Schrock, Hagerstown

THIRD BASEMAN

Kelvin Gutierrez, Hagerstown

SHORTSTOP

Yeyson Yrizarri, Hickory

UTILITY INFIELDER

Ke'Bryan Hayes, West Virginia

UTILITY INFIELDER

Josh Tobias, Lakewood

RIGHT FIELD

Jose Pujols, Lakewood

CENTER FIELD

Victor Robles, Hagerstown

LEFT FIELD

Tito Polo, West Virginia

UTILITY OUTFIELDER

Landon Lassiter, Kannapolis

UTILITY OUTFIELDER

Isael Soto, Greensboro

DESIGNATED HITTER

Alex Murphy, Delmarva

TRAINER

Dom Cappozzo, West Virginia

SOUTHERN DIVISION

MANAGER

Luis Dorante, Charleston

COACH

Omar Ramirez, Lexington

COACH

Justin Pope, Charleston

PITCHERS

P.J. Conlon, Columbia

Phil Bickford, Augusta

Cody Carroll, Charleston

Jake Cosart, Greenville

Emilio Ogando, Lexington

Roniel Raudes, Greenville

Michael Santos, Augusta

Andrew Schwaab, Charleston

Mike Soroka, Rome

Daris Vargas, Charleston

Patrick Weigel, Rome

CATCHERS

Chase Vallot, Lexington

Jonathan Morales, Rome

Matt Winn, Augusta

FIRST BASEMAN

Brian Mundell, Asheville

SECOND BASEMAN

Vinny Siena, Columbia

THIRD BASEMAN

David Thompson, Columbia

SHORTSTOP

Brendan Rodgers, Asheville

UTILITY INFIELDER

Luis Alejandro Basabe, Greenville

UTILITY INFIELDER

Luke Dykstra, Rome

RIGHT FIELD

Yonathan Daza, Asheville

CENTER FIELD

Ray-Patrick Didder, Rome

LEFT FIELD

Sam Hilliard, Asheville

UTILITY OUTFIELDER

Dylan Davis, Augusta

UTILITY OUTFIELDER

Tate Matheny, Greenville

DESIGNATED HITTER

Josh Ockimey, Greenville

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