PCL1 Oklahoma City Comets

Four OKC Dodgers Named to Triple-A All-Star Game

June 28, 2018 - Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Oklahoma City Comets News Release


OKLAHOMA CITY - Four Oklahoma City Dodgers have been named Pacific Coast League All-Stars, the league announced today, and will participate in the 2018 Huntington Bank Triple-A All-Star Game presented by Gildan Wednesday, July 11 at Huntington Park in Columbus, Ohio.

Left-handed starting pitcher Manny Bañuelos and switch-handed reliever Pat Venditte were elected by a vote of league field managers, general managers, broadcasters, media and online fan voting. Catcher Rocky Gale and outfielder Alex Verdugo were selected by PCL officials.

The Dodgers tied with the Fresno Grizzlies for the most players selected to the PCL All-Star roster. This marks the second straight season and third time in the last four seasons four Oklahoma City players have been selected - tied for most in a season in the team's PCL era.

Bañuelos (8-4), from Durango, Mexico, paces the PCL with 91 strikeouts this season. He is tied for the second-most wins in the league, ranks fifth with a 1.24 WHIP and seventh with a 3.14 ERA. He is posting 10.48 strikeouts per nine innings and leads the Dodgers with 14 starts and 77.1 innings pitched. Bañuelos, 27, has held opponents to one earned run or less in eight starts this season and to two earned runs or less 10 times.

This is his third nomination to an all-star game after being named a Mid-Season All-Star with Triple-A Gwinnett in 2015 and with Double-A Trenton in 2011. He signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers as a free agent Nov. 14, 2017 after spending the 2017 season with Triple-A Salt Lake in the Los Angeles Angels organization. He originally signed as an amateur free agent with the New York Yankees out of the Mexican League March 30, 2008.

Venditte, from Omaha, Neb., owns a 1.59 ERA over 34.0 innings pitched with the OKC Dodgers this season. He leads all PCL relievers by allowing just 8.74 baserunners per nine innings, and ranks second among league relievers with a .169 opponent batting average. Venditte, 32, put together 14 straight scoreless appearances April 16-May 28 (17.1 IP) and has held opponents to one or no earned runs in 27 of his 28 outings this season.

This is the third all-star game nomination for Venditte. He was named a Mid-Season All-Star with Low-A Charleston in 2009 and with Short-Season Staten Island in 2008. He signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers as a free agent Nov. 20, 2017 after spending the entire 2017 season with Triple-A Lehigh Valley in the Phillies organization. He was originally selected by the New York Yankees in the 20th round of the 2008 MLB Draft out of Creighton University and is the only active professional pitcher to pitch with both arms.

Gale, from Portland, Ore., leads all PCL catchers with 49 games played and 419 putouts this season. He also ranks second in the league, throwing out 44.7 percent of attempted basestealers. Gale, 30, put together a 13-game hitting streak April 23-May 13 - tied with Verdugo for the longest hitting streak by a Dodger this season. He batted .420 (21x50) during the stretch, with six extra-base hits and nine RBI.

This marks the first all-star game nomination for Gale, who signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers as a minor league free agent Feb. 25. He spent the majority of the 2017 season with Triple-A El Paso in the San Diego Padres organization. He was selected by the Padres in the 24th round of the 2010 MLB Draft out of the University of Portland.

Verdugo, from Tucson, Ariz., will represent Oklahoma City in the Triple-A All-Star Game for the second straight year. He paces Oklahoma City with 68 hits despite playing in just 51 of the team's 74 games. His. 330 batting average ranks 10th in the league and he has compiled both a 13-game hitting streak June 3-18 and an 11-game hitting streak May 12-June 1. Verdugo, 22, leads the Dodgers with 15 doubles and ranks tied for second with 30 RBI, 29 runs scored and six home runs.

This marks Verdugo's second all-star game nomination with the OKC Dodgers in as many seasons and the third all-star nomination of his career. He was also named a Mid-Season All-Star with Double-A Tulsa in 2016. He spent most of the 2017 season with the OKC Dodgers, pacing the team with 136 hits. The Los Angeles Dodgers selected Verdugo in the second round (62nd overall) of the 2014 MLB Draft out of Sahuaro High School in Tucson, Ariz.

The 31st annual Triple-A All-Star Game will be broadcast live Wednesday, July 11 on MiLB.TV, the MiLB First Pitch App and the Triple-A All-Star Game Radio Network, including locally on AM 1340 "The Game." The Triple-A All-Star game will be televised Wednesday, July 18 on the MLB Network and American Forces Network.

The Dodgers wrap up a four-game home series against the Nashville Sounds at 7:05 p.m. on a $2 Thursday at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark, featuring $2 Pepsi products, bottled water and select beer.

Cox Communications will televise the game live on YurView on Cox (Channel 1333) beginning five minutes before first pitch. Live radio coverage begins 15 minutes before first pitch on AM 1340 "The Game," 1340thegame.com, or through the free iHeartRadio mobile app.

Tickets are available through the OKC Dodgers ticket office located on South Mickey Mantle Drive, by phone at (405) 218-2182, or by visiting okcdodgers.com.

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