FSL1 Palm Beach Cardinals

Four Palm Beach Cardinals Named to the 2014 FSL All-Star Squad

Published on June 3, 2014 under Florida State League (FSL1)
Palm Beach Cardinals News Release


JUPITER, FL - The Florida State League has announced the 2014 North and South All-Star teams and the Palm Beach Cardinals have landed four selections to represent the FSL South: LHP Kyle Helisek, INF Breyvic Valera, OF Charlie Tilson, and OF Starlin Rodriguez. The 53rd All-Star Game will be played at McKechnie Field in Bradenton, Florida on Saturday, June 14 at 7:05 p.m.

Valera (.332, 28 RBI, 12 SB) currently has the fourth best batting average in the Florida State League and has been one of the toughest hitters to strike out in all of professional baseball this season. The 22-year-old ranks first in the league with a 25.00 TPA/SO ratio, going down on strikes just 10 times in 250 total plate appearances over 56 games this year. Only Ronald Torreyes of Triple-A Oklahoma City has been tougher to fan in pro ball this season (28.71 TPA/SO).

Valera started the season with a 12-game hitting streak and hit safely in 20 straight games away from home from April 3- May 18 - the longest road hitting streak in the league this year. The Montalban, VZ native has compiled a league-high 76 hits to go with his 28 RBI and 28 runs scored. He was signed by the Cardinals as a non-drafted free agent on May 16, 2010.

Tilson (.292, 13 RBI, 6 SB) began the 2014 season as the Cardinals' 12th-best prospect according to Baseball America and was also tabbed as the fastest baserunner in the organization. He reached base safely in 17 straight games to start the season from April 3-22. Tilson posted a .346 batting average in 21 games during the month of May. The 21-year-old was selected by the Cardinals in the second round of the June, 2011 First-Year Player Draft out of New Trier High School in Illinois.

Helisek (3-2, 2.49 ERA) represents the hottest pitching staff in the Florida State League. The southpaw helped Palm Beach claim the best ERA during the month of May (2.45). Helisek got off to a hot start in 2014, posting a 1.59 ERA (4ER/22.2IP) in April and currently owns the fifth-best ERA in the FSL South (2.49). Helisek, 24, was selected by the Cardinals in the 30th round of the June, 2012 First-Year Player Draft out of Villanova University.

Rodriguez (.269, 30 R, 5 HR, 24 RBI) was named the Florida State League Player of the Week for the period April 14-20 after going 8-for-21 with three home runs, three doubles, seven RBI, and six runs for Palm Beach during the week. The 5- 10 slugger hit three home runs in two games during the span and has two multi-homer games this season. Rodriguez, who has played for Palm Beach over parts of the last four seasons, was also named to the FSL All-Star team in 2012.

Due to his promotion to Double-A Springfield on June 3, Rodriguez will not participate in the game. The Dominican Republic native was signed by the Cardinals as a non-drafted free agent on October 28, 2009.

The Cardinals play the final game of an eight-game road trip tonight against the Lakeland Flying Tigers before returning to Roger Dean Stadium for a four-game set with the Clearwater Threshers starting on Wednesday night at 6:35 p.m. For more information on the Cardinals, visit www.PalmBeachCardinals.com or call (561) 799-1391.

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Florida State League Stories from June 3, 2014


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