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CalL1 San Jose Giants

Giants With All-Star Game Leading Seven Players on California League Roster

June 7, 2013 - California League (CalL1)
San Jose Giants News Release


SAN JOSE, CA - The California League and Carolina League announced their All-Star rosters today in anticipation of the 2013 California-Carolina League All-Star Game at Municipal Stadium on June 18. Voting for each league was completed by the two leagues' managers, general managers and select media members.

The San Jose Giants received the most players on either roster as seven players were selected to take the field for the California League. Left-handed pitchers Ty Blach, Edwin Escobar and Josh Osich, first baseman Angel Villalona and catcher Jeff Arnold will all take the field at Municipal Stadium on June 18. Right-handed pitcher Hunter Strickland and infielder Ryan Cavan were also both selected to the team, but will be unable to participate due to injury. The Giants are joined by the Visalia Rawhide (4), Lancaster JetHawks (3) and High Desert Mavericks (3) as teams who received multiple players on the California League roster.

Blach (6-2, 3.02 ERA) and Escobar (3.62 ERA, 64 SO) have anchored a strong San Jose starting rotation, while Osich (1-0, 1.27 ERA, 6 SV) has served as a late-inning shutdown arm out of the bullpen. On offense, Angel Villalona will start for the California League as the designated hitter. He is currently tied for the California League lead with 14 home runs and has a team leading 36 RBIs. Behind the plate, Jeff Arnold has been the signal-caller for the league's best pitching staff while maintaining a batting average above .270 with nine home runs. Despite being unable to participate in the All-Star Game because of injury, both Hunter Strickland (0.86 ERA, 9 SV) and Ryan Cavan (.313 AVG, 13 2B, 31 RBI) have had standout performances in the first half.

"I am extremely honored and excited to be leading the California League in the 17th California-Carolina League All-Star Game at Municipal Stadium", said California League and San Jose Giants Manager Andy Skeels. "With five San Jose Giants on the active roster and many other top prospects, I look forward to this team taking the field against the Carolina League."

Lynchburg Hillcats skipper Luis Salazar will manage the Carolina League, while the Myrtle Beach Pelicans will be sending the most players (5) to San Jose. Starting pitchers Alec Asher (4-4, 2.83 ERA), Luke Jackson (5-4, 2.44 ERA) and Nick Martinez (4-3, 2.73 ERA) currently hold top 10 ERAs in the Carolina League after strong first half performances. Pelicans second baseman Rougned Odor (.282 AVG, 4 HR, 27 RBI) will start for the Carolina League on June 18, while speedy third baseman Luis Sardinas (16 SB, .278 BA) will come off the bench. The Carolina Mudcats (4), Potomac Nationals (3), Salem Red Sox (3) and Winston-Salem Dash (3) join the Pelicans as teams with the most players selected for the Carolina League roster.

Joining the teams will be two Strikeouts For Troops Honorary All-Stars. The California League Honorary All-Star will be Marine Sergeant Nick Kimmel. In 2008 Sgt Kimmel was an All-Conference high school baseball player who was highly recruited out of Moses Lake, Washington. Despite being recruited by several colleges to play baseball, including Arizona State University, Sgt Kimmel decided to become a Marine. Sgt Kimmel joined the Marine Corps on September 7, 2008. On December 1, 2011, while building a guard post in Afghanistan, he stepped on an Improvised Explosive Device and lost both his legs and one arm. His rehabilitation has progressed to the point where he is now walking on prosthetics. He has been embraced by the baseball community and fans may recognize him from throwing out the ceremonial first pitch at Game 2 of the 2012 World Series in San Francisco.

For the Carolina League, the Strikeouts For Troops Honorary All-Star will be Doc Jacobs. Doc served eight years and two months in the US Navy and served six years and six months of this service as a combat wounded corpsman. Not only is Doc the only amputee in the Fleet Marine Force for the Navy, but he also made US Naval and Marine Corps history by being the first amputee Corpsman and Naval Personnel to ever be assigned to an infantry unit. This past February Doc tried out for the Los Angeles Dodgers and made it to the final round. Although he did not get signed, he is not giving up his hopes for making it as an idol for kids around the world as a professional baseball player and American war hero. Strikeouts For Troops was founded in April 2005 by Major League pitcher Barry Zito of the San Francisco Giants.

The 2013 California-Carolina League All-Star Game will be played in San Jose, CA at Municipal Stadium, the home of the San Jose Giants. It will mark the first time that the team has hosted this event. Baseball's top prospects, representing 18 Major League teams and 18 Minor League affiliates, will descend upon Municipal Stadium on June 18 as two of the nation's elite Class-A Advanced leagues matchup in the 17th California-Carolina League All-Star Game. After last year's 9-1 victory by the Carolina League in Winston-Salem, N.C., the two Class-A Advanced circuits are deadlocked in the game's history with identical 7-7-2 records.

Tickets still remain for the 2013 California-Carolina League All-Star Game in San Jose. To learn more and purchase tickets visit sjgiants.com/allstargame or call (408) 297-1435. If fans are unable to attend the 2013 California-Carolina League All-Star Game, the game will be televised locally on Comcast Hometown Network Digital Channel 104 and nationally on MiLB.TV. Fans will also be able to listen to the game for free online at sjgiants.com and via the San Jose Giants Mobile App. Whether fans are listening, watching or attending the game, the San Jose Giants want to encourage everyone to use the official social media hashtag of the 2013 All-Star Game, #SJASG13. Fans can begin right now by participating in the All-Star Game poster contest. Visit sjgiants.com/allstargame and download the official 2013 California-Carolina League All-Star Game poster. Then, take a picture of your poster hanging up in your business, home or school and post it on Instagram, Twitter or Facebook tagging the San Jose Giants, using #SJASG13. One lucky fan will win a bag filled with All-Star merchandise!

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