EL1 Altoona Curve

Gimenez, Owens Named to Eastern League All-Star Squad

Published on August 26, 2010 under Eastern League (EL1)
Altoona Curve News Release


PORTLAND, Maine - Altoona Curve catcher Hector Gimenez and left handed starting pitcher Rudy Owens have been selected to the end of the year Eastern League All-Star team, the league announced today. It is the first time since 2007 that the Curve have had a member selected to the end of the year squad and the first time since 2006 that multiple players have been chosen.

Gimenez, 27, has been a rock behind the plate all season long for the Curve and has had a career year offensively. Entering Thursday night's action, Gimenez is hitting .301 with a career-high 16 home runs and a career-high 66 runs driven in. His .301 clip is fifth best in the E.L. while he ranks second in slugging percentage (.540) and OPS (.925). The 16 home runs is the highest total of any catcher in the league.

Behind the plate, Gimenez has thrown out 34 percent of would be base stealers this season, which is fourth best among catchers in the E.L.

"Hector is one of our leaders and puts the team before himself every day," said Curve Manager Matt Walbeck. "He is a true field general that has carried us with his bat all year."

If Gimenez has been the Curve's anchor behind the plate, Owens has been its anchor in the starting rotation as the southpaw has continued to succeed in 2010 after a breakout 2009 campaign. The 22-year-old enters his start tonight against Richmond leading the league in ERA (2.67) and WHIP (1.01) but also ranks among the league leaders in strikeouts (4th - 118) and batting average against (5th - .232).

He's 10-6 in 24 games started for Altoona in 2010 and he has given up more than three earned runs in only two starts this season.

"Rudy is the model of consistency with incredible poise and focus," added Walbeck. "He has amazing control and prepares as well as anyone I've seen. "

This is the second end of the year All-Star selection for Owens, who was named to the 2009 South Atlantic League Postseason All-Star squad, and the first for Gimenez. Both Owens and Gimenez were selected to the E.L. midseason All-Star squad as well.

"Both Rudy and Hector played at a high level all year and were supported by a great group of players on and off the field," said the Curve's second-year skipper. "This is certainly a reflection of the Pirates farm system and the direction we're heading along with the work of Bryan Housand, Chad Uihlein, Ryan Long, and Tom Filer."

The last Altoona Curve player to be voted on to the E.L. All-Star team was RHP Matt Peterson in 2007. Altoona last had two selections in 2006 when outfielder Vic Buttler and LHP Shane Youman were voted selected to the team.

The Eastern League All-Star team is voted upon by respective Eastern League team managers and coaching staffs, sportswriters, radio and television personnel and other media members. A complete Eastern League All-Star team roster is attached.

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Eastern League Stories from August 26, 2010


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