Hot Rods Place 4 on All-Star Team
Published on June 4, 2011 under Midwest League (MWL1)
Bowling Green Hot Rods News Release
Bowling Green, KY - In conjunction with the Midwest League, the Bowling Green Hot Rods announced that four players are headed to the 2011 Midwest League All-Star Game on June 21 in Davenport, IA. Infielders Derek Dietrich and Phil Wunderlich will join pitchers C.J. Riefenhauser and Eliazer Suero for this year's mid-summer festivities being held at Modern Woodmen Park, home of the Quad Cities River Bandits. The four-player contingent is the largest for the Hot Rods in their third year of existence.
"As the manager of this team, I couldn't be more proud and happy for these players," said Hot Rods manager Brady Williams. "They have all played integral roles in the success we have had on the field this year, representing the Hot Rods and the Tampa Bay Rays with hard work and professionalism that is being recognized by the other managers in this league."
Dietrich will be the starting shortstop when the Eastern Division stars meet their Western Division counterparts on June 21. The Parma, OH, native is the runaway leader among fellow shortstops in several offensive categories, including home runs (7), RBI (33), batting average (.282), and extra-base hits (21). He leads the Hot Rods with 12 doubles and is second in home runs and RBI. This is the second all-star nod for the second round pick after he was named to the New York-Penn League all-star roster in his first pro season but could not participate due to injury. He is the second Hot Rod selected to start an all-star game at shortstop after Tim Beckhem received the honor in 2009 during the Hot Rods lone campaign in the South Atlantic League.
Wunderlich is another two-time all-star having earned the recognition with Dietrich in the NYPL after his 12th round selection in the 2010 draft. The slugging first baseman has been the key cog in a Hot Rods offense that has scored 243 runs through Friday, second-most in the Midwest League. The Chicago-area native is hitting .265 and leads the team with 35 RBI, and has consistently ranked in the top five in the Midwest League in home runs and RBI since the season began. Wunderlich has also developed a reputation as the team's most clutch hitter - six of his seven home runs have come in the sixth inning or later, highlighted by his walk-off grand slam in the tenth inning on April 15.
The left-handed Riefenhauser has been the Hot Rods ace in the hole since the season began, earning his first all-star nod. Hailing from Mahopac, NY, Riefenhauser leads all Hot Rods starters with a sterling 2.77 ERA in his first ten starts. He leads the club with 55 strikeouts and has pitched at least five innings in nine of his ten outings. Three games come to mind when highlighting the brilliance of the 2010 20th-round draft pick from Chipola Junior College in Florida. On April 23 in Lake County, he went 6.1 innings before allowing his first hit. In his next start on April 29 he struck out a career-high 11 Great Lakes Loons, one shy of the Hot Rods all-time record of 12. Then on May 14, he hurled a complete-game shutout, racking up 10 strikeouts in the nightcap of a doubleheader sweep of South Bend.
Suero rounds out the Hot Rods all-star group with his first all-star nomination. Signed as a free agent by the Rays in 2007, the Dominican Republic native has pitched primarily in relief, compiling a 3-1 record with a 3.61 ERA. After earning a win in April, Suero surged to the all-star team with a sensational May with two more victories and a 2.77 ERA. The month began with 5.2 innings of relief on May 2 with a career-high seven strikeouts. He made his lone spot start of the season on May 13 with six shutout innings against South Bend. Suero's all-star berth is an early birthday present as he turns 22 on Tuesday, June 7.
All four players will participate in a jam-packed all-star week hosted by Quad Cities. On June 20, all-stars from both squads will mingle with fans during the All-Star Fan Fest leading into the annual Home Run Derby at 7 PM. After the derby, fans 21 and older can join the players and team and league executives on a pub crawls through downtown Davenport. Tuesday's All-Star Game begins at 7:05 PM with the Eastern Division serving as the road team.
The Hot Rods continue their ten-game home stand with game two of their series against the Beloit Snappers (Minnesota Twins) at 7:05 PM. After the game, the Hot Rods will launch another display of explosive fireworks. For tickets and a full list of promotions, visit www.bghotrods.com.
Midwest League Stories from June 4, 2011
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- Hot Rods Place 4 on All-Star Team - Bowling Green Hot Rods
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