EL1 Richmond Flying Squirrels

Luigi Rodriguez Tapped for Home Run Derby

July 3, 2018 - Eastern League (EL1)
Richmond Flying Squirrels News Release


Funnville - The Flying Squirrels, in conjunction with the Eastern League of Professional Baseball, are pleased to announce that Richmond outfielder Luigi Rodriguez has been selected as one of eight participants for the 2018 Case's Pork Roll Home Run Derby to be held during the All-Star festivities on Tuesday, July 10 at Arm & Hammer Park in Trenton, NJ. Rodriguez is one of five Flying Squirrels players selected to the Western Division All-Star Team. All-Star rosters can be seen here. Richmond wraps up a nine-game road trip tonight in Harrisburg and will return home tomorrow. Wednesday in Funnville begins a five-game homestand, with Wednesday, July 4 sold out. Tickets remain for the rest of the homestand, including for fireworks on July 5.

Participants for the Western Division will be: Richmond outfielder Luigi Rodriguez, Harrisburg catcher Taylor Gushue, Akron outfielder Connor Marabell, and Altoona infielder Will Craig.

The Eastern Division will feature: Thunder outfielder Trey Amburgey, Thunder infielder Abiatal Avelino, Reading infielder Zach Green, and Hartford outfielder Sam Hilliard.

Richmond outfielder Luigi Rodriguez has hit ten home runs through 65 games this season, three shy of his career-high. Six of his ten home runs have been hit during his last 14 games played. Rodriguez has ranked among the top-10 in the Eastern League in batting average all season long. Taylor Gushue of the Harrisburg Senators entered this season as the #20 prospect in the Washington Nationals system according to Baseball America, has launched eight home runs for the Senators; one year after launching 18 home runs.

RubberDucks outfielder Connor Marabell has hit a career-high eight home runs this season and will have his father throw to him during the competition. Altoona Curve infielder Will Craig entered the season as the #24 prospect in the Pittsburgh Pirates system according to Baseball America. Craig, the Pirates first-round selection in 2016 out of Wake Forest, has hit a career-high 12 home runs this season.

Avelino, the Eastern League's reigning Player of the Week, is in the midst of his best campaign of his professional career with a career-high 12 home runs through play on July 2. Amburgey is one of three Thunder players to hit double-digit home runs this season, the 23-year-old has ten home runs on the season.

Reading infielder Zach Green leads the Fightin Phils with 15 home runs, which is tied for second-most in the Eastern League this season. Sam Hilliard of Hartford has hit six home runs this season bringing his career total to 51 over his four-year professional career.

The Case's Pork Roll Home Run Derby will take place following the Philadelphia Police Blue Sox and NYPD Finest Charity Baseball Game which is scheduled to begin at 5:30pm.

The competition will begin with a four-minute round for each participant to hit as many home runs as possible with the top two totals advancing to the final. In the event of a tie after the first round, participants will get 90 seconds to participate in a swing-off for the opportunity to advance to the final.

The winner of the Case's Pork Roll Home Run Derby will take home a special gift from Case's Pork Roll, a championship belt and a cash prize.

Individual tickets to the Eastern League All-Star Classic on July 10 and 11 at Arm & Hammer Park are on-sale now. Fans can purchase tickets and two-day passes by visiting www.TrentonThunder.com/2018ASG by calling 609-394-3300 x101.

Check out the Richmond Flying Squirrels Statistics



Eastern League Stories from July 3, 2018


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