FSL1 Dunedin Blue Jays

Manager of the Year Omar Malavé Highlights Dunedin Blue Jays' FSL All-Star Honors

Published on August 26, 2014 under Florida State League (FSL1)
Dunedin Blue Jays News Release


DUNEDIN, FL - The Florida State League announced its 2014 All-Star Team today, and has named Dunedin Blue Jays skipper Omar Malavé Manager of the Year. Dunedin was further honored with a league-high three All-Star selections: RHP Taylor Cole, RHP Arik Sikula and CF Dwight Smith, Jr.

Omar Malavé led the Blue Jays to a First Half North Division Championship with a record of 46-23, the second-best winning percentage (.667) in a single half in D-Jays franchise history. Dunedin went 20-6 in April, and eventually clinched its fifth-consecutive playoff berth.

The 51-year-old from Sucre, Venezuela was signed as a free agent by the Blue Jays in 1980 and has spent over 30 years with the organization as a player and coach. After a nine-year playing career, Malavé went on to manage and coach at six different levels, including a previous stint managing in Dunedin from 2004-2009.

RHP Taylor Cole (8-8, 3.12 ERA) leads all of Minor League Baseball with 167 strikeouts, and tops the FSL with an 11.61 strikeouts-per-nine ratio. With one scheduled start remaining in the regular season, Cole needs seven more Ks to break Dunedin's single-season record, which was set by Joel Carreno in 2010.

The 25-year-old from Las Vegas, Nevada put together a signature performance on July 21 against the Bradenton Marauders, striking out a career-high 12 batters while allowing just two hits and one walk in 6.2 innings. Cole was promoted to Double-A New Hampshire on August 1 and made two starts in the Eastern League. On August 8, he held the Akron Rubberducks to three runs on four hits with six strikeouts in a season-high seven innings. Cole was also named to the FSL Mid-Season All-Star Team, and started the game for the North Division. He was selected by the Blue Jays in the 29th round of the 2011 draft out of BYU.

RHP Arik Sikula (2-1, 1.70 ERA, 31 SV) has anchored the Blue Jays bullpen throughout the season, recording a league-high 31 saves in 34 opportunities. Sikula has 17 more saves than any other pitcher in the FSL. He ranks second among relievers with an opponents' batting average of .199, and has posted a 0.90 WHIP, which is best among pitchers who have thrown 40-plus innings in 2014. Sikula has allowed just eight earned runs in 43 outings this season with 59 strikeouts against eight walks.

The 25-year-old from Chico, California spent a month in Double-A New Hampshire, going 1-0 with a 3.00 ERA in 15 innings. He struck out 20 Eastern League hitters and issued only four walks. The Blue Jays selected Sikula in the 36th round of the 2011 draft out of Marshall University.

CF Dwight Smith, Jr. has been Dunedin's most consistent offensive producer in 2014, leading the team in batting average (.285), on-base percentage (.360), home runs (11), RBIs (59), stolen bases (15) and doubles (28). The 21-year-old from Atlanta, Georgia leads the league with 81 runs scored and is tied for the FSL lead with eight triples. After launching his 11th homer on Monday night, he now ranks third in the league with an .813 OPS (on-base plus slugging percentage).

Smith has also collected 14 outfield assists this season, which is good for second among active players in the FSL. The Blue Jays selected Smith in the first round (53rd overall) of the 2011 draft out of McIntosh High School in Peachtree City, Georgia. He is the son of Dwight Smith, the 1989 National League Rookie of the Year runner-up.

With their fifth-consecutive playoff berth in hand, the D-Jays are gearing up for the postseason, which begins on the road on Tuesday, September 2nd. Their first-round opponent has yet to be determined, with the Daytona Cubs holding a two-game lead over the Tampa Yankees with five games remaining in the regular season.

Dunedin will host Game 2 of the playoffs on Wednesday, September 3rd at 6:30 p.m., and the first 250 fans with paid tickets will receive a free playoff T-Shirt at the gate. If the Blue Jays win, everyone's game ticket becomes a free movie ticket to Cobb Theater's in the Clearwater Countryside Mall.

The Blue Jays will also host Game 3 (if necessary) at Florida Auto Exchange Stadium on Thursday, September 4th with first pitch scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Playoff tickets are available online at DunedinBlueJays.com or over the phone at 727-733-0429.

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Florida State League Stories from August 26, 2014


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