SAL1 Charleston Dirty Birds

Polanco and Hanson Honored as 2012 Annual All-Stars

August 30, 2012 - South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Charleston Dirty Birds News Release


CHARLESTON, WV (August 30, 2012) - The South Atlantic League has announced the selection of the 2012 Annual All-Star Team and two members of the West Virginia Power have been chosen for the end-of-season honors. Gregory Polanco was chosen as the Most Outstanding Major League Prospect and as an All-Star outfielder. Alen Hanson was selected as the league's top shortstop in a poll conducted from the 14 South Atlantic League team's field managers, general managers, sports writers, and broadcasters.

Polanco, a native of Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, is among the league leaders in several different statistical categories, including batting average (.325), hits (137), runs (80), runs batted in (81), stolen bases (40), slugging percentage (.514), and total bases (217). The outfielder started in right during the 2012 South Atlantic League All-Star Game and has appeared in 111 games this year, his first in full season baseball.

Hanson, a product of La Romana, Dominican Republic, has appeared in 119 games this season and, like Polanco, is among the South Atlantic League's leaders in several key offensive categories. The shortstop leads the league in hits with 148 and is among the top five in batting average (.312), at bats (474), triples (12), extra base hits (60), runs (95), slugging percentage (.532), and total bases (252).

Polanco is the second West Virginia player to be honored by the league as one if its top three players since the club became the Power in 2005. Rudy Owens was honored in 2009 as the South Atlantic League's Most Outstanding Pitcher. Eight other players have been honored by the league between the affiliations with Milwaukee and Pittsburgh since 2005.

Michael Foltynewicz of the Lexington Legends was selected as the Most Outstanding Pitcher. Foltynewicz has a 14-3 record and an ERA of 2.91 in 26 games. Hagerstown Suns third baseman Matthew Skole was selected as the Most Valuable Player. Skole batted .286 with a league-leading 27 home runs and 92 RBIs in 101 games before being promoted to Potomac in the Carolina League.

Joe Mikulik of the Asheville Tourists has been selected as Manager of the 2012 Annual All-Star Team. This is the fourth time Mikulik has been selected for this honor, having previously won in 2001, 2007 and 2008. Josh Bonifay of the Lexington Legends was chosen to be the Coach of the 2012 Annual All-Star Team. Bonifay was West Virginia's bench coach in 2010.

2012 South Atlantic League All-Star Team

Manager Joe Mikulik Asheville

Coach Josh Bonifay Lexington

RH Pitcher Michael Foltynewicz Lexington

LH Pitcher Tyler Anderson Asheville

Catcher Austin Barnes Greensboro

First Baseman Harold Riggins Asheville

Second Baseman Delino DeShields, Jr. Lexington

Shortstop Alen Hanson West Virginia

Third Baseman Matthew Skole Hagerstown

Utility Infielder Trevor Story Asheville

Outfielder Keury De La Cruz Greenville

Outfielder Brent Keys Greensboro

Outfielder Gregory Polanco West Virginia

Utility Outfielder Shawn Payne Augusta

Designated Hitter Zachary Johnson Lexington

Most Outstanding Pitcher Michael Foltynewicz Lexington

Most Outstanding MLB Prospect Gregory Polanco West Virginia

Most Valuable Player Matthew Skole Hagerstown

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