Seven RoughRiders Named Texas League Mid-Season All-Stars
June 14, 2016 - Texas League (TL1)
Frisco RoughRiders News Release
FRISCO, TEXAS - The Texas League announced the rosters for the 2016 Texas League All-Star Game on Tuesday, and seven Frisco RoughRiders, the Double-A affiliate of the Texas Rangers, have been selected to represent the South Division as mid-season all-stars.
Two RoughRiders- first baseman Ronald Guzman and outfielder Ryan Cordell- earned starting spots at their respective positions. Catcher Isiah Kiner-Falefa and outfielder Preston Beck are listed as reserves. Starting pitchers Connor Sadzeck and Victor Payano made the squad, alongside reliever Adam Parks.
The RoughRiders had the third-most players selected to the All-Star Game, only behind Tulsa (nine) and Corpus Christi (eight). It marks the sixth consecutive year Frisco has sent at least seven players to the All-Star Game, including the 10 representatives selected in 2014.
Guzman, 21, has been one of the RoughRiders most dangerous and consistent hitters in the first half. In his first Double-A season, he's hitting .287 with nine home runs and 29 RBI. Guzman has three hit streaks of six games or longer and reached in 17 consecutive games from April 21 - May 9. With nine home runs already, Guzman is on pace to shatter his single-season high of 12, set last year between Class-A Hickory and Class A-Advanced High Desert. Guzman was signed as a non-drafted free agent in 2011.
Cordell, 24, is also in the midst of a breakout season with the RoughRiders. He's hitting .287 through his first 60 games, having played in all but one game for Frisco this season. The early part of the season was especially impressive for the Liberty University alum, who reached base safely in each of the first 37 games to begin the season, including a league-long 17-game hit streak April 12 - May 1. Cordell earned Player of the Month honors in both the Texas League and the Rangers farm system for the month of April, after hitting .363 with five home runs and 22 RBI. The mid-season all-star selection is the third for Cordell in four years as a professional, after earning a California League all-star spot in 2015 and a spot on the 2013 Northwest League all-star team. The Rangers selected Cordell in the 11th round of the 2013 MLB Draft.
Kiner-Falefa, 21, makes the roster as a reserve catcher despite never having caught at the professional level prior to this season. The transition has been a success for the Hawaiian utility player, who came into the season primarily as an infielder. In 10 games behind the plate, Kiner-Falefa has cut down six of 14 base stealers and has just one passed ball, while holding a catcher's ERA of 3.25. He was named the Rangers Minor League Defender of the Month in April for his work. At the plate, Kiner-Falefa was hitting .283 in his first 44 games before a knee infection sent him to the disabled list. Kiner-Falefa was a fourth round selection in the 2013 MLB Draft by Texas.
Beck, 25, is off to a good start in his second season with Frisco. The Dallas-native is hitting .300- the top average on the squad-through his first 44 games and has reached base safely in 21 of his last 23 games. Beck's four triples put him tied for second in the Texas League, alongside teammates Ryan Cordell and Lewis Brinson. This is Beck's second mid-season all-star selection, after making the Carolina League's all-star squad in 2014 with the Class A-Advanced Myrtle Beach Pelicans. The Rangers select Beck out of the University of Texas at Arlington with the club's fifth round pick in 2012.
Sadzeck, 24, has arguably been Frisco's most impressive and consistent starting pitcher in the first half of the season. Through his first 12 games (11 starts), Sadzeck holds a 6-2 record with a 3.18 ERA in 73 2/3 innings of work. The Illinois-native recorded his second seven-inning complete game of the season Monday vs. Midland, marking his fifth start of seven innings in 2016. He struck out a career-high nine hitters in a win May 6 at San Antonio. The righty ranks third in the Texas League in opponent average (.198) and fourth in strikeouts (62). Texas made Sadzeck its 11th round pick in the 2011 MLB Draft out of Howard College.
Payano, 23, is in the midst of one of his best years a professional so far in 2016. Through 12 starts, he's 4-4 with a 3.64 ERA. He leads the team and is third in the Texas League with his 65 strikeouts. The southpaw's 3.64 ERA puts him on track for his lowest mark since his first professional season in 2010, when he held a 3.40 ERA in the Dominican Summer League. Payano struck out a career-high 13 hitters May 3 at San Antonio, the second-most strikeouts by a Riders pitcher in a game in team history. Payano lands a mid-season all-star spot for the second time in his career after making the South Atlantic League all-star team in 2012 with Class-A Hickory. The Rangers signed Payano out of his native Dominican Republic as a non-drafted free agent in 2010.
Parks, 23, has been one of the anchors of the Riders bullpen this season. In 17 appearances, he's 1-0 with a 1.86 ERA and has five saves in as many opportunities. Parks, in his second season with the RoughRiders, has become the team's primary closer since Matt Bush was promoted to the Texas Rangers on May 13. The third-year pro out of Liberty University (33rd round/2014) earns an all-star selection for the first time in his career.
The 2016 All-Star Game will take place Tuesday, June 28 at 7:10 p.m. The game will be played at Hammons Field in Springfield, Missouri, home of the Springfield Cardinals. The Midland RockHounds coaching staff will coach the South Division all-stars, while the host Cardinals will employ their staff to coach the North Division squad.
The Riders continue an eight-day, nine-game homestand on Wednesday night against the Houston-affiliated Corpus Christi Hooks at 7:05 p.m. Tickets for Wednesday and the remaining games on the homestand are available now online at RidersBaseball.com, via email at info@ridersbaseball.com, over the phone at (972) 731-9200, or in-person at the RoughRiders box office.
Texas League Stories from June 14, 2016
- Travs Complete Four-Game Sweep of NWA - Arkansas Travelers
- Cardinals Reclaim 1st Place with Wild 7-6 Comeback Win - Springfield Cardinals
- Drillers Fall from First with Disappointing Loss - Tulsa Drillers
- Naturals Swept in North Little Rock in 6-1 Loss - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
- Beck, Beck, Beck, Beck... and Gone - Midland RockHounds
- Beck's Walk-Off Blast Pushes Riders Past RockHounds - Frisco RoughRiders
- Four Missions Headed to TL All-Star Game - San Antonio Missions
- Four Travs Named Mid-Season All-Stars - Arkansas Travelers
- Six Cardinals Headline Texas League All-Star Rosters - Springfield Cardinals
- Nine Drillers Named to TL All-Star Squad - Tulsa Drillers
- Seven RoughRiders Named Texas League Mid-Season All-Stars - Frisco RoughRiders
- 'Hounds Send "5 + 5" to Texas League All-Star Game - Midland RockHounds
- Hooks Land Division-Leading 8 All-Stars - Corpus Christi Hooks
- Five Naturals Selected to Texas League All-Star Game - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
- Homestand Highlights: June 15 - June 22 - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
- Riders Game Notes - 11:05 a.m. vs. Midland RockHounds - June 14, 2016 - Frisco RoughRiders
- RockHounds Rally Back to Ty(Ler) Frisco - Midland RockHounds
- RockHounds Score Eight Late Runs to Take Game Two - Frisco RoughRiders
- Yuhl, Tanielu Drive Hooks Past Missions - Corpus Christi Hooks
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
