Seven Sand Gnats Named 2014 All-Stars
Published on June 3, 2014 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Savannah Sand Gnats News Release
Savannah, Ga.- The 2014 South Atlantic League All-Star Game in Hickory, N.C., will feature the league's best talent as voted by managers, coaching staffs, media, and front office members. The Savannah Sand Gnats will send seven players- the highest total among teams.
Third-year Sand Gnats skipper Luis Rojas will manage the Southern Division team. Rojas has led his team to a divisional first place record of 37-17 so far in 2014. The Dominican Republic native has been with the New York Mets organization for nine seasons and last season led the Gnats to their first league championship in 17 years.
With a league-leading team ERA, the Sand Gnats pitching staff will send five pitchers to Hickory including starter Kevin McGowan. The six-foot-six righthander boasts the lowest ERA in the league (1.57), going 3-1 over 46 innings with 35 strikeouts. The Mets' 13th round selection in 2013 hails from Nashua, N.H. McGowan pitched most of 2013 as a reliever with the Brooklyn Cyclones, but has flourished in the starting role for the Gnats.
McGowan will be joined by starter Miller Diaz, who has thus far turned in a 5-0 record with a team-high 56 strikeouts. This will be the second consecutive all-star selection for the Caracas, Venezuela, native.
The Sand Gnats bullpen will send three relievers including Akeel Morris, Robert Coles, and Dario Alvarez.
Morris has been a strikeout machine, owning a 3-0 record with 45 strikeouts and a miniscule 0.31 ERA. Opposing batters are hitting just .117 against the US Virginia Island native- a league-best.
Sand Gnats closer Robert Coles also finds himself on the roster after converting a perfect 10-of-10 save opportunities while sporting a 1.75 ERA.
Reliever Dario Alvarez will join the trio after earning a 3-0 record with a shiny 1.35 ERA. The Santiago, Dominican Republic, native has also started in three games this season. His start against Greenville on May 14, earned him SAL Player of the Week honors, as he struck out 12 batters over five shut-out innings.
Gnats Third baseman Jeff McNeil will man second base for the Southern Division thanks to a stellar season at the plate. The Sanata Barbara, Calif., native owns the league's second best batting average (.348). McNeil has scorched 16 doubles, two triples, and two home runs, leading his team with 91 total bases
Mets 2012 first-rounder Gavin Cecchini will also head to Hickory, after displaying a solid glove at shortstop for the Gnats and hitting the ball hard all year with 16 extra-base knocks and 48 hits overall.
The SAL All-Star Game will be held on Monday, June 16 at L.P. Frans Stadium in Hickory, N.C.,- the home of the Hickory Crawdads. A full roster can be found at the South Atlantic League website.
South Atlantic League Stories from June 3, 2014
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- Seven Sand Gnats Named 2014 All-Stars - Savannah Sand Gnats
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