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SL1 Knoxville Smokies

Smokies Place Four On All-Star Squad

June 26, 2003 - Southern League (SL1)
Knoxville Smokies News Release


Sevierville, Tenn.- The Tennessee Smokies, Class AA affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals, will send four players to the Southern League All-Star Game in Jacksonville, Fla., July 8th. Catcher Yadier Molina and relief pitcher Mike Lyons will join infielders Bucky Jacobsen and Caonabo Cosme on the Eastern Division squad. For the first time in three years the game will not be held at Smokies Park. The Suns will play host at their brand new $34 million stadium, The Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville.

Molina, 20, and in his first season at Double A has thrown out 47% of would be base stealers. His brothers Benji and Jose both catch for the World Champion Anaheim Angels.

Lyons is second in the league with 20 saves in his first year in the Cardinals chain. A former Mets farmhand, the 28 year-old right-hander was out of baseball for two years before playing independent ball last year and signed by St. Louis in the off season.

Jacobsen, 27, is in his fifth season in the Southern League, having spent portions of the last four with the Huntsville Stars. He'll be playing in his third Southern League All-Star Game. The first baseman is second in the league with 16 home runs and is second in runs (48) and fourth in slugging percentage (.547).

Cosme, 24, was named to an All-Star team for the first time in his career. Signed as a minor league free agent in the off season from the A's, the Tennessee second baseman has a team high 27 mulit-hit games. He's currently 8th in the SL with a .311 batting average, second in hits (90) and second in doubles (25).

The Southern League will announce the Western Division All-Star Team on June 27.

The all-stars were selected by a vote of Southern League field managers, radio broadcasters, print media and television media.

Since its reincarnation in 1995, the Southern League All-Star Game has served as a stepping-stone to the major leagues. Some of the former Southern League All-Stars who are currently playing in the big leagues include: Jason Kendall (Carolina Mudcats); Jermaine Dye (Greenville Braves); Mike Cameron (Birmingham Barons); Jason Varitek (Port City Roosters); Juan Encarnacion (Jacksonville Suns); Eric Chavez (Huntsville Stars); Robert Fick (Jacksonville Suns); Mark Buehrle (Birmingham Barons); Juan Pierre (Carolina Mudcats); Brandon Inge (Jacksonville Suns); Marcus Giles (Greenville Braves); Toby Hall (Orlando Rays); and Corey Patterson (West Tenn Diamond Jaxx); Orlando Hudson (Tennessee Smokies); Josh Phelps (Tennessee Smokies); Jake Peavy (Mobile BayBears); and Olivo Miguel (Birmingham Barons).

Tennessee returns to action Friday night at home against the Braves. The Smokie have won five straight and lead the Eastern Division with a second half record of 7-1. Game time is 7:15 with Nick Stocks (4-4, 4.68) starting for the Smokies opposite Bubba Nelson (6-6, 3.17).

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Southern League Stories from June 26, 2003


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