Southern Division All-Star Team Announced
July 2, 2008 - Southern League (SL1) News Release
Zebulon, NC --- Five players from the Southern Division first-half champion Birmingham Barons lead the Southern League's Southern Division All-Star Team announced Tuesday by the league.
RHPs Justin Cassel, Carlos Torres and John Link, joined by two outfielder teammmates Miguel Negron and Ricardo Nanita make up the quintet of Barons coming to Five County Stadium on Monday, July 14th at 7:15 PM ET for the 2008 Southern League All-Star Game.
Torres (8-4, 3.25) presently ranks 10th in the league with a 3.25 ERA, while Link has championed the save leaderboard since the season's infancy. Torres sits second in the system in strikeouts with 84, while Link has converted 22 of 24 save opportunities with a 1.69 ERA, and leads the entire Chicago White Sox organization in saves. Cassel is 7-3 with a 3.29 ERA and fifth in the league in innings pitched (98.1 IP).
Two-time defending league champion Montgomery landed five players on the squad. C John Jaso, OF Rashad Eldridge and DH Gaby Martinez on the position side, joined by pitchers Wade Davis and James Houser.
The Jacksonville Suns will be sending C Lucas May, 3B Russell Mitchell, IF Juan Gonzalez and OF Jamie Hoffman, along with RHP Jesus Castillo and James McDonald. Mitchell's brother Lee Mitchell of Carolina won the 2007 MVP award at last year's All-Star Game, while Hoffman makes another appearance in the Triangle after being drafted by the NHL's Carolina Hurricanes back in 2003. Suns' infielder Ivan DeJesus was also named to the team, but he'll be playing in the Futures Game at Yankee Stadium on July 12th.
The Mobile BayBears added four to the unit with IFs Bryan Byrne, Rusty Ryal and Yunesky Sanchez, joined by RHP Reid Mahon. Byrne is the Southern Division's active hitting leader with a .310 average, while Mahon runs second in the league with 18 saves of Mobile's 35 victories.
The Mississippi Braves, who have morphed last-to-first from the first to second halves, are sending OF Matt Young and RHP Todd Redmond to the team. Young is fifth in the league with 19 steals and second with six triples. Redmond ranks 10th in the Atlanta system in ERA (3.53) and is 7-3 for the Braves.
A complete Southern Division All-Star roster is attached. The All-Star starters will be announced by the Southern League later this week.
Tickets remain on sale for the 2008 Southern League All-Star event at Five County Stadium by calling (919) 269-2287 or visiting www.carolinamudcats.com.
Southern League Stories from July 2, 2008
- Mudcats split double header - Carolina Mudcats
- July 4 promotions - Mississippi Braves
- Barons Cruise to 6-2 Win Over BayBears - Birmingham Barons
- Suns Split Doubleheader, Kershaw Optioned to Jacksonville - Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp
- BayBears Fall for Third Straight Night to Barons - Mobile BayBears
- Deeds Late Heroics Power Smokies To 6-5 Win - Knoxville Smokies
- Deeds' Down Stars With Walk Off Homer - Huntsville Stars
- Fight Back Express to Visit Pringles Park on Saturday - Jackson Generals
- Lookouts Top Diamond Jaxx - Jackson Generals
- Three M-Braves Named Southern League All-Stars - Mississippi Braves
- Lookouts Thump Diamond Jaxx - Chattanooga Lookouts
- Six Montgomery Biscuits named to SL All-Star team - Montgomery Biscuits
- BayBears Roster Move - Mobile BayBears
- Independence Celebration at Trustmark Park - Mississippi Braves
- Three Stars in All-Star Starting Lineup - Huntsville Stars
- Southern Division All-Star Team Announced - SL1
- Diamond Jaxx July 4-7 - Jackson Generals
- Caps for Kids - Christmas in July Toy Drive - Mississippi Braves
- Lookouts Roster Moves - Chattanooga Lookouts
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.
