Squirrels Sending Four to All-Star Festivities
Published on July 1, 2015 under Eastern League (EL1)
Richmond Flying Squirrels News Release
RVA -The Richmond Flying Squirrels, Double-A affiliate of the San Francisco Giants, in conjunction with the Eastern League of Professional Baseball Clubs, are pleased to announce that four Flying Squirrels players have been selected as Eastern League Mid-Season All-Stars. LHP Kelvin Marte, RHP Joe Biagini, SS Rando Moreno and 1B Ricky Oropesa have all been named to the Western Division team that will compete in the 2015 Eastern League All-Star Game in Portland, ME on July 15th at 7:00 PM. The Western Division team will be managed by Flying Squirrels first-year Manager Jose Alguacil, as well as Hitting Coach Kenny Joyce. Former Major League saves leader & Giants Roving Pitching Instructor Lee Smith will serve as Pitching Coach for the western squad in the stead of Squirrels Pitching Coach Steve Kilne. The Squirrels won the Western Division in 2014, leading to the coaching staff's participation in the 2015 All-Star Game. Squirrels Athletic Trainer David Getsoff and Strength & Conditioning Coach Adam Vish will also represent Richmond. The game will be held at the home of the Portland Sea Dogs, Hadlock Field.
Eastern League Mid-Season All-Stars are selected through voting conducted among league managers, broadcasters, media members and fans. Click here for the Eastern Division All-Star Roster - Click here for the Western Division All-Star Roster
Biagini, 25, earns the nomination in his first year at Double-A . He currently ranks fourth in the Eastern League in ERA (2.01) through 76 innings pitched. The UC Davis Aggie is also third in the Eastern League in average against (.214), and fourth in WHIP (1.00). Biagini, who was selected by the Giants in the 26th round in 2011, is tied for first on the team in wins (6), leads starters in ERA, and has pitched more innings than any other Flying Squirrel. In 2014, his first season in the California League, he lead San Jose with 10 wins, and finished fifth in the hitter friendly California League with a 4.01 ERA.
Moreno, 23, has taken over the leadoff role for the Squirrels with the departure of Kelby Tomlinson to Triple-A. He is hitting .297 with 23 RBI and a league-leading 13 sacrifice hits. A native of Monte Plata, Dominican Republic, Moreno saw time in San Jose and Augusta last year, with most of the season being spent in Augusta, where he knocked in 30 RBI for the Greenjackets. Moreno currently holds the highest on base percentage on the team (.336) and is third on the team in hits (60).
Marte, 27 is tied with fellow all-star Joe Biagini for the team lead at wins (6). In his second season with the Flying Squirrels, Marte has posted a stellar 2.73 ERA in 56.0 innings pitched. The lefty made 15 appearances for Richmond, with 8 of them being starts. The Santo Domingo, DR native has posted a 1.69 ERA as a reliever this year, and a 3.15 ERA as a starter. In 2014, Marte spilt time between Richmond and Fresno (AAA), where he won a combined nine games during the 2014 campaign.
Oropesa, 26, is tied for third in the Eastern League in RBI (46) and leads the Squirrels with nine home runs. The Southern California Trojan is hitting .278 on the year, second on the team behind fellow all-star Rando Moreno. The former third round pick by the Giants was also the Easter League Player of the Month for May. 2015 marks his third season in Richmond. In 2014 he hit .252 and started the season with a five game hit streak. Oropesa was named second team All-American at USC as a sophomore in 2009.
The Flying Squirrels return home on Saturday July 4th to begin a six game "All -American" homestand. Tickets can be purchased at the Box Office or online at www.squirrelsbaseball.com/tickets .The promotional schedule is as follows:
Saturday, July 4th - Independence Day Celebration and Superblast Saturday Fireworks.
Sunday, July 5th - Double Feature Fireworks Show, Live TV Broadcast, Kids Club & "Red Out"
Monday, July 6th - Revolutionary Richmond, Liberty or Death Night.
Tuesday, July 7th - Hunter Strickland Bobblehead (1st 2,000 fans all ages) presented by NBC 12.
Wednesday, July 8th - Doug E. Fresh - "The World's Greatest Entertainer and Human Beatbox" will make a special celebrity appearance at The Diamond. Interested in hanging out with Doug E.? Check out the VIP all-you-can-eat picnic tickets here.
Thursday, July 9th - In-Your-Face-Fireworks fireworks presented by Your Local Ford Dealers.
Eastern League Stories from July 1, 2015
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- Miscues & Mental Lapses Burn B-Mets, 5-4 - Binghamton Rumble Ponies
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- RubberDucks Beat Bowie 6-2 - Akron RubberDucks
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- Fightins enter tie for first with win over 'Cats - Reading Fightin Phils
- Curve Snap Six-Game Skid with Shutout Win at Trenton - Altoona Curve
- No Extra Innings, No Victory for Thunder - Trenton Thunder
- Dugas Promoted to Yankees, Castillo Returns - Trenton Thunder
- Erie SeaWolves vs. Binghamton Mets - Game Notes - Erie SeaWolves
- Flying Squirrels Game Notes: at Harrisburg - Richmond Flying Squirrels
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- Five Curve Players Selected for Eastern League All-Star Game - Altoona Curve
- Five Thunder Players Named to Eastern League All-Star Team - Trenton Thunder
- B-Mets Sending Four to All-Star Classic - Binghamton Rumble Ponies
- Squirrels Sending Four to All-Star Festivities - Richmond Flying Squirrels
- Five for Fightins: Crawford Highlights Group Heading to All-Star Classic - Reading Fightin Phils
- Five Sea Dogs Selected to All-Star Game - Portland Sea Dogs
- Three Fisher Cats Headed to 2015 Eastern League All-Star Game - New Hampshire Fisher Cats
- Rosters Announced for Eastern League All-Star Game - Portland Sea Dogs
- 2015 Eastern League All-Star Game Rosters Announced - EL1
- Mets Take Series Opener - Erie SeaWolves
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