TL1 Corpus Christi Hooks

Texas League All-Star Rosters Revealed

Published on June 15, 2015 under Texas League (TL1)
Corpus Christi Hooks News Release


CORPUS CHRISTI - At 41-19, the Corpus Christi Hooks have Minor League Baseball's best record. They've already clinched the Texas League South Division first-half title, securing a playoff berth for the third time in four years.

Monday, mid-season honors came to nine Hooks, including five pitchers, as the league revealed its rosters for the 79th Texas League All-Star Game at Whataburger Field. First pitch is 7:30 on Tuesday, June 30, and the event is presented by CITGO.

On the original rosters, Corpus Christi had the most representatives of any club in the South (8), followed by Frisco (7), Midland (5), and San Antonio (4).

First-place Northwest Arkansas (37-25), holds that distinction in the North with eight picks, followed by Springfield (6), Arkansas (6), and Tulsa (4).

Three Hooks representatives have already been promoted, including two directly to Houston: pitchers Lance McCullers (May 14) and Vincent Velasquez (June 10). Second baseman Tony Kemp is at Triple-A Fresno (June 11). First baseman Conrad Gregor, third baseman Tyler White, catcher Roberto Pena, starting pitcher Chris Devenski, and relievers Travis Ballew and Jandel Gustave round out the Corpus Christi selections.

The Hooks field staff - manager Rodney Linares, pitching coach Doug Brocail, hitting coach Dan Radison, infield coach Tom Lawless, athletic trainer Grant Hufford, and strength and conditioning coach Mark Spadavecchia - will guide the South team. By virtue of its 2014 division championship, Tulsa provides the North's field staff, led by manager Razor Shines.

McCullers was 3-1 with Corpus Christi and posted a 0.62 ERA over six games and four starts. He struck out 43 and walked 11 while surrendering just 15 hits over 29 innings. Velasquez, who made five starts, was 3-0 with a 1.37 earned run average. He issued just nine walks, yielded 15 hits, and recorded 37 strikeouts in 26 1/3.

Kemp left for the Pacific Coast League as the TL's leading hitter at .358 and paced the circuit in on-base percentage at .457.

Devenski is the Texas League's winningest pitcher at 7-0, and has the top ERA (0.65). In 55 innings of work, he's permitted 35 hits, 15 walks, and struck out 48. Setup man Ballew is 3-1, 1.24 with two saves, closer Gustave 2-1, 2.73, and a league-best eight saves.

Gregor (.264/2/27) was voted starting first baseman, while White (.273/4/22) made the squad as a reserve. Pena (.261/0/9) was added Monday morning as a reserve for Frisco's Jorge Alfaro, who is injured. Pena has thrown out a TL-leading 42 percent of those who've challenged him on the base paths.

Here are the complete original rosters, voted on by league managers, field staffs, broadcasters, and beat writers. Replacements follow each team, one for the North and six for the South:

2015 Texas League North Division All-Stars

First Base - Balbino Fuenmayor, Northwest Arkansas; Second Base - Angel Franco, Northwest Arkansas; Third Base - Brian Hernandez, Arkansas; Shortstop - Luis Mateo, Tulsa; Catcher - Mike Ohlman, Springfield; Designated Hitter - Mike Bianucci, Northwest Arkansas; Outfield - Jorge Bonifacio, Northwest Arkansas; Jeremy Hazelbaker, Springfield; Charlie Tilson, Springfield.

Reserves - Catcher Raywilly Gomez, Arkansas; Infielders Raul Mondesi, Northwest Arkansas; Alex Liddi, Northwest Arkansas; Outfielder -- Terrance Gore, Northwest Arkansas.

Pitchers - Chris Anderson, Tulsa; Kyle Barraclough, Springfield; Joey Donofrio, Springfield; Trevor Gott, Arkansas; Jeremy Horst, Tulsa; Jeremy Kehrt, Tulsa; Chris O'Grady, Arkansas; Arturo Reyes, Springfield; Nate Smith, Arkansas; Albert Suarez, Arkansas; J. C. Sulbaran, Northwest Arkansas.

Chris Thomas of Springfield replaced Trevor Gott, who has been promoted to Los Angeles (AL).

2015 Texas League South Division All-Stars

First Base - Conrad Gregor, Corpus Christi; Second Base - Tony Kemp, Corpus Christi; Third Base -Joey Gallo, Frisco; Shortstop - Trea Turner, San Antonio; Catcher - Carson Blair, Midland; Designated Hitter - Matt Olson, Midland; Outfield - Travis Jankowski, San Antonio; Chad Oberacker, Midland; Nick Williams, Frisco.  

Reserves - Catcher Jorge Alfaro, Frisco; Infielders Drew Robinson, Frisco; Tyler White, Corpus Christi; Outfielder - Nomar Mazara, Frisco.  

Pitchers - Travis Ballew, Corpus Christi; Chris Devenski, Corpus Christi; Ryan Dull, Midland; Jandel Gustave, Corpus Christi; Justin Hancock, San Antonio; Nate Long, Midland; Lance McCullers, Corpus Christi; Jesus Pirela, Frisco; Colin Rea, San Antonio; Jake Thompson, Frisco; Vincent Velasquez, Corpus Christi.

Colin Walsh of Midland replaces Tony Kemp, who has been promoted to Triple-A Fresno; Ryon Healy of Midland replaces Joey Gallo, who has been promoted to Texas; Chad Pinder of Midland replaces Trea Turner, who has been traded to Washington; Roberto Pena of Corpus Christi replaces Jorge Alfaro, who is injured; Tayron Guerrero of San Antonio replaces Lance McCullers, who has been promoted to Houston; David Martinez of Frisco replaces Vincent Velasquez, who has been promoted to Houston.

The 2015 Texas League All-Star Game is presented by CITGO, and supported by Budweiser, the Corpus Christi Caller-Times, CPL Retail Energy, 1st Community Bank, Gulf Coast Federal Credit Union, H-E-B, and Stripes.

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