EL1 Harrisburg Senators

Thirteen Former Senators On All-Star Ballot

Published on May 6, 2008 under Eastern League (EL1)
Harrisburg Senators News Release


Thirteen former Harrisburg Senators are on the ballot to play in the 2008 Major League Baseball All-Star Game. Nationals 3B Ryan Zimmerman, Angels OF Vladimir Guerrero and Reds 2B Brandon Phillips are among the most recognizable names on the ballots.

One of Zimmerman's first stops in professional baseball was on Harrisburg's City Island. He played for the Senators in 2005 and made his major-league debut with the Nationals that same season at the age of 20. Since then, he has become the face of the Washington Nationals, belting a walk-off home run in the first game at the new Nationals Park earlier this spring. Zimmerman is looking for his first appearance in the MLB All-Star Game.

Guerrero was the Eastern League MVP in 1996 for the Senators. He went on to become an eight-time All-Star and is one of the biggest stars in Major League Baseball.

Phillips played for the Senators for parts of the 2001 and 2002 seasons and was named the Expos' Minor-League Player of the Year in 2001. He had a breakout season last year for the Cincinnati Reds, blasting 30 home runs and stealing 32 bases. Phillips has not been a major-league All-Star in his career.

Four of the players on the ballot won Eastern League MVP awards while with the Senators: Blue Jays OF Matt Stairs (1991), Tampa Bay DH Cliff Floyd (1993), Royals 2B Mark Grudzielanek (1994) and Guerrero (1996).

Rangers OF Milton Bradley hit one of the most dramatic home runs in Minor League Baseball history when he clubbed a walk-off, two-out grand slam to win the 1999 Eastern League championship for the Senators. It clinched a record-setting fourth consecutive EL title for Harrisburg.

The complete list of former Harrisburg Senators on the Major League Baseball All-Star ballot is as follows:

National League

Moises Alou - OF, New York Mets

Ryan Church - OF, New York Mets

Brandon Phillips - 2B, Cincinnati Reds

Brian Schneider - C, New York Mets

Ryan Zimmerman - 3B, Washington Nationals

American League

Milton Bradley - OF, Texas Rangers

Orlando Cabrera - SS, Chicago White Sox

Cliff Floyd - DH, Tampa Bay Rays

Mark Grudzielanek - 2B, Kansas City Royals

Vladimir Guerrero - OF, Los Angeles Angels

Matt Stairs - OF, Toronto Blue Jays

Jose Vidro - DH, Seattle Mariners

Brad Wilkerson - OF, Seattle Mariners

Fans can cast their ballots at any Harrisburg Senators game at the voting kiosk on the concourse at Commerce Bank Park. Voting also takes place online at mlb.com and at all Major League ballparks. The 2008 MLB All-Star Game is slated for Tuesday, July 15 at Yankee Stadium.

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Eastern League Stories from May 6, 2008


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