Three Dash Hitters Headline CL All-Star Team
September 13, 2018 - Carolina League (CarL1)
Winston-Salem Dash News Release
Winston-Salem Dash catcher Yermin Mercedes
(Winston-Salem Dash, Credit: Robert Hill/Winston-Salem Dash)
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - Dash designated hitter Micker Adolfo, catcher Yermin Mercedes and outfielder Blake Rutherford earned Carolina League Year-End All-Star selections, the league office announced Thursday. Winston-Salem was the only club in the 10-team circuit to boast three hitters on the year-end list.
The CL's Player of the Month for April and the circuit's first Player of the Week honoree this season, Adolfo was one of the league's most dangerous hitters before undergoing season-ending Tommy John surgery. The 22-year-old began the first month of the year by posting a league-best five home runs. Meanwhile, his 21 RBIs were tied for the best, and he registered a .918 OPS.
Limited to the designated hitter's role due to an elbow injury sustained in Spring Training, Adolfo thrived as one of the middle hitters in the Dash's order. In 79 games, Adolfo recorded a batting line of .282/.369/.464 with 11 homers and 50 RBIs.
Mercedes, who was acquired by the White Sox as part of the Minor League Phase of the Rule 5 Draft last December, had the second-highest OPS among Carolina League qualifiers in the second half with a .886 mark. Overall, the 25-year-old led the team with 14 home runs.
A former Orioles and Nationals farmhand, Mercedes posted the sixth-best batting average in the circuit, stroking a .289 clip. The Dominican Republic native also registered a .478 slugging percentage, which was the fourth-best mark in the Carolina League. On defense, Mercedes posted the third-best caught-stealing percentage, nabbing 41.2 percent of would-be base stealers.
One of the Carolina League's most consistent hitters, Rutherford finished the season in the top four in three different major categories. A former first-round pick, Rutherford was tied for fourth in the Carolina League in batting average (.293), and he was second in hits (131) and RBIs (78). The California native also stroked nine triples, which was tied for the most in the league.
The 21-year-old played in 115 games this season, finishing behind teammate Gavin Sheets for the second-most on the team. Rutherford also registered three full months with an average above .300, with his best mark coming in July when he recorded a .347 average in 27 games.
Led by Carolina League Manager of the Year Omar Vizquel and these three Year-End All-Stars, the Dash led the league in several offensive categories. Winston-Salem was tops in the circuit in batting average, runs, doubles, triples, runs batted in and slugging percentage.
By going 84-54 and winning both halves in the regular season this year, the 2018 Dash recorded the second-highest win total in the team's 10-year history.
The 2019 Carolina League season will begin on Thursday, April 4, and it will once again comprise of a 140-game slate. For offseason updates on the Dash, be sure to log on to wsdash.com or call (336) 714-2287.
The Winston-Salem Dash are the Class A-Advanced Minor League affiliate of the Chicago White Sox. To purchase tickets and for more information, please call 336-714-2287 or visit www.wsdash.com.
Images from this story
 Winston-Salem Dash designated hitter Micker Adolfo (Robert Hill/Winston-Salem Dash) |
 Winston-Salem Dash outfielder Blake Rutherford (Robert Hill/Winston-Salem Dash) |
 Winston-Salem Dash catcher Yermin Mercedes (Robert Hill/Winston-Salem Dash) |
Carolina League Stories from September 13, 2018
- Stewart Makes Orioles Debut - Frederick Keys
- P-Nats RHP Wil Crowe Named Carolina League Pitcher of the Year, One of Three Named Post-Season All-Stars - Potomac Nationals
- Anderson Tejeda Named Carolina League Year-End All-Star - Down East Wood Ducks
- Three Dash Hitters Headline CL All-Star Team - Winston-Salem Dash
- Vizquel Named CL Manager of the Year - Winston-Salem Dash
- Garcia and McKenna Named CL Postseason All-Stars - Frederick Keys
- Luke Barker Named Carolina League Relief Pitcher of the Year - Carolina Mudcats
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.
