Three Dash Players Named All-Stars

June 9, 2011 - Carolina League (CarL1)
Winston-Salem Dash News Release

WINSTON-SALEM, NC (JUNE 9, 2011) - The Winston-Salem Dash placed three players on the Carolina League All-Star Team when rosters were announced earlier today. RHP Andre Rienzo, OF Jose Martinez, and DH Ian Gac will represent the Carolina League when it takes on the California League All-Stars on Tuesday, June 21 in Modesto, CA.

RHP Andre Rienzo entered the season ranked by Baseball America as the 25th-best prospect in the White Sox organization. On the season, he is 1-1 with a 3.11 ERA in 12 starts for the Dash. The Sao Paolo, Brazil native has struck out 70 batters this season which ranks third in the Carolina League. He was ranked in the top ten in the league in ERA until recently, when his spot was taken by teammate Terry Doyle. Rienzo currently ranks 13th in the Carolina League in ERA. He threw in last night's game against Myrtle Beach and got no decision after allowing three runs in five innings and striking out six.

OF Jose Martinez has been near or at the top of the Carolina League in hitting throughout the first half of 2011. He currently ranks fifth in the league with a .298 average with four home runs and 21 RBI. Martinez has played in all but one of the Dash games this season, and is second in the league in hits (68). Baseball America ranked him as having the Best Outfield Arm in the White Sox organization. He's responded with six outfield assists including one on a play at the plate in Monday's game against Myrtle Beach. The Venezuela native gunned down Mike Olt at the plate to preserve a 2-2 tie in the eighth inning, setting up the top of the ninth where Winston scored the game-winning run. In Tuesday night's game, Martinez hit a go-ahead, eventual game-winning three-run home run in the tenth inning to lead the Dash to a win. This year, Martinez played on opening day for the first time since 2008. He missed most of that year, all of 2009, and the first half of 2010 with a torn ACL that required microfracture surgery on his right knee.

DH Ian Gac has been in the Dash lineup for every game this season. He's split time between first base and designated hitter this season, but gets the All-Star nod as a DH. Gac is batting .254 with a league-leading 15 home runs. The homer total is also tied for tenth in all of minor league baseball. He also has 40 RBI, which is good for second in the Carolina League. Gac, a Seattle native, is in his second year in the White Sox system and ninth in professional baseball. He'll make his return to the California League for the All-Star Game. He spent his first seven years with the Texas Rangers, whose Advanced-A affiliate was in Bakersfield, CA. Gac spent parts of three seasons with Bakersfield.

This is Gac's second straight All-Star appearance. He earned the honor last year with low-A Kannapolis in the South Atlantic League. Both Rienzo and Martinez will each make their first professional appearance in an All-Star Game. Gac and Martinez have been named starters on this year's team.

Last year, the Dash had a team-record seven All-Stars. The amount also tied the all-time Carolina League record for All-Stars from a single team. The 2010 All-Star Game took place at BB&T Coastal Field in Myrtle Beach and saw the California League win its second straight game, the first time a league has won two straight in the 15 year history of the contest.

The 2011 Carolina-California League All-Star Game will take place in Modesto, CA, home to the Modesto Nuts. The Nuts are the Advanced-A affiliate of the Colorado Rockies.

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 .

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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.

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