Travs Ready for Wednesday's All-Star Game
Published on June 30, 2009 under Texas League (TL1)
Arkansas Travelers News Release
Seven Arkansas Travelers will play in the 73rd annual Texas League All-Star Game, set for 7:15 p.m. Wednesday at Dr. Pepper Ballpark in Frisco, Texas. The North Division team will also be led by Arkansas manager Bobby Magallanes and his staff.
Travs catcher Hank Conger and center Peter Bourjos were named All-Star starters, while second baseman Nate Sutton was named an All-Star reserve. Bourjos was going to be held out after missing several weeks with a wrist injury, but returned to action last week and will now play. First baseman Mark Trumbo was a late addition to the team and will start in place of Springfield's Mark Hamilton, who was recently promoted to Triple-A. Trumbo was also chosen for the league's Home Run Derby, which begins at 5:45 p.m. Wednesday.
Starting pitchers Trevor Bell and Trevor Reckling also received All-Star honors when the teams were announced, and reliever Bobby Mosebach got the nod as well, but Bell and Mosebach have since been called up to Triple-A Salt Lake. They will be replaced by Traveler teammates Tommy Mendoza and Bobby Cassevah, making a total of nine All-Stars who suited up for Arkansas at some point this season.
"With the coaching staff going down we've got a huge contingency, and the good part is we've got a lot of late additions who get to show off their talent," Travelers general manager Pete Laven said. "Mendoza definitely deserved a spot, and Trumbo will get to participate in the home run derby too, and I'm really glad Bourjos got healthy in time to make his well-deserved appearance."
Four Travelers were selected to the All-Star game in 2008, and another replaced a player who was promoted to Triple-A. Eight Travs made the team in 2007.
"Coming into the season we were told to expect a lot of Major League-type prospects, and while the record on the field in the first half wasn't what we would've liked, it goes to show that we do have a lot of future Major League stars here in North Little Rock this year," Laven said.
Six of the seven Traveler All-Stars are 23 or younger, with Reckling the youngest at 20. Bourjos, Conger, Reckling and Trumbo all appeared in Baseball America's Top Ten Prospects for the Los Angeles Angels organization.
The last time Arkansas hosted the league's All-Star game was 2006, the Travs' final season at Ray Winder Field. While the Texas League rotates the host site between all eight teams, with the Travelers slated to host the game next in 2014, Laven said there is some flexibility in the rotation. Frisco hosted the All-Star game in 2005 but has it again this season, and Laven said he hopes Dickey-Stephens Park in North Little Rock can hold its first All-Star game sooner than currently scheduled.
Texas League Stories from June 30, 2009
- Travs Ready for Wednesday's All-Star Game - Arkansas Travelers
- Trumbo Chosen for Home Run Derby - Arkansas Travelers
- Texas League Update - TL1
- Blake Wood to DL; Johnson to return - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
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