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Trio of Whitecaps Named MWL All-Stars

June 6, 2013 - Midwest League (MWL1)
West Michigan Whitecaps News Release


COMSTOCK PARK, MI - The Midwest League unveiled their All-Star rosters on Wednesday, and three members of the West Michigan Whitecaps have been selected to participate in the 2013 Midwest League Summer All-Star Classic on June 18 in Dayton, Ohio.

First baseman Jeff Holm, second baseman Devon Travis and closer Jose Valdez will represent the Whitecaps as members of the Eastern Division squad during the All-Star festivities from June 17-19. Holm was selected as the starting first baseman while Travis and Valdez were both named reserves.

Next season, the 2014 All-Star Game - the 50th in Midwest League history - will be hosted by the West Michigan Whitecaps at Fifth Third Ballpark.

Holm, 24, is the lone All-Star starter for the Whitecaps. The former Big Ten Player of the Year at Michigan State is batting .300 with five home runs and 34 RBI through 49 games to go along with a .370 on-base percentage and nine stolen bases. Holm leads the Whitecaps with eight multi-RBI games and has registered a four-hit game, a five-RBI game, and an 11-game hitting streak already this season. He has also proven to be a versatile defender, committing just three errors while playing first base and right field.

Travis will be the Eastern Division's reserve second baseman despite emerging as one of the top MVP candidates early in the season. The 22-year-old out of Florida State leads the Midwest League with 72 hits, ranks second with a .346 batting average and 40 runs scored, and checks in third with a .421 on-base percentage. Travis also has five home runs, 31 RBI and is 9-for-11 in stolen bases. The feisty prospect boasts the league's longest hitting streak - a 21-game streak from April 21-May 12 that is the second-longest in franchise history - and has hit safely in 49 of his 55 games this season. Travis is also among the league's best defenders at second base, committing just five errors through 55 games.

Starting ahead of Travis is Lansing's second baseman, Christian Lopes, who is batting .291 with four home runs and 34 RBI in 54 games.

The lone All-Star pitcher for West Michigan is closer Jose Valdez, who has gone 1-1 with a 3.98 ERA and 12 saves to emerge as one of the top closers in the league. The hard-throwing 23-year-old from the Dominican Republic has blown just one save all season, striking out 22 batters over 20.1 innings while holding opposing hitters to a .200 average. Valdez ranks second in the Midwest League with his 12 saves and is tied for fourth with 20 games finished.

Prior to blowing his first save of the season on Saturday, Valdez was a perfect 12-for-12 in save opportunities with a 2.21 ERA through his first 20 appearances of the year.

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