Triple-A All-Star Home Run Derby participants announced
Published on July 3, 2006 under International League (IL1) News Release
Six of Triple-A Baseball's top sluggers are scheduled to appear at the classification's annual Home Run Derby as part of Triple-A All-Star Game festivities. The Home Run Derby will take place on Monday night, July 10, 2006 at 7:00 p.m. at Fifth Third Field, home of the International League's Toledo Mud Hens.
The Home Run Derby will feature several of the top home run hitters in both the International and Pacific Coast Leagues, including each circuit's current HR leader. Kevin Witt of the IL's Durham Bulls is currently tied for the Minor League Baseball lead with 22 roundtrippers (tied with Terry Evans of Springfield, Double-A Texas League). Joining Witt in representing the IL will be two other sluggers currently in the League's top ten in long balls. Toledo's Ryan Ludwick will be the hometown favorite; his 14 bombs this season brings his career Minor League total to 118. Ohio baseball fans will also be excited to see Buffalo's Andy Marte in the Home Run Derby. Among Cleveland's top prospects, Marte leads the Bisons with 13 homers in 2006, including a stretch of five straight games with a long ball in mid-June.
The Pacific Coast League will be represented by its top home run hitter of the past two years. Luke Scott of Round Rock leads the PCL with 19 HR this season, one year after he topped the League with 31 bombs for the Express in 2005. Also representing the PCL will be Nelson Cruz, the top home run hitter (15) for the defending League Champion Nashville Sounds, and Justin Leone, who has gone deep 12 times this season for the Portland Beavers.
This year's Derby will have a unique flavor to it. Over the course of the season, Toledo-area high school baseball players have squared off at Mud Hens games for the opportunity to compete along side the professional sluggers in the Triple-A All-Star Home Run Derby. The top two high schoolers have earned a spot in the Derby, along side the six current Triple-A All-Stars and a pair of former Major League players also competing. The high school hitters will be allowed to use aluminum bats in an effort to keep the pressure on the pros.
A closer look at the participants:
2006 Home Runs Career-High HR (Season) Career HR to date
International League Age April May June July Total
Ryan Ludwick, OF, Toledo 27 4 5 4 1 14 29 (2000) 118
Andy Marte, 3B, Buffalo 22 0 2 10 1 13 24 (2004) 95
Kevin Witt, 1B, Durham 30 5 8 7 2 22 36 (2004) 282
Pacific Coast League Age April May June July Total Career-High HR (Season) Career HR to date
Nelson Cruz, OF, Nashville 26 7 6 2 0 15 27 (2005) 112
Justin Leone, 3B, Portland 29 8 3 1 0 12 27 (2004) 131
Luke Scott, OF, Round Rock 28 6 7 6 0 19 31 (2005) 112
The Home Run Derby has been a staple of Triple-A All-Star Game festivities for many years. Here are the results of the Home Run Derbies since 1998 when the format of the game changed to an IL vs. PCL affair (the first ten Triple-A All-Star Games were played in a National League affiliates versus American League affiliates format):
2005 in Sacramento Mitch Jones, Columbus defeated Ian Kinsler, Oklahoma 11-10
2004 in Pawtucket Bucky Jacobsen, Tacoma defeated Justin Morneau, Rochester 8-3
2003 in Memphis Rob Stratton, Albuquerque defeated Brandon Larson, Louisville 10-5
2002 in Oklahoma City Brandon Larson, Louisville defeated Joe Crede, Charlotte 11-7
2001 in Indianapolis Chris Latham, Syracuse defeated Jack Cust, Tucson 5-1
2000 in Rochester Luis Raven, Calgary defeated Brooks Kieschnick, Louisville 3-2
1999 in New Orleans Scott Sheldon, Oklahoma defeated D.T. Cromer, Indianapolis 4-0
1998 in Norfolk Willis Otanez, Rochester defeated Derrick White, Iowa
International League Stories from July 3, 2006
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- Braves walk over Lynx - Gwinnett Stripers
- Toledo uses balanced attack to down Tribe 4-3 - Indianapolis Indians
- Six-game homestand at Victory Field begins July 4 - Indianapolis Indians
- Triple-A All-Star Home Run Derby participants announced - IL1
- Bisons Notes - Buffalo Bisons
- International League names players of the week - IL1
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