Umpire Crew Announced for 2018 Triple-A All-Star Game
Published on June 21, 2018 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1) News Release
The International League's Dan Merzel and Ryan Clark, along with the Pacific Coast League's Bryan Fields and John Libka have been selected as the umpires for the 31st annual Triple-A All-Star Game, to be held at Huntington Park in downtown Columbus, Ohio on Wednesday, July 11, Triple-A Baseball officials announced today. All four men will be making their first appearance in the Triple-A All-Star Game.
Dan Merzel, a three-year IL umpire, will be working behind the plate. The Durham, North Carolina resident has been a professional umpire since 2011, having spent time in the New York-Penn, South Atlantic, Carolina, Arizona Instructional, Domincan Winter, and Eastern leagues on his path to Minor League Baseball's highest classification. Merzel is 30.
Phoenix, Arizona resident Bryan Fields will man first base. Fields has been a professional umpire for the past eleven seasons, with 2018 marking his fourth year at the Triple-A level. The 33-year-old has also made stops in the Gulf Coast, Pioneer, South Atlantic, Florida State, Florida Instructional, Arizona Instructional, Venezuelan Winter, California, and Texas leagues.
Handling duties at second base will be 30-year-old Ryan Clark, a resident of McDonough, Georgia. Currently in his third season with the International League, Clark has also worked in the Gulf Coast, Appalachian, South Atlantic, Florida State, Arizona Instructional, and Eastern leagues prior to joining the IL in 2016.
The third base umpire, John Libka, is in his ninth professional season including his third in Triple-A. In addition to the Pacific Coast League, the 31-year-old Port Huron, Michigan resident has been an umpire in the Gulf Coast, New York-Penn, Midwest, Florida State, Arizona Instructional, Arizona Fall, and Eastern leagues. Libka made his Major League debut last May at Guaranteed Rate Field in Chicago.
The Huntington Bank Triple-A All-Star Game presented by Gildan takes place July 11. All-Star festivities in Columbus begin with the Triple-A All-Star Home Run Derby and Skills Competition on Monday, July 9, part of the 10th season celebration for Huntington Park that will include hosting the 2018 Gildan Triple-A National Championship Game in September. Fans who are interested in more information on the events, or would like to purchase tickets, are encouraged to visit the official website of the host Columbus Clippers (clippersbaseball.com).
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