EL1 Akron RubberDucks

Weglarz, Santana Named to Futures Game

Published on June 26, 2009 under Eastern League (EL1)
Akron RubberDucks News Release


AKRON, OH - Aeros left fielder Nick Weglarz and catcher Carlos Santana will represent the World Team in the 11th annual XM All-Star Futures Game as part of Major League Baseball's All-Star Weekend Sunday, July 12th at Busch Stadium in St. Louis. This season will mark the third time in four years that two Aeros have participated in the Futures Game, as Wes Hodges and Matt LaPorta played for the U.S. team last year and pitchers Sean Smith and Adam Miller both went for the U.S. in 2006. A total of 13 Aeros have participated in the showcase since the inaugural edition in 1999.

"This is a very prestigious honor for both myself and Carlos," Weglarz said after Akron claimed a 4-3 victory over Trenton yesterday afternoon. "It's one of the biggest honors I've received personally, along with playing for Canada in the World Baseball Classic and the 2008 Olympics."

Weglarz, a powerful slugger from Stevensville, Ontario, has been on fire for the last two months and enters play tonight batting .264 with 11 homers and a team-leading 51 RBI (tied for second in the Eastern League). The numbers really become eye-popping when you look at his numbers starting May 1st however, as he is hitting .327 with 10 homers and 45 RBI in just 48 games over the last two months. Weglarz has also collected 13 doubles in that span, scored 24 runs, and has more walks than strikeouts while notching a .628 slugging percentage.

Tabbed by Baseball America as the no.-3 prospect in the Indians' chain entering this season, Weglarz was at his best in the three-game series against Trenton that concluded yesterday afternoon. Weglarz hit .700 (7-10) in the series, homered in all three games, drove in eight runs, and collected his first four-hit game of the season Wednesday before becoming just the 12th player in franchise history to draw four walks in a game Thursday.

Santana, rated by Baseball America as the no.-1 prospect in the Cleveland minor league system, was the centerpiece of the Casey Blake trade between the Indians and the Los Angeles Dodgers on July 27, 2008. The native of Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic was named the California League MVP last season despite only playing 99 games prior to the trade. In 130 games total with Inland Empire, Kinston and Akron, Santana batted .326 with 21 home runs, 39 doubles and 117 RBI, which ranked second in all of minor league baseball.

This season Santana is batting .263 with 11 home runs and 46 RBI, and leads the Aeros with a .401 on-base percentage and a .507 slugging percentage. He is tied for first in the league with 46 runs scored and tied for fifth in home runs, and his 50 walks are the most in the Eastern League and the seventh-most in minor league baseball. Santana has also been tremendous defensively, as he has thrown out 35% of opposing base stealers and the Aeros are 32-15 when he starts behind the plate.

The Aeros kick off a four-game wraparound set with Binghamton tonight at 7:05 p.m., and fans can catch a terrific post-game fireworks show courtesy of ACME Fresh Markets. Right-hander Hector Rondon (6-4, 2.83 ERA) gets the nod for Akron against Binghamton's Eric Brown (4-6, 5.72). The game broadcast begins at 6:50 p.m. on SportsRadio 1350 AM and online at www.akronaeros.com. For more information, please call the Aeros at (330) 253-5151.

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Eastern League Stories from June 26, 2009


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