Yohanny Valera Named to Start for Can-Am League All-Star Team

July 9, 2005 - Canadian American League (Can-Am)
Worcester Tornadoes News Release


Worcester, MA (July 7, 2005) - Worcester Tornadoes catcher Yohanny Valera was selected to start for the Can-Am League in the Can-Am/Central League All-Star game, the league announced today. Valera was among the nine position players and two reserves the league released, with the pitching staff slated to be announced over the weekend.

Valera enters the weekend among the league's top ten with a .338 batting average and fourth in the league with 3 triples. The unquestioned on-field leader of the Tornadoes, Valera is also tops on the team in average, triples, on-base percentage (.406) and slugging percentage (.554). He has fashioned an 11-game hitting streak this season, during which he batted a torrid .477 (21-for-44).

Valera has also made quite an impression in the field. He ranks among the leaders behind the plate, throwing out more than 32% of would-be base stealers. Even though he has spent much of his career as a catcher, Valera has demonstrated his value and versatility by appearing at first base in 13 games this season.

A native of the Dominican Republic, Valera is in the midst of his thirteenth professional season. The 29-year-old is the only Tornadoes player who has reached the major leagues, enjoying a September call-up to the Montreal Expos in 2000. Signed by the New York Mets in 1993, Valera has also spent time in the Tampa Bay Devil Rays and Detroit Tigers systems.

The starting nine players (eight position players and a designated hitter) for the Can-Am League All-Star team were selected by voting conducted this past week. The manager of each Can-Am League team, as well as one media member from each Can-Am city, selected a player at each position, with the only caveat being that they could not select one of their home players. The two reserves, as well as the pitching staff, are selected by the All-Star manager, Joe Calfapietra of the New Jersey Jackals. Valera and the rest of the Can-Am League All-Stars will battle the Central League All-Stars in Brockton on July 19.

Though Valera was the only position player to make the All-Star team, the first-place Tornadoes were not lacking in candidates. Left fielder Josh Beauregard, the catalyst at the top of Worcester's lineup, is among the league leaders in runs scored and is batting .297. Right fielder Andy Brown is one of the top five power hitters in the league with 10 home runs. Shortstop Omar Pena is one of the league's best clutch hitters, entering the weekend with the circuit's fourth-highest RBI total (34) and a .296 average. Second baseman Alex Nunez (.312 average) and Zach Strong (.293 average) also make compelling arguments for the team.

With a three-game lead over the Jackals and six games left in the first half, the Tornadoes are in the driver's seat for the first-half South Division title. Worcester's magic number sits at four, meaning that any combination of Tornadoes wins and Jackals losses that totals four will clinch the division and a playoff spot in the club's inaugural season.

The Tornadoes open a three-game series in Elmira tonight against the Pioneers, before returning to Worcester for a six-game homestand starting Monday. The North Division-leading Quebec Capitales come to town for a possible playoff preview July 11 to 13 that closes out the first half of play. The Pioneers then visit for a three-game set July 14 to 16. Tickets are available at the Tornadoes ticket office at 313 Main Street, over the phone by calling (508) 792-2288, or online by logging in to worcestertornadoes.com.



Canadian American League Stories from July 9, 2005


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