Four Riders named Texas League Midseason All-Stars
FRISCO, Texas (June 13, 2018) - Four players from the Frisco RoughRiders, the Double-A affiliate of the Texas Rangers, were selected as Texas League Midseason All-Stars Wednesday: outfielder Hunter Cole plus pitchers Wes Benjamin, Ariel Jurado and Richelson Peña . The league's annual midsummer showcase will take place June 26
FRISCO, Texas (June 13, 2018) - Four players from the Frisco RoughRiders, the Double-A affiliate of the Texas Rangers, were selected as Texas League Midseason All-Stars Wednesday: outfielder
Cole was the best hitter for the Riders in the season's first two months, leading the squad in average (.330), on-base percentage (.412), slugging percentage (.515), RBIs (28) and walks (29). As a result of his torrid start to 2018, he was promoted to Triple-A Round Rock on June 5. This is his second-career Midseason All-Star selection.
Benjamin garnered his first-career Midseason All-Star selection after opening the season with a 3-4 record and a 3.91 ERA, good for sixth-best in the league. The lefty ranks second on team with 53 strikeouts and has punched out at least six hitters in seven of his 10 appearances.
Jurado is headed to his second-consecutive Texas League All-Star Game and was named to his third mid-summer classic as a pro. So far in 2018, he is 2-2 with a 3.81 ERA, which slots as the fifth-best in the circuit. Jurado's season highlight with the Riders came May 25 at Arkansas, when he hurled a complete-game shutout on just 86 pitches. The righty also made his Major League debut earlier this season with the Rangers, starting a game against the Chicago White Sox May 19.
Pena is in the midst of a stellar season for the Riders, leading the league with a 2.52 ERA. The righty has delivered a quality start in each of his last five outings, including a complete-game shutout against Northwest Arkansas May 31. This marks the second time in his career he's earned Midseason All-Star honors.
Pena makes the start for the Riders tonight at 7:05, as they host the San Antonio Missions on a Weiner Wednesday at Dr Pepper Ballpark. For tickets for tonight's game and all remaining home games, visit RidersBaseball.com, call (972) 731-9200 or visit the Dr Pepper Ballpark box office.
About the RoughRiders
The Frisco RoughRiders are the Double-A affiliate of the Texas Rangers and play their games at beautiful Dr Pepper Ballpark in Frisco, Texas. The team was founded in 2003 and has finished first among all Double-A franchises in attendance in each of the last 13 seasons (2005-2017). In August 2014, the RoughRiders were purchased by an ownership group led by Chuck Greenberg. Since then, the new ownership group, together with the City of Frisco, has spearheaded numerous major franchise enhancements, investing over $8 million in a wide array of facility upgrades and improvements, including a state-of-the-art HD video board, sound system, Bull Moose Saloon, InTouch Grille, Riders Outpost Team Store and the world's largest water feature in a sports facility, the massive Choctaw Lazy River. These enhancements earned the Riders and the City of Frisco Ballpark Digest's prestigious "Best Ballpark Renovation" award for two consecutive years (2015 and 2016). More than 140 former RoughRiders players have gone on to play Major League Baseball, including All-Stars