2014 International League All-Star Team Announced
The International League has announced the members of its 2014 All-Star Team. The squad of 30 IL standouts will take on the Pacific Coast League's best in the 2014 Cree Triple-A All-Star Game on July 16 in Durham, North Carolina. The matchup will be broadcast live from Durham Bulls Athletic Park on MLB Network, the American Forces Network, and the Triple-A All-Star Game Radio Network beginning at 7:00 p.m. Eastern.
The 2014 International League All-Star squad is made up of 13 elected players who have received the most votes from ballots submitted by club's field managers and general managers (1/3), members of the media (1/3), and online fan voting (1/3). The elected players are joined by 17 additional All-Stars selected by the International League office. Each of the IL's fourteen clubs will be represented in Durham.
The League's three first place teams lead the way this season with four All-Star representatives apiece. Manager Charlie Montoyo will have four of his Bulls players join in him in front of the hometown fans in Durham. Outfielder Mikie Mahtook and designated hitter Wilson Betemit were elected to the team along with selected starting pitchers Merrill Kelly and Mike Montgomery. The League's winningest team, Syracuse, boasts three elected All-Stars with catcher Jhonatan Solano, outfielder Steven Souza, and starting pitcher Taylor Hill joined by selected starter Aaron Laffey. There were no elected Indianapolis Indians on this year's squad, but the IL West leaders will send four selected All-Stars to Durham: starting pitcher Casey Sadler, reliever Andy Oliver, outfielder Chris Dickerson, and designated hitter Matt Hague.
The only other team with three elected All-Stars is Buffalo, who will be sending the League's home run leader Dan Johnson to Durham along with a pair of pitchers, starter Liam Hendriks and reliever Bobby Korecky. The International League's new all-time Home Run King, third baseman Mike Hessman, was one of two Toledo Mud Hens elected to the All-Star Team along with outfielder Ezequiel Carrera. Hessman will be appearing in his fourth Triple-A All-Star Game (2006-07 with Toledo, 2012 with Oklahoma City), tying a record held by Lee Stevens, Joe Thurston, and Todd Williams. Hague (2011), Johnson (2010, 2012), and Korecky (2007) are each also all making a return trip to the Triple-A All-Star Game.
Rounding out the group of elected All-Stars are shortstop Tyler Saladino of Charlotte, relief pitcher A.J. Achter of Rochester, and second baseman Jose Pirela of Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, who was recently named the League's Player of the Month for June.
Following last year's 4-3 victory in the Triple-A All-Star Game, the IL owns a 9-7 advantage in the sixteen years since the event changed to the current IL vs. PCL format. The winning League this season will once again earn the right to have its champion play as the "home team" at the Gildan Triple-A National Championship Game.
Tickets for the 2014 Cree Triple-A All-Star Game on July 16, the Triple-A Home Run Derby on July 14, and all regular season Durham Bulls home games are available HERE at durhambulls.com, by phone at 919.956.BULL, or at the DBAP box office.
PLAYERS ELECTED TO INTERNATIONAL LEAGUE ALL-STAR TEAM
Position |
Name |
Team |
MLB Affiliate |
C |
Syracuse Chiefs |
Washington Nationals |
|
2B |
Scranton/WB RailRiders |
New York Yankees |
|
OF |
Toledo Mud Hens |
Detroit Tigers |
|
OF |
Durham Bulls |
Tampa Bay Rays |
|
OF |
Syracuse Chiefs |
Washington Nationals |
|
DH |
Durham Bulls |
Tampa Bay Rays |
|
SP |
Buffalo Bisons |
Toronto Blue Jays |
|
RP |
Rochester Red Wings |
Minnesota Twins |
|
RP |
Buffalo Bisons |
Toronto Blue Jays |
PLAYERS SELECTED TO INTERNATIONAL LEAGUE ALL-STAR TEAM
Position |
Name |
Team |
MLB Affiliate |
C |
Charlotte Knights |
Chicago White Sox |
|
INF |
Columbus Clippers |
Cleveland Indians |
|
INF |
Norfolk Tides |
Baltimore Orioles |
|
INF |
Gwinnett Braves |
Atlanta Braves |
|
INF |
Louisville Bats |
Cincinnati Reds |
|
INF |
Indianapolis Indians |
Pittsburgh Pirates |
|
OF |
Louisville Bats |
Cincinnati Reds |
|
P |
Lehigh Valley IronPigs |
Philadelphia Phillies |
|
P |
Gwinnett Braves |
Atlanta Braves |
|
P |
Durham Bulls |
Tampa Bay Rays |
|
P |
Syracuse Chiefs |
Washington Nationals |
|
P |
Pawtucket Red Sox |
Boston Red Sox |
|
P |
Durham Bulls |
Tampa Bay Rays |
|
P |
Indianapolis Indians |
Pittsburgh Pirates |
|
P |
Indianapolis Indians |
Pittsburgh Pirates |