Jimenez, Miller, & Garcia Named to All-Star Team

CLINTON, IA (June 7, 2017) - The Clinton LumberKings will be a well-represented team in Midland, Michigan for this season's Midwest League All-Star Game. Right-handed pitcher Brandon Miller, left-handed pitcher Danny Garcia, and outfielder Anthony Jimenez have been named to this year's all-star game, hosted by the Great Lakes Loons at Dow Diamond on Tuesday, June 20.
Miller, Garcia, and Jimenez will join Manager Pat Shine, Hitting Coach David Flores, Coach James Lofton, Athletic Trainer Lyle Danley, Performance Coach Paul Howey, and Video Coordinator Tyler Collins as the contingent of LumberKings representatives. The Western Division all-stars will be managed by Pat Shine and his coaching staff following the LumberKings Western Division Championship in 2016.
Miller, 21, is in his second professional season and this will be his second all-star team selection of his career. In 2016, the Pennsylvania native was named to the Northwest League All-Star team as a member of the Everett Aquasox. In 2017, Miller has been a main stay in the LumberKings starting rotation and was the home opening starter for Clinton this year. Miller has set new professional career-highs this season for strikeouts in a game, eight, and innings pitched in a game, seven. He currently leads the team in wins and is 6-3 with a 3.72 ERA. In his 58 innings of work in 2017, Miller has struck out 55 while walking 18.
Garcia, 23, was selected by the Seattle Mariners in the 15^th round of the 2016 MLB draft out of the University of Miami. While pitching for the Hurricanes, the lefty pitched twice in the NCAA College World Series. A Miami native, Garcia began the season in the LumberKings starting rotation as the team's number two starter. He was moved to the bullpen in late May making two appearances as a reliever, winning both games, before returning to the starting rotation in the first week of June. Garcia's most dominate start of the season came in Clinton on May 12 when he struck out 11 Great Lakes Loons, setting a new professional-career high for strikeouts. He has won his last three outings and is 5-4 with a 5.08 ERA to go with 17 walks and 44 strikeouts.
Anthony Jimenez, 21, has paced the Lumberkings offense for much of the 2017 season. The Venezuelan native currently leads the team in home runs, seven, RBI, 29, hits, 54, and stolen bases, 19. Jimenez speed has set him apart from others in the league, he currently is tied with Jose Siri of the Dayton Dragons for most steals in the Midwest League. Although just 21 years old, Jimenez has been playing in the Mariners organization since 2014 after being signed as an international free agent on July 3, 2013. His seven home runs are already a professional career-high for long flies in a single season. This is Jimenez first all-star selection of his professional career.
Miller, Garcia, and Jimenez give the LumberKings 180 all-stars since the All-Star game was adopted by the Midwest League in 1964. The All-Star break begins on Monday, June 19 with the home run derby starting at 6:05 PM. The All-Star game will be played on Tuesday, June 20 with first pitch scheduled for 6:05 PM.
About the LumberKings
The LumberKings, the only remaining Charter Member of the Midwest League, are playing their 62nd season in the league and their ninth as an affiliate of the Seattle Mariners. Since the club's inception in 1937, 270 former Clinton players have made it to the Major Leagues. The LumberKings play at historic Ashford University Field located off 6th Avenue North at 537 Ballpark Drive. Tickets to all 70 home games are available by calling (563) 242-0727 or by visiting lumberkings.com