SEVEN SMOKIES NAMED SOUTHERN LEAGUE ALL-STARS

SEVIERVILLE - The Southern League has announced that seven Tennessee Smokies players have been named Southern League Mid-Season All-Stars for the 2017 Southern League All-Star Game, which will be played on Tuesday, June 20 at Blue Wahoos Stadium in Pensacola, Florida. Representing the Smokies are pitcher Trevor Clifton, catcher Ian Rice, third baseman Jason Vosler, outfielder Charcer Burks, pitcher Daury Torrez, second baseman David Bote, and pitcher Jen-Ho Tseng.
 
Clifton has been off to a great start in his first year with Tennessee, compiling a 4-2 record and a 2.43 ERA (15 ER in 55.2 IP) in 10 starts. The 22-year-old has struck out 46 and walked just 23 in 55.2 innings. The Maryville, TN native has allowed just two home runs in 199 at-bats in 2017 thus far. Clifton was selected in the 12th round of the 2013 draft by the Chicago Cubs.
 
Ian Rice got off to a slow start in the 2017 season, but has been able to find is stride leading into the All-Star break. Rice has compiled a .261 average to begin the year with 7 homeruns. Rice has been able to bat .364 (12-33) with three homeruns and 20 RBI's with runners in scoring position. Besides being the Smokies' primary catcher, Rice has also seen time as a DH and at 1B. The Catcher was named Southern League Player of the Week for May 1-7 where he hit .615 with five runs, eight hits, two doubles, three homeruns, nine RBI, an on-base percentage of .688 with 16 plate appearances. 
 
Smokies' third baseman Jason Vosler earns Mid-Season All-Star Honors with a .288 batting average in 170 plate appearances. Vosler's 10 home runs in the 2017 season is good enough for fourth in the Southern League. The third baseman also ranks fifth in the league in Slugging Percentage with a .544. Vosler's impressive stats continue ranking first on the team and tied for seventh in the Southern League in runs scored with 33 and first on the team and tied for first in the league with 38. Vosler was selected by the Chicago Cubs in the 16th round of the 2014 draft.
 
2016 Rawlings Gold Glove award winner Charcer Burks also earns himself a spot on the 2017 Southern League All-Star Team. Burks has an impressive start to the 2017 campaign posting a .309 batting average in 165 plate appearances. Burks has also hit four homeruns, and has the fourth best on-base percentage in the Southern League at .407. The Outfielder is tied for 12th in the league in runs scored with 28. Charcer Burks has been able to have a flawless year in the field as well while posting a 1.000 fielding percentage.  
 
Daury Torrez joins the All-Star Team has a pitcher, and has been off to a magnificent start through the Smokies' 2017 season. Torrez has a 0.33 ERA while appearing in 15 games, and posting a 4-0 record while striking out 20 batters in just 27.2 innings pitched. Torrez has been able to go 21.2 consecutive innings without giving up a run while on the mound. The Righty has only given up 1 earned run thus far in the season through 15 games pitched. Torrez was signed by the Cubs as a non-drafted free agent in 2010.
 
David Bote makes an appearance on the Southern League All-Star team as a Utility Infielder. Bote has appeared primarily as a second baseman for the Smokies, and has posted a .986 fielding percentage. Bote has a .274 batting average with 6 homeruns, and 27 RBI's. His 27 RBI's put him at tied for 11th in the Southern League. Bote has been able to rack up 11 doubles on the year, ranking him at 15th in the Southern League. The Chicago Cubs drafted David Bote in the 18th round of the 2012 draft.  
 
The 2017 Southern League All-Star team also includes Jen-Ho Tseng, a Right handed pitcher for the Smokies. The Smokies' pitcher has posted a 5-1 record with a 2.48 ERA, which ranks sixth in the Southern League. Tseng has proven to be consistent throughout the year, as the Smokies have lost just two games when he has taken the mound, with 4 no-decisions. the 22 year old from Taiwan has allowed just 11 walks and has struck out 47 batters. 
 
The 2016 edition of the Southern League All-Star Game takes place on Tuesday, June 20 at Blue Wahoos Stadium in Pensacola, Florida. Players were selected by a vote of League field managers, radio broadcasters, general managers and print media. All players on Southern League rosters as of May 31 are eligible in the voting process. 

SEVIERVILLE - The Southern League has announced that seven Tennessee Smokies players have been named Southern League Mid-Season All-Stars for the 2017 Southern League All-Star Game, which will be played on Tuesday, June 20 at Blue Wahoos Stadium in Pensacola, Florida. Representing the Smokies are pitcher Trevor Clifton, catcher Ian Rice, third baseman Jason Vosler, outfielder Charcer Burks, pitcher Daury Torrez, second baseman David Bote, and pitcher Jen-Ho Tseng.
 
Clifton has been off to a great start in his first year with Tennessee, compiling a 4-2 record and a 2.43 ERA (15 ER in 55.2 IP) in 10 starts. The 22-year-old has struck out 46 and walked just 23 in 55.2 innings. The Maryville, TN native has allowed just two home runs in 199 at-bats in 2017 thus far. Clifton was selected in the 12th round of the 2013 draft by the Chicago Cubs.
 
Ian Rice got off to a slow start in the 2017 season, but has been able to find is stride leading into the All-Star break. Rice has compiled a .261 average to begin the year with 7 homeruns. Rice has been able to bat .364 (12-33) with three homeruns and 20 RBI's with runners in scoring position. Besides being the Smokies' primary catcher, Rice has also seen time as a DH and at 1B. The Catcher was named Southern League Player of the Week for May 1-7 where he hit .615 with five runs, eight hits, two doubles, three homeruns, nine RBI, an on-base percentage of .688 with 16 plate appearances. 
 
Smokies' third baseman Jason Vosler earns Mid-Season All-Star Honors with a .288 batting average in 170 plate appearances. Vosler's 10 home runs in the 2017 season is good enough for fourth in the Southern League. The third baseman also ranks fifth in the league in Slugging Percentage with a .544. Vosler's impressive stats continue ranking first on the team and tied for seventh in the Southern League in runs scored with 33 and first on the team and tied for first in the league with 38. Vosler was selected by the Chicago Cubs in the 16th round of the 2014 draft.
 
2016 Rawlings Gold Glove award winner Charcer Burks also earns himself a spot on the 2017 Southern League All-Star Team. Burks has an impressive start to the 2017 campaign posting a .309 batting average in 165 plate appearances. Burks has also hit four homeruns, and has the fourth best on-base percentage in the Southern League at .407. The Outfielder is tied for 12th in the league in runs scored with 28. Charcer Burks has been able to have a flawless year in the field as well while posting a 1.000 fielding percentage.  
 
Daury Torrez joins the All-Star Team has a pitcher, and has been off to a magnificent start through the Smokies' 2017 season. Torrez has a 0.33 ERA while appearing in 15 games, and posting a 4-0 record while striking out 20 batters in just 27.2 innings pitched. Torrez has been able to go 21.2 consecutive innings without giving up a run while on the mound. The Righty has only given up 1 earned run thus far in the season through 15 games pitched. Torrez was signed by the Cubs as a non-drafted free agent in 2010.
 
David Bote makes an appearance on the Southern League All-Star team as a Utility Infielder. Bote has appeared primarily as a second baseman for the Smokies, and has posted a .986 fielding percentage. Bote has a .274 batting average with 6 homeruns, and 27 RBI's. His 27 RBI's put him at tied for 11th in the Southern League. Bote has been able to rack up 11 doubles on the year, ranking him at 15th in the Southern League. The Chicago Cubs drafted David Bote in the 18th round of the 2012 draft.  
 
The 2017 Southern League All-Star team also includes Jen-Ho Tseng, a Right handed pitcher for the Smokies. The Smokies' pitcher has posted a 5-1 record with a 2.48 ERA, which ranks sixth in the Southern League. Tseng has proven to be consistent throughout the year, as the Smokies have lost just two games when he has taken the mound, with 4 no-decisions. the 22 year old from Taiwan has allowed just 11 walks and has struck out 47 batters. 
 
The 2016 edition of the Southern League All-Star Game takes place on Tuesday, June 20 at Blue Wahoos Stadium in Pensacola, Florida. Players were selected by a vote of League field managers, radio broadcasters, general managers and print media. All players on Southern League rosters as of May 31 are eligible in the voting process.