PENSACOLA, Fla. - The Southern League announced the 2017 South Division All-Star team roster on Wednesday. The Blue Wahoos, who currently lead the Southern League South Division, had six players, Gabriel Guerrero, Jimmy Herget, Ariel Hernández, Deck McGuire, Tyler Mahle and Josh VanMeter, named to the team.
PENSACOLA, Fla. - The Southern League announced the 2017 South Division All-Star team roster on Wednesday. The Blue Wahoos, who currently lead the Southern League South Division, had six players, Gabriel Guerrero, Jimmy Herget, Ariel Hernández, Deck McGuire, Tyler Mahle and Josh VanMeter, named to the team.
Players were selected by a vote of league field managers, radio broadcasters, general managers and print media. The Southern League All-Star game and festivities takes place on June 19 and June 20 in Pensacola at Blue Wahoos Stadium.
OF Gabriel Guerrero has the second-highest batting average on the team (.280). He has the fourth-most hits in the Southern League with 61. With those hits, he has 22 multi-hit games including a four-hit game on May 26th and three three-hit games. Guerrero was named a Mid-Season All-Star in 2014 for the California League.
RHP Jimmy Herget (1-2, 1.59), named the Southern League BC Relief Pitcher of the Month for April, leads the Southern League in saves (15). In 28.1 innings of work, he has posted 41 strikeouts and 11 walks. Herget was named to the Florida State League All-Star Game in 2016.
RHP Ariel Hernández (1-0, 2.48) leads the Southern League in holds with seven. HE was recalled by the Cincinnati Reds on April 22nd made his Major League debut on April 24th at Milwaukee. He pitched 2.2 innings and did not allow a hit while striking out five. In 2016, Hernandez was named a Midwest League All-Star.
RHP Tyler Mahle (7-2, 1.66) leads the Southern League in wins (7), innings pitched (76.0), complete-game shutouts (1), ERA (1.66), ranks second in batting average against (.180), and is third in strikeouts (75). One April 22nd, Mahle threw the first perfect game in franchise history and was named the Southern League Pitcher of the Month for April. Mahle was a mid-season All-Star in the Midwest League in 2015.
RHP Deck McGuire (5-3, 3.25) has the fourth most strikeouts in the Southern League with 57. McGuire has been one of the hottest pitchers as of late as he tied a franchise high four straight wins in consecutive starts. In those four starts, he held the opposition to 15 hits and a total of three earned runs (1.08 ERA). This is McGuire's first All-Star nod since making the team in the 2011 Florida State League.
INF Josh VanMeter ranks second on the team with 23 RBIs and posted a 10-game hitting streak from May 10th - 19th. VanMeter is 2-for-3 with bases loaded and hitting .393 with runners in scoring position with two outs (11-for-28 with 15 RBIs). Guerrero was named a Mid-Season All-Star in 2016 for the California League.
The 2017 South Division All-Star team is listed by position alphabetically below:
Tickets to the 2017 Southern League All-Star Game are on sale now! Purchase tickets online at bluewahoos.com or visiting the Box Office. Orders can also be placed over the phone by calling 850-934-8444. The Pensacola Blue Wahoos are the Double-A Affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds and a member of the Southern League. Follow the Pensacola Blue Wahoos at BlueWahoos.com, facebook.com/PensacolaBlueWahoos and twitter.com/BlueWahoosBBall.
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