Three BayBears named Southern League Mid-Season All-Stars
MOBILE, Ala. (June 7, 2017) - The Southern League announced the South Division roster for the 2017 Southern League All-Star Game on Wednesday. Right-handed pitcher Grayson Long , catcher Wade Wass , and outfielder Forrestt Allday from the Mobile BayBears, the Double-A affiliate of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim,
MOBILE, Ala. (June 7, 2017) - The Southern League announced the South Division roster for the 2017 Southern League All-Star Game on Wednesday. Right-handed pitcher
Long, 23, has posted impressive numbers since making his Double-A debut April 24. After beginning the season with Class A-Advanced Inland Empire, Long has allowing two runs or less in six of his eight starts with the BayBears. He took a no-hitter into the sixth inning of a home start May 26 against Birmingham. Long also held first-place Pensacola scoreless over two starts in 11 innings pitched. Last year with Class A Burlington, he was also named a Mid-Season All-Star in the Midwest League. The Houston native was selected by the Angels in the third round of the 2015 First-Year Player Draft out of Texas A&M University. Long is currently the Angels No. 3 pitching prospect, and he is ranked No. 6 overall in the organization, according to MLB Pipeline.
Wass, 25, a native of Pensacola, Fla., has a chance to participate in the All-Star festivities in his home city after being named a Mid-Season All-Star for the first time in his professional career. He surged during the month of May, emerging as one of the top home run hitters in the Southern League. Wass slashed .302/.400/.667 during the month with six home runs and 14 RBI. His six May home runs were tied for the third-most in the Southern League, one behind
Allday, 26, has consistently ranked among the top five qualifiers in the Southern League for highest batting average. He is currently fourth in the league with a .310 average and has the longest on-base streak in the circuit, reaching in 34 straight games dating back to April 24. Additionally, Allday had a 10-game hitting streak between April 25 and May 5. He was promoted to Triple-A last week before returning to the BayBears after playing in one game with Salt Lake, going 4-for-5. This is the first time Allday has been named a Mid-Season All-Star in his professional career. The Galveston, Texas native was signed by the Angels as a Minor League free agent on April 8, 2016. Allday was originally selected by the Boston Red Sox in the eighth round of the 2013 First-Year Player Draft out of the University of Central Arkansas.
The 2017 All-Star Game will take place Tuesday, June 20 at 6:35 p.m. The game will be played at Blue Wahoos Stadium in Pensacola. The Jackson Generals coaching staff will coach the North Division All-Stars, while the host Blue Wahoos will employ their staff to coach the South Division squad. Starting lineups for the North and South Division squads will be announced Thursday and Friday, respectively.
The BayBears continue the five-game home series against Pensacola with a doubleheader Wednesday beginning at 5:05 p.m. Live coverage can be seen on MiLB.tv (subscription required, promo code: BAYBEARS) and heard on the BayBears Broadcast Network, the TuneIn Radio App, and the MiLB First Pitch App, with the Countdown to First Pitch starting at 4:45 p.m. CT.
The BayBears host a total of 70 home dates through Labor Day, September 4. Single-game tickets and ticket packages are currently on sale. Season tickets and group and hospitality offerings for the 2017 season can be reserved by calling (251) 479-BEAR (2327).
About the Mobile BayBears
The Mobile BayBears are the Double-A affiliate of the Los Angeles of Anaheim and play their games at Hank Aaron Stadium in Mobile, Alabama. The BayBears were founded in 1997 and have won four Southern League titles in 1998, 2004, 2011, and 2012. Additionally, the 1998 and 2011 championship squads were named Minor League Team of the Year by Baseball America. More than 160 former BayBears have reached the Major League level, including All-Stars Max Scherzer, Paul Goldschmidt, Jake Peavy,
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