Four Blue Rocks Named Carolina League All-Stars
Wilmington, DE- Four Wilmington Blue Rocks were named Carolina League Northern Division All-Stars by the league office on Monday. The quartet of Bryan Brickhouse, D.J. Burt, Khalil Lee and Kort Peterson will play in the annual exhibition. The 2018 Carolina League All-Star Classic presented by U.S. Foods will be hosted
Wilmington, DE- Four Wilmington Blue Rocks were named Carolina League Northern Division All-Stars by the league office on Monday. The quartet of
Brickhouse has put together a strong first half to his campaign after not only transitioning to a reliever, but also bouncing back from injuries which kept him out of play the last two seasons. A third round pick by the Kansas City Royals in the 2011 Draft, Brickhouse is the closer for the Blue Rocks this season and is a perfect 10-for-10 in save opportunities. The 10 saves are tied for most in the Carolina League entering the final week of the first half. In addition, Brickhouse is 1-0 with a sterling 1.86 ERA in 17 appearances and in 19.1 innings of work, he has allowed just four hits, four earned runs, 16 walks, has struck out 27 batters, while holding opponents to a remarkable .066 batting average.
Burt, who is in his second season with the Blue Rocks after missing most of last August with the team due to injury, has turned in a banner year offensively. Drafted by the Royals in the fourth round of the 2014 Draft, Burt has been one of the most consistent hitters and table setters in the Carolina League this season. Entering Monday, he was second in the league with 16 stolen bases, third with a .398 on-base percentage and tied for fifth in the Carolina League with his .300 batting average. A natural second baseman, Burt has added to his defensive flexibility this season and has played shortstop, third base and left field this season for the Rocks.
One of the youngest players to be selected is Lee, who is just 19-years-old. Lee has showcased the tools with Wilmington which makes him the top prospect in Kansas City's farm system. Selected out of Flint Hill High School in Oakton, Virginia in the third round of the 2016 Draft, Lee has picked up the pace offensively after getting acclimated to the Carolina League. Since May, the outfielder is slashing .302/.427/.457 in 37 games. He has 13 extra-base hits during that stretch and has driven in 22 runs. Entering Monday, Lee paces the Carolina League with 44 walks and is ranked fifth in all of Minor League Baseball in that category. He is also second in the league with a .426 on-base percentage and tied for second with four triples.
Rounding out the four Blue Rocks to be named a 2018 All-Star is Peterson. The right fielder missed most of the second half of last season due to a season-ending injury he suffered. With Wilmington for a second season, Peterson has been one of the most consistent bats in the Blue Rocks lineup since Opening Day. He is hitting .299 entering the final seven games of the first half for Wilmington, which is ranked eighth in the Carolina League. He is also fourth in slugging percentage with a .515 mark. Peterson leads the Blue Rocks in hits (58), doubles (14), home runs (8), total bases (100) and OPS (.886). He also has provided flexibility for the Blue Rocks this season, batting leadoff, third, fourth, fifth, eighth and ninth. In addition, Peterson has 11 outfield assists which leads all of the Carolina League and Advanced-A.
The Blue Rocks begin a seven-game road trip Monday, June 11 when they play the Down East Wood Ducks for the first time this season at Grainger Stadium. First pitch is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. with lefty
www.bluerocks.com