Hall wins crowd, Home Run Derby

VIERA, Fla. - Judging solely on crowd reaction at the Home Run Derby prior to the Florida State League All-Star Game on Saturday night, you might have thought that J.T. Hall was a member of the host Brevard County Manatees.

When the Vero Beach Devil Rays DH took his cuts, he was greeted almost as warmly as hometown favorite Taylor Green.

Part of the reason may have been the sizable contingent of Halls that traveled from Macomb, Miss., to watch their favorite Minor League slugger edge Green in the finals by one homer to win the Home Run Derby title. Hall brought eight relatives to town for the game, then made it worth their effort.

"It was great to have my family come down to attend my first-ever All-Star Game," said Hall, who is in his fifth pro season. "I just wanted to put on a show for the fans."

That, he did, but Hall also clearly became a quick favorite of the All-Star players gathered on the grass in foul territory, thanks to the sheer power and volume of the bombs he hit.

The left-handed hitter, the fourth of eight participants to step to the plate, quickly launched a rocket to right field that drew gasps and cheers from the players and set the stage for the rest of his performance.

Hall hit five homers in the first round to move into the finals against Green (who hit six) and Palm Beach Cardinals catcher Tony Cruz, who had two but won a "swing off" against Brian Dopirak of the Dunedin Blue Jays and Cale Iorg of the Lakeland Flying Tigers.

In the final round, Hall blasted six more homers to top Green's five and take home the pile of prizes, most of them awarded by a local Toyota dealership that sponsored the event (though, sadly for Hall, not a Toyota vehicle).

Hall, who just turned 24 last month, was selected by the Rays in the 41st round of the 2004 Draft out of junior college. After two forgettable short-season campaigns, he made his 2006 full-season debut one to remember when he hit .274 with eight homers and 62 RBIs for Southwest Michigan of the Midwest League, where he was named that team's Player of the Year.

Hall moved up to Vero Beach in 2007 and batted .272 with 11 homers and 40 RBIs. This year, in a return to the Florida State League, he is hitting .298 with five homers and 27 RBIs at the All-Star break, seeing most of his time in the cleanup role and DH with occasional starts in left field and at first base.

RAYS OF HOPE: The starting pitcher for the East squad was a Vero Beach Devil Rays starter, but it wasn't the one who most might have expected by looking at statistics.

Although Devil Rays ace Jeremy Hellickson was on hand for the game, in uniform and signing autographs for fans, he was removed from the active roster due to a blister he aggravated in his last start on June 5. Hellickson tossed five hitless innings in that game, lowering his ERA to 2.26 in 12 starts with 76 strikeouts against five walks in 67 2/3 innings. But he has been unable to take the mound since.

Instead, the honor went to teammate and southpaw Ryan Morse, who came into the game with a 2.90 ERA and 40 strikeouts in 62 innings. Morse started the year in the Devil Rays' bullpen before moving into the rotation on May 4.

TIGER TALES: Although West manager Razor Shines had several good options to earn the start, the honor went to a young man just two months removed from his professional debut -- 19-year-old right-hander Rick Porcello.

You may have heard of him.

The Tigers' top pick in the 2007 draft (27th overall) out of high school in New Jersey, Porcello lasted that long only because of signability issues. But sign he did, and he made his pro debut in April with the Flying Tigers.

In the two months since then, he has more than lived up to the billing, going 3-6 with a 2.94 ERA in 13 starts. Over 67 1/3 innings, he has 41 strikeouts while walking 19.

FUTURE STARS: Next year's Florida State League All-Star game will move across the state to Fort Myers, where the Miracle -- a Twins affiliate -- will play gracious hosts.