O's catcher Perez named PBL All-Star
Perez, a 5th-round pick by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the 2011 MLB Draft, is currently hitting .287, with nine home runs and 52 RBIs. Perez is tied for fifth in the league in home runs and ranks second in RBIs. Perez has aided in the resurgence of the Osprey, who currently trail the Billings Mustangs by three games in the Pioneer League North Division Second-Half Standings.
However, Perez is also one of the best defensive catchers in the league - his .552 caught stealing percentage is the best in the league, and is second in all of domestic short-season baseball. Only David Sopika of the Gulf Coast League Red Sox has a better percentage (.625), but has not faced as many attempts (40) as Perez (58).
Five other Osprey players received votes and were named to the Honorable Mention list - third baseman Jake Lamb, pitchers Yoimer Camacho and Chase Stevens, second baseman Danny Pulfer and shortstop Pedro Ruiz.
Lamb is hitting .317 with 18 doubles, four triples, seven home runs and 47 RBIs, plus is the leading defensive player at third base (.960) in the league. Ruiz is hitting .323 with 14 RBIs and 20 stolen bases, which ranks third in the league. Pulfer is hitting .302 with 24 RBIs. Camacho is in the Top 10 in the league in ERA (2-4, 4.91 ERA), while Stevens (3-2, 3.41) has the best strikeouts per 9 innings pitched ratio of any reliever, averaging 15.52 Ks per nine innings pitched. Ray has been consistently among the league leaders in ERA (3-5, 4.14) and is currently ranked 5th among qualifying pitchers in ERA.
Grand Junction outfielder David Dahl was named the league's Most Valuable Player, while Idaho Falls left-hander Sam Selman was named the league's Pitcher of the Year. Pat Kelly of Billings was named the league's Manager of the Year.
The Osprey will return home for a two-game series with the Great Falls Voyagers on August 28-29. Tickets are available now at the MSO Hub Box Office, located at 140 North Higgins in Downtown Missoula, online at MissoulaOsprey.com and by phone (406) 543-3300.
The 2012 Pioneer League All-Star Team is listed below:
Pioneer Baseball League 2012 All-Star Team:
Catcher - Michael Perez, Missoula
First Base - Wade Hinkle, Orem
Second Base - Micah Johnson, Great Falls
Third Base - Seth Mejias-Brean, Billings
Shortstop - Wendell Soto, Orem
Outfield - Jeremy Rathjen, Ogden
Outfield - David Dahl, Grand Junction
Outfield - Joel Capote, Orem
DH - Michael Snyder, Orem
Pitcher - Eddie Butler, Grand Junction
Pitcher - Ismael Guillon, Billings
Pitcher - Gabriel Perez, Orem
Pitcher - Sam Selman, Idaho Falls
Pitcher - Scott Oberg, Grand Junction
League MVP - David Dahl, Grand Junction
Pitcher of the Year - Sam Selman, Idaho Falls
Manager of the Year - Pat Kelly, Billings
Honorable Mention: Billings: Jesse Winker, Taylor Wrenn, Brandon Dailey, Matt Wiley, Andrew Cisco; Grand Junction: Juan Ciriaco, Jeffrey Popick, Julian Yan, Tony Diaz; Great Falls: Kyle Robinson, Jonathan Casey; Helena: Chris McFarland, Leonard Lorenzo, Connor Whalen, Jared Ruiz, Adam Giacalone; Idaho Falls: Ali Williams, Adalberto Mondesi, Jin-Ho Shin, Omar Ramirez; Missoula: Yomer Camacho, Chase Stevens, Jake Lamb, Pedro Ruiz, Jared Ray, Daniel Pulfer; Ogden: Carlos Frias, Eric Smith, Corey Seager, Kazuki Nishijima, Damon Berryhill; Orem: Jonathan Walsh, Tom Kotchman