Seven Smokies Named Mid-Season All-Stars

The Southern League announced Tuesday that seven Tennessee Smokies players have been named Southern League Mid-Season All-Stars for the circuit's 2015 All-Star Game, which will be played on Tuesday, June 23 at Riverwalk Stadium in Montgomery, Alabama. Representing the Smokies are catchers Kyle Schwarber and Willson Contreras, as well as infielder Dan Vogelbach, and pitchers Frank Batista, Corey Black, P.J. Francescon and Felix Pena.

Schwarber, who will start at catcher and bat third for the North Division, in 52 games for the Smokies this season has posted a .324 average (57-176), adding 12 longballs and 37 RBI. Coming into today, the 22-year-old leads the Southern League in several offensive categories, including on-base percentage (.445), walks (39) and slugging percentage (.580), in addition to second in home runs, third in RBI and total bases (102) and tied for fifth in batting average. Prior to this season, Baseball America rated the backstop as the No. 18 overall prospect in baseball, as well as the fourth-best Cubs farmhand behind former Smokies Kris Bryant, Addison Russell and Jorge Soler. Schwarber was also named the Cubs' Minor League Player of the Month for the month of May after batting .297 (21-56) with eight homers and 17 RBI, which also included a pair of two-homer games.

Contreras has enjoyed a breakout season for Tennessee, compiling a .332 clip (64-193) at the plate, adding 30 runs scored, 15 doubles, two triples, five homers and 34 RBI. Entering this evening's doubleheader on a ten-game hitting streak, the 23-year-old ranks second in the circuit in batting average, in addition to third in slugging percentage (.508). Originally signed by the Cubs as a minor league free agent on December 7, 2009, the Venezuela native has recorded at least one base hit in 41 of his 51 contests this year, including in 16 of his most recent 17 matchups.

Vogelbach, who will start at first base and bat sixth for the North Division, has accumulated a .320 mark (47-147) in 43 contests for the Smokies, along with 21 runs scored, 12 doubles, one triple, four homers and 24 RBI, and was leading the circuit in several offensive categories before being placed on the Disabled List on May 26. Despite missing time, the left-handed slugger, who was activated from the Disabled List Monday, is second among all Southern Leaguers in on-base percentage (.436), tied for fourth in walks (32) and fifth in slugging percentage (.497). The 23-year-old, who was selected in the second round of the 2011 MLB Draft, also received back-to-back Southern League Player of the Week honors through the first two weeks of the 2015 campaign.

Batista has been the ace of Tennessee's rotation through the first half of the 2015 campaign, recording a 6-1 mark and 1.49 ERA (11 ER in 66.1 IP) in 11 starts after being moved from the bullpen prior to the start of this season. The 26-year-old enters Tuesday's play leading the league in earned-run average and winning percentage (.857), while also ranking in a tie for first in wins (six), second in WHIP (0.98) and third in batting average against (.198). The Dominican Republic native has also tallied quality starts in seven of his 11 outings this season, and also ranks second among the circuit's starters with an 8.95 baserunners per nine innings ratio.

Black has pitched in 11 games for the Smokies this year, including nine starts, recording a 2-2 tally and 2.84 ERA (16 ER in 50.2 IP). The right-hander has allowed more than three earned runs in an outing just once this year, and coming into today ranks second in the Southern League in batting average against (.187), in addition to fourth in WHIP (1.05) and ninth in earned-run average (2.84). Black was also named a Southern League Mid-Season All-Star last year, however was unable to participate due to an injury. The 23-year-old was originally selected by the New York Yankees in the fourth round of the 2012 MLB Draft, and was later acquired by the Cubs in a July 26, 2013 trade in exchange for OF Alfonso Soriano.

Francescon has been the key cog of Tennessee's bullpen this season, serving as the club's closer for a majority of 2015. Over his team-leading 18 appearances this year, the right-hander owns a 1-0 record and 0.81 ERA (2 ER in 22.1 IP) while notching seven saves in eight save opportunities. The 24-year-old has also finished 15 games for the Smokies this season, which ranks fourth with 15 games finished, and was selected by the Cubs in the 40th round of the 2011 MLB Draft out of Trevecca Nazarene University in Tennessee. A 2014 Southern League Mid-Season All-Star selection, Francescon has also fired 15 scoreless outings this season, and has not allowed a run in all ten of his appearances at Smokies Stadium, in addition to a perfect five-for-five in save chances.

Pena this year has accrued a 5-2 record and 3.32 ERA (24 ER in 65.0 IP) in 11 starts this year for the Smokies, adding 67 strikeouts. The right-hander enters Tuesday's play ranked third in the Southern League in strikeouts, while also accumulating the fifth-best strikeouts per nine innings ratio (9.28) among the circuit's starting pitchers. Signed by the Cubs as a non-drafted free agent on March 9, 2009, the native of the Dominican Republic has posted five quality starts, and enjoyed an outstanding month of April, during which the 25-year-old tallied a 2-0 record and 1.46 ERA (4 ER in 24.2 IP), adding 23 strikeouts.

The 2015 edition of the Southern League All-Star Game takes place on Tuesday, June 23 at Riverwalk Stadium in Montgomery, Alabama. Players were selected by a vote of League field managers, radio broadcasters, general managers and print media. All players on Southern League rosters as of May 31 are eligible in the voting process. In addition, the Smokies' seven players honored tied with the Chattanooga Lookouts for the most of any team in the North Division.

The Smokies are set to face off against the Birmingham Barons in a doubleheader this evening at Smokies Stadium, with the first game scheduled for a 5:00 p.m. start time. Both contests are scheduled to last seven innings.

Tennessee's starting pitcher for game one has not yet been announced, while Birmingham is expected to send RHP Frankie Montas (0-1, 2.87) to the hill. The Smokies are anticipated to give the nod to RHP Ryan Williams (1-0, 5.06) in the twinbill's nightcap, while RHP Tony Bucciferro (0-3, 6.99) is slated to toe the rubber for the Barons.

Tickets for that game, as well as the remaining home contests at Smokies Stadium, are on sale and can be purchased online at smokiesbaseball.com, or by calling the Smokies Ticket Office at 865-286-2300.