Four Missions headed to TL All-Star Game
San Antonio - Earlier today, Texas League President Tom Kayser announced the rosters for the 79th Annual Texas League All-Star Game, which will be held Tuesday, June 30th at Whataburger Field in Corpus Christi, TX.
The Missions will be sending four players to Corpus Christi, with Travis Jankowski being named as one of the starting outfielders for the South Division. Right-handers Justin Hancock, Colin Rea and Tayron Guerrero were also selected to the South Stars' roster.
In 56 games this season, Jankowski is hitting .318 (69-for-217) with eight doubles, four triples, one homer, 12 RBI, 40 runs scored and 20 steals. Jankowski, who turns 24 today, is currently 2nd in the TL in runs, 3rd in both OBP at .403 and steals, T-3rd in triples, 4th in AVG and T-4th in hits. The former Stony Brook University star has put together a pair of impressive streaks already this season: a TL-high, tying 16-game hit streak from April 12-29 and a 27-game on-base streak from April 12-May 11. Jankowski is currently the No. 13 prospect in the San Diego Padres' system according to MLB.com.
In 12 starts this season, Hancock is 5-2 with a 3.10 ERA. The Defiance, OH native took the loss in his last outing on June 11 at Frisco, which snapped a career-high, tying five-game win streak. During his win streak, Hancock (No. 15 prospect) pitched to a 2.36 ERA and had a K:BB ratio of 45:19 over 61 innings. Hancock is currently 5th in the TL in both ERA and innings pitched (69.2).
Rea has been one the Texas League's most dominant pitchers this season, going 1-2 with a 1.29 ERA and an incredible K:BB ratio of 50:9 over 56 innings. After missing nearly a month with lower back spasms, Rea (No. 16 prospect) showed no rust in his return on June 13 vs. Corpus Christi, striking out five in four perfect innings. The Cascade, IA native turned in a spectacular performance on May 3 vs. Midland at Wolff Stadium, where he allowed just one hit and one walk, while striking out a career-high 12 over a career-high eight shutout innings. Rea has not allowed more than two earned runs in any of his nine 2015 starts. He currently leads all TL starters in WHIP (0.82), lowest batting average (.183), lowest BB-IBB/9 IP ratio (1.45) and fewest baserunners/9 IP ratio (7.39).
Guerrero, who replaces the promoted Lance McCullers (Houston), is 1-3 with a 2.70 ERA in 21 games this season for San Antonio. The hard-throwing righty notched his fourth save of the season in Saturday night's series opening win over Corpus Christi. Guerrero has allowed just one earned run since the start of May (15.2 total innings).
Trea Turner, who on Sunday was officially traded to the Washington Nationals, would have been the second San Antonio starter at the All-Star Game. The shortstop was having a terrific season with the Missions at the time of the trade, batting .322 (73-for-227) with 13 doubles, three triples, five homers, 35 RBI, 31 runs scored and 11 steals in 58 games. Turner is the owner of the league's longest on-base streak of the season, a 29-game run from April 30-May 30. The 21-year old departs the TL ranked 2nd in hits, 3rd in AVG, T-3rd in RBI and 4th in total bases (107).
Replacing Turner on the South roster is Midland shortstop Chad Pinder.