Six Thunder Players Named to Eastern League All-Star Team

The Thunder, in conjunction with the Eastern League, announced on July 1 that RHP Nick Goody, RHP Eric Ruth, OF Jake Cave, 3B Eric Jagielo and C Gary Sanchez have been selected to play in the 2015 Eastern League All-Star Game on Wednesday July 15 at Hadlock Field in Portland, ME.

On July 8, the Eastern League announced that RHP Brady Lail will be added to the roster as a replacement for Goody (promotion). 

RHP Nick Goody was in his first full season with the Thunder before his promotion on July 7. Goody, a former sixth round draft pick out of Louisiana State University in 2012, was first in the Eastern League among active, qualified relief pitchers with 12.74 strikeouts per nine innings and fifth in the league in opponents batting average with a .190 mark at the time of his promotion. Overall in 29 appearances, Goody compiled a 1-1 record with four saves and a 1.73 ERA. The 23-year-old recorded at least one strikeout in all but one of his appearances this season for the Thunder.

RHP Eric Ruth, a native of Harleysville, PA, was named the Eastern League Pitcher of the Week for the week of May 25-31. In that week, Ruth went 2-0 with a 2.08 ERA and struck out seven in 13 innings pitched. As of July 1, Ruth leads the Eastern League with a 1.97 ERA, among active and qualified pitchers, and has compiled a 5-1 record. Ruth leads the Thunder with seven quality starts (at least six innings, three runs or less) in his ten starts this season.

OF Jake Cave has been named to an All-Star team for the third time in his minor league career. In 2014, he was named a mid-season and post-season All-Star in the Florida State League while playing for the Tampa Yankees. As of July 8, Cave has batted .281 with two home runs and 29 runs driven in with the Thunder this season. He has played in a team-high 79 games and entered the season as the No. 17 prospect in the New York Yankees system according to Baseball America.

3B Eric Jagielo, the former 26th overall selection of the New York Yankees in 2013, is second in the Eastern League in extra base hits with 31. The Downers Grove, IL native is batting .284 with nine home runs and 35 RBI this season. He entered the 2015 campaign as the No. 11 prospect in the New York Yankees system according to Baseball America.

C Gary Sanchez has been named an Eastern League All-Star for the second straight season. Sanchez, who was activated off the disabled list on June 29 (hand), is batting .251 this season with eight home runs and 29 RBI. Prior to his injury, Sanchez had driven in 22 runs in his last 24 games and was batting .284 over his previous 37 games. He entered the 2015 season as the No. 5 prospect in the New York Yankees system according to Baseball America.

RHP Brady Lail, who replaced RHP Nick Goody who was promoted to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on July 7, is 5-3 with a 2.43 ERA with the Thunder this season. The numbers posted by the 21-year old in the first half of the season places him second in the East Division among active, qualified pitchers in ERA trailing only teammate- and fellow E.L. All-Star- Eric Ruth. After taking four appearances to get acclimated to Double-A, Lail has posted a 5-1 record and a 1.49 ERA in 12 starts since May 6, and is holding opponents to a .229 batting average in that time.

Lail becomes the sixth Thunder player to be named to the 2015 Eastern League All-Star team, joining OF Jake Cave, C Gary Sanchez, INF Eric Jagielo (will not participate; injury), RHP Eric Ruth and RHP Goody (will not participate; promotion). 

The Eastern Division is comprised of the Binghamton Mets, New Britain Rock Cats, New Hampshire Fisher Cats, Portland Sea Dogs, Reading Fightin' Phils and the Thunder while the teams in the Western Division include the Akron RubberDucks, Altoona Curve, Bowie Baysox, Erie SeaWolves, Harrisburg Senators and Richmond Flying Squirrels.