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Harper, Taillon among SAL All-Stars 06/07/2011 10:00 AM ETBy Danny Wild / MLB.com
NEW YORK -- It was a rainy evening April 27 in West Virginia when Bryce Harper stepped in to face Jameson Taillon. Less than a month into the Minor League season, the reigning No. 1 and No. 2 overall Draft picks went head-to-head. On June 21, for at least nine innings, the pair will meet again on friendlier terms. Harper, the former No. 1 overall Draft pick and top Nationals prospect, joined the Pirates' Taillon as two of the more notable selections announced by the South Atlantic League for the upcoming All-Star Game on June 21 at Delmarva. Harper ranks second in the Class A circuit with 13 homers and 41 RBIs. His batting average has gotten as high as .396 this season with Hagerstown, a club that will send seven representatives to the game, including manager Brian Daubach. Taillon (2-1, 3.71) will suit up alongside Harper for the SAL's Northern Division All-Stars. He's pitched well under strict pitch count limits, issuing just four walks -- one to Harper -- in 34 innings this year. Each Sally League club received five All-Star ballots, which were distributed to the manager, coaches, media staff, members of the media, and a "fans choice" ballot. The host Shorebirds received plenty of support through the process and will also have seven coaches and players at the game. Harper, though, will surely be a big draw for fans as he winds down his assignment with the Suns. Already tabbed for a promotion later this year, the exhibition may be one of the last times Sally League fans get a chance to see the right fielder, batting .338 with 12 steals, in action. The teams feature several fellow recent first-round picks, including Charleston's Slade Heathcott (Yankees), Delmarva's Manny Machado (Orioles), Greensboro's Christian Yelich (Marlins), Lexington's Jiovanni Mier (Astros) and Asheville's Kyle Parker (Rockies). The league's top slugger, Augusta's Adam Duvall, was voted to the team after leading the league with 14 homers and 42 RBIs through June 6. Blake Kelso will start at third for the Northern squad after compiling a league-best 76 hits for Hagerstown through Monday. Asheville's Edwar Cabrera should see time on the mound for the Southern team -- he leads the league by a large margin with 96 strikeouts in 71 innings. Lakewood's David Buchanan, who owns a league-best seven wins and a solid 2.11 ERA, will share the mound with Taillon. Savannah's Ryan Ellis will manage the Southern team opposite Daubach. The game, formally known as The 2011 "Strike Out Hunger" South Atlantic League All-Star Game presented by Perdue, will be held at Arthur W. Perdue Stadium, the first All-Star Game the team has hosted since 1999. Below are the full rosters for both teams:
Umpires
Home: Lawrence Reeves * On June 17, the South Atlantic League announced the following roster changes for the Southern Division. Savannah pitcher Josh Edgin (promoted) will be replaced by Augusta pitcher Shawn Sanford. Charleston utility infielder Kyle Roller (injured) will be replaced by Lexington infielder Michael Kvasnicka. Savannah infielder Robbie Shields (promoted) will be replaced by Asheville's Brett Tanos as the utility infielder. Charleston's Slade Heathcott (injured) will be replaced on the roster by Charleston's Ramon Flores as utility outfielder and in center field by Savannah's Cory Vaughn. |
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