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Doubledays Send 6 Players to All-Star Game

(Chris Stoddard)
August 7, 2018

The Auburn Doubledays - Short Season-A affiliate of the Washington Nationals - are proud to announce the selection of a record six players selected to the 2018 All-Star Game in State College, PA. Pitchers Angel Guillen and David Smith, and position players Jacob Rhinesmith, Pablo O'Connor, Israel Pineda, and Kyle

The Auburn Doubledays - Short Season-A affiliate of the Washington Nationals - are proud to announce the selection of a record six players selected to the 2018 All-Star Game in State College, PA. Pitchers Angel Guillen and David Smith, and position players Jacob Rhinesmith, Pablo O'Connor, Israel Pineda, and Kyle Marinconz will represent Auburn in the midsummer classic. The Doubledays' six representatives are more than the team has had over the last three years combined and the most Auburn has had since Washington became their affiliate in 2011. The previous record was held by the 2012 Auburn Doubledays squad when five players represented History's Hometown.
Angel Guillen, originally signed with the Nationals as an international free agent in 2013, has excelled in his second year in Auburn. "El Diablo" has been lights out with a 2.52 ERA while striking out over eight batters per nine innings. Working mostly in the long relief role, Guillen excelled in his first start of the year on August 2 by throwing six shutout innings to push his season record to 5-1.
David Smith has been stellar on the mound with a 1.48 ERA and team-leading five saves. After struggling in his first stint with Auburn in 2017, the Cal State--Long Beach product has put it together by holding opposing batters to a .211/.308/.244 batting line. Smith also leads the team in appearances (14) and has been manager Jerad Head's go-to option in high leverage situations.
In the batter's box, outfielders Jacob Rhinesmith and Pablo O'Connor headline the Doubledays' all-stars. Rhino has been the most clutch hitter for the Doubledays this year and his .303/.382/.428 statline has bolstered the middle of the lineup. Rhinesmith leads the team in hits (46), runs (25), walks (19) and total bases (65), and is 2nd on the team in doubles (8) and RBI (24). He's also the only player on the team with at least three stolen bases without getting caught. Rhinesmith collected 27 hits in July with two doubles, three triples, and a home run.
Pablo O'Connor's .327/.373/.473 has been a massive lift to an already potent Doubledays lineup. In just 27 games played, O'Connor leads the team in batting average, slugging PCT and OPS (.846) and is 2nd on the team in hits (36) and doubles (8). O'Connor is also 4th on the team in run (19) and RBI (15), and has been hitting .369/.400/.536 while batting in the confines of Falcon Park.
Israel Pineda has been the Doubledays' primary catcher this season while putting up extraordinary results both with the bat and behind the plate. 18 years old and from Venezuela, Pineda is tied with Jamori Blash for the team lead in home runs (3) and is one of Auburn's biggest offensive threats with a .291/.350/.427 batting line. He has also caught eight would-be base stealers while behind the plate.
Infielder Kyle Marinconz has gone on tear in the month of August. The Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo product hit north of .400 in the month of August while providing tremendous defense at the hot corner, where he has yet to make an error since being moved off of second base. The slick fielding Marinconz has solidified the Auburn defense while batting .293/.369/.370.
For updates on the Doubledays and our six all-stars, make sure to follow us on Facebook (Auburn Doubledays), Instagram (@doubledays), Twitter (@doubledays), and Snapchat (adoubledays). For tickets, please visit auburndoubledays.com or call our office at 315-255-CITY.