Ronny Mauricio Named to SAL All-Star Team

COLUMBIA, SC - Fireflies shortstop Ronny Mauricio was named to the South Atlantic League All-Star team by the league on Tuesday. Mauricio will be joined by Columbia pitching coach Royce Ring at Appalachian Power Park in Charleston, West Virginia, for the 60^th SAL All-Star Game on Tuesday, June 18.
"I am extremely proud and happy for him," Manager Pedro Lopez said about Mauricio. "He's been the most consistent hitter that we have. The opportunity for him to go out there and have a little fun with other players from around the league, I think he'll have a great time."
Mauricio is eighth in the league with 58 hits and sixth in total at-bats (207). The second-rated Mets prospect also leads Columbia in batting average (.280), runs (22), hits and games played (51). Mauricio, a physically gifted switch-hitter, is just 18 years old and one of the youngest players in New York's entire minor-league system. The native of the Dominican Republic signed with the Mets for $2.1 million in the summer of 2017.
Ring is in his first season as pitching coach for the Fireflies. Columbia's pitchers have experienced much success working with Ring, in fact, four Fireflies hurlers - Andrew Mitchell, Dedniel Nunez, Darwin Ramos, Ezequiel Zabaleta - have already received promotions to the advanced class-A St. Lucie Mets this season. The 38-year-old from Seattle appeared in 99 games in the majors from 2005-2010 for the Mets (2005 & 2006), Padres, Braves and Yankees. Ring was an 18th-round draft choice of the White Sox in 2002 out of San Diego State University.
"Ronny has been a lot of fun to watch this season," said Fireflies team President John Katz. "He's young, athletic and super talented, and for him to get the all-star nod in his first full professional season is a tremendous achievement."   
The Southern and Northern Division square off in the 60^th annual SAL All-Star Game on June 18 at Appalachian Power Park in Charleston, West Virginia.
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About the Columbia Fireflies
The Columbia Fireflies are the South Atlantic League affiliate of the New York Mets. Winners of Ballpark Digest's Best New Branding and Logo Award in 2016, the Fireflies play games across the southeast and mid-Atlantic regions, including against in-state rivals in Charleston and Greenville. The team partnered with the city of Columbia and Hughes Development to construct Segra Park, a multi-use outdoor sports and entertainment venue at the center of the BullStreet District. The Columbia Fireflies are owned by Hardball Capital, owners of the Fort Wayne TinCaps of the Midwest League and the Chattanooga Lookouts of the Southern League. For more information, visit www.ColumbiaFireflies.com, or follow the Fireflies on Twitter (@ColaFireflies), Facebook (facebook.com/columbiafireflies) and all popular social media platforms.
About Segra Park
Segra Park (formerly Spirit Communications Park), named as the 2018 South Atlantic League Best Playing Surface and the 2016 Ballpark Digest Ballpark of the Year, is a 365-day per year multi-use sports and entertainment venue located in the heart of downtown Columbia, South Carolina. Segra Park is the home ballpark for the Columbia Fireflies, the South Atlantic League affiliate of the New York Mets. Designed for baseball, concerts, football, soccer and a host of other activities, the venue seats approximately 9,000 for sporting events and up to 15,000 for major outdoor concerts. With 16 luxury suites and a 7,000 square-foot Club Level Lounge, Segra Park also hosts everything from business meetings to wedding receptions, and everything in between. The venue is open 365 days a year and serves as a public park, with a wrap-around concourse representing 1/3 of a mile for walkers and joggers. For more information, visit www.SegraPark.com.