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Six Fireflies Named to SAL All-Star Team

Columbia to be Well-Represented in 59th Annual All-Star Game in Greensboro
By Kevin Fitzgerald
June 5, 2018

COLUMBIA, SC - Four Fireflies were named to the South Atlantic League All-Star team, the league announced on June 5: pitchers Joe Cavallaro and David Peterson , catcher Scott Manea and first baseman Jeremy Vasquez . Right-handed pitchers Trey Cobb and Stephen Villines were also added to the South Atlantic League Southern Division

COLUMBIA, SC - Four Fireflies were named to the South Atlantic League All-Star team, the league announced on June 5: pitchers Joe Cavallaro and David Peterson , catcher Scott Manea and first baseman Jeremy Vasquez . Right-handed pitchers Trey Cobb and Stephen Villines were also added to the South Atlantic League Southern Division All-Star team on June 14 and 15 respectively. Aside from Peterson (recently promoted to St. Lucie), this star-studded group will represent the Fireflies at First National Bank Field in Greensboro, North Carolina, for the 59th SAL All-Star Game on Tuesday, June 19.
"I'm truly happy for those guys," Manager Pedro Lopez said. "They're hard workers and put the time in and the effort. Hopefully they can take advantage [of this opportunity] and go out there and have some fun and be ready for the second half."
Cavallaro is tied for first in the league with seven wins and has posted a 2.06 ERA over 11 outings (10 starts). The right-hander from Venice, Florida, has been a model of consistency this season and has posted eight quality starts (six or more innings pitched, three or fewer earned runs allowed). Batters have hit just .199 against the 22-year-old (fourth-best in the SAL), and the Fireflies are 8-3 in games he has pitched in. Cavallaro is in his second season in the Mets system after being drafted out of the University of South Florida in 2017.
The Mets selected Peterson in the first round a year ago, 20th overall, and for good reason. The 6-foot-6 southpaw over-powered the South Atlantic League in nine starts before his recent promotion to St. Lucie. Peterson owns the fifth-best ERA (1.82) in the league and has punched out 57 batters in 59.1 IP. The former All-American at the University of Oregon has been unhittable of late: he's allowed just six earned runs over his last seven starts.
Manea (pronounced Muh-NAY-uh) has been one of the hardest outs for opposing pitchers to record in the South Atlantic League in 2018. His .388 on-base percentage is third-best in the league, and the 22-year-old carried an impressive 16-game on-base streak from April 21-May 12. In 43 games, the Shrewsbury, Massachusetts, native is hitting .246 with four homers and 15 RBIs. Even better, Manea has thrown runners out at the highest rate in the league: the catcher has thrown out 16 of 26 attempted base-stealers (.615).
Vasquez (pronounced Vas-kwez) was extremely consistent during the first half of the season. The native of Palm City, Florida, has easily shown he's one of the most well-rounded hitters in the league with a .288 batting average, 12 doubles and league-best .394 on-base percentage. As of June 5, no other player in the SAL owns a longer on-base streak than Vasquez. The 21-year-old reached safely in a franchise-record 29 straight games from April 5-May 6. The Mets drafted the former Florida Gator and Nova Southeastern Shark in the 28th round of the 2017 draft.
Cobb leads the team with seven saves and holds a stellar 2.05 ERA in 20 games out of the bullpen. The Oklahoma native was drafted by the Mets in the eighth round of the 2017 MLB Draft. Cobb played collegiately at Oklahoma State for four seasons and was a part of the College World Series in 2016.
Villines (pronounced vil-LINES) has been one of Columbia's most clutch relievers out of the bullpen this season. The side-arm right-hander has logged six saves and has struck an eye-popping 52 batters in just 31.1 IP. In fact, that strikeout rate is third-best in the league among relievers. The Lake Forest, California, native also owns a 2-4 record and 5.17 ERA. The Mets selected the 22-year-old out of the University of Kansas in the 10th round in 2017 after he the left the Jayhawks program as the all-time saves leader. 
"The Fireflies are extremely proud to have our five players selected to represent Columbia at the All-Star Game," said Fireflies team President John Katz. "During the 2018 season, we've seen an All-Star from each of the 2016 and 2017 seasons make their Major League debuts. It's exciting for our fans to know that they are seeing the future stars of MLB right here at Spirit Communications Park."   
The Southern and Northern Division square off in the 59th annual SAL All-Star Game on June 19 at First National Bank Field in Greensboro, North Carolina.