Seven Wood Ducks Named Carolina League Mid-Season All-Stars

Kinston, N.C. - Seven Wood Ducks have been named to the Carolina League Southern Division mid-season All-Star team, the league announced today. Pitchers Jason Bahr , Joe Barlow , and Demarcus Evans join infielders Diosbel Arias , Ryan Dorow , and Yonny Hernandez , along with outfielder Leody Taveras to represent Down East in the mid-summer classic.

The game will be played at Nymeo Field in Frederick, June 18, with first pitch scheduled for 7:15 p.m. The Southern Division will be managed by Nate Shaver and the staff of the Fayetteville Woodpeckers, while Ryan Minor and the Frederick staff will guide the Northern Division All-Stars.
Bahr has been the most consistent starter for the Wood Ducks this year. He has given up two earned runs or fewer in all ten of his starts, positing a record of 5-1, and an ERA of 1.90. In 52.0 innings this season Bahr has fanned 51, while walking just 23. Opponents are hitting just .183 against him. Bahr's ERA ranks second in the Carolina League. Originally a 5^th round draft pick by the Giants in 2017, Bahr was acquired by the Rangers in a trade from San Francisco last July.
Barlow began the season with Down East, before being promoted to Double-A Frisco, May 29. In 17 appearances for the Wood Ducks this season, Barlow posted a 4-0 record and an ERA of just 0.38. He struck out 44 in 23.2 innings, while opponents batted just .132 against him. He also recorded four saves in five opportunities for the Wood Ducks. An 11^th round draft pick in 2016 out of Salt Lake Community College, Barlow struck out multiple batters in 14 of his 17 outings, including a season his five strikeouts, in two scoreless innings, against Winston-Salem on May 19. He will not participate in the All-Star game due to his promotion.
Evans was just as dominant in relief this season, and likewise bumped up to Frisco, May 29. He fanned 40 batters in 22.1 innings, over 17 appearances, pitching to a 4-0 record and an ERA of 0.81. The Petal, Mississippi native recorded six saves in eight opportunities, while opponents hit just .127 against him. A 25^th round selection out of Petal High School in 2015, Evans struck out multiple batters in 13 of his 17 appearances, including a season-high six strikeouts in two innings against Potomac, May 15, earning the win. Evans was also named the Rangers organization Reliever of the Year last season. He will also not appear in Frederick as a result of his promotion.
After skipping Single-A, Arias has had no trouble adapting to Carolina League play. Entering the week, Arias ranks amongst league leaders in doubles (T-2^nd , 17), hits (T-3^rd, 72), AVG (4^th, .312), total bases (T-4^th 96), AVG (4^th, .312), and RBI (8^th, 35). Arias leads the Wood Ducks with 20 multi-hit games this season, and was named the Carolina League Player of the Week for May 27-June 2, after going 11-19 (.579) including his second career four-hit game, which came against Carolina, May 27. Arias was named to both the mid-season and post-season All-Star teams in the Northwest League last season, playing with Spokane. He is the 19^th Ranked prospect in the rangers organization by MLB Pipeline.
Dorow has provided the Wood Ducks with some of the most memorable moments in the first half. He hit a go-ahead home run in 9th inning to break scoreless tie against Salem, April 16, and then less than two weeks later lifted a walk-off home run to beat the Fayetteville Woodpeckers on April 27. He also hit a walk-off double against the Keys, June 7. Dorow garnered Carolina League Player of the Week honors May 20-26 after hitting four home runs in a three day span against Potomac, and driving in ten runs over the seven days. The reigning Defender of the Year for the Rangers organization has also made countless web gems at third base in the first half of play. Entering the week, Dorow ranks amongst league leaders in RBI (T-3^rd, 39), runs (T-4^th, 40), walks (5^th, 32), and home runs (T-7^th, 8).
Hernandez has been outstanding in the leadoff spot in the order for the Wood Ducks in the first half. He collected Carolina League Player of the Week honors for April 22-28, reaching base 16 times over six games. Hernandez also had a 25-game on base streak from April 20-May 15 over which he hit .377 and posted an on-base percentage of .477. Entering the week, Hernandez ranks among league leaders in walks (2^nd, 39), OBP (3^rd, .425), runs (6^th, 38), stolen bases (6^th, 16), AVG (9^th, .301), and hits (9^th, 63). Hernandez was named a Rangers organizational All-Star last year with Single-A Hickory, by MLB.com.
Taveras opened the season with a four-hit, four-RBI game against Carolina and hit safely in the first eight games of the year. He would go on to have first half on-base streaks of 11 and 19 games, and tally 19 multi-hit games at the plate, including four games of 3+ hits. Entering the week, Taveras ranks among league leaders in triples (T-2^nd 4), stolen bases (T-2^nd, 18), runs (3^rd, 41), hits (5^th, 70), and AVG (7^th, .303). Taveras was also named a Carolina League mid-season All-Star for the Wood Ducks last season, in addition to being recognized as a Rangers organizational All-Star with Down East, by MLB.com. He was additionally selected to represent the Rangers and the World Team in the Futures Game at Nationals Park last year.