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McCormick Added to Eastern League All-Stars

Squirrels Now Sending Seven to Mid-Summer Classic
July 3, 2013

RICHMOND, VA - The Richmond Flying Squirrels, in conjunction with the Eastern League, are pleased to announce that relief pitcher Phil McCormick has been added to the Western Division All-Star roster. McCormick will join teammates; 2B Joe Panik, RHP Edwin Quirarte, LHP Jack Snodgrass, OF Javier Herrera, INF Mark Minicozzi and C Andrew Susac on the Western Division All-Star Team that will compete in the EL All-Star Game at New Britain Stadium in New Britain, CT, on Wednesday, July 10th.

The Eastern League All-Star Game will feature the Western Division All-Stars vs. the Eastern Division All-Stars. Players were chosen though voting conducted by league managers, media members and fans.

  • Phil McCormick (LHP) - McCormick earns the replacement honors having been one of the most reliable relievers in the Eastern League. The lefty is tied for the league-lead in appearances (34) and has held left-handed hitters to a .169 batting average. McCormick has a record of 3-5 with a 3.31 ERA and has struck out 41 batters in just 35.1 innings pitched. The sidewinding southpaw was selected by the Giants in the 31st round of the 2011 draft out of the University of Missouri.
  • Joe Panik (2B) - Panik earns the All-Star nomination having been one of the most consistent offensive and defensive second baseman in the league. Entering Saturday, Panik is hitting .258 with 15 doubles, three home runs, 28 RBI's and eight stolen bases. The former first-round pick for the Giants had a ten-game hitting streak earlier in the season and reached base in 24 consecutive games from April 20th   to May 18thThe Yonkers, NY native has committed just five errors on the season while learning a new position at second base.
     
  • Mark Minicozzi (INF) - Minicozzi was an easy choice for his first All-Star game, currently 3rd in the league's batting race at an average of .331 (8-245). He is also 2nd in the circuit in on-base percentage (.430) and is tied for 5th with 81 hits. He was the runaway selection as the league's player of the month in May, and also earned a Player of the Week honor during that month. The 30-year old is in his second stint with the San Francisco Giants after re-signing with the organization in May of 2012. He was originally drafted by the Giants out of East Carolina in 2005.
     
  • Javier Herrera (OF) - Herrera has reemerged on the prospect radar while spending his first season in the Giants organization. Twice named as an overall Milb top-100 prospect during his years with the Oakland Athletics, the 28-year old has showcased all five tools this season. He is currenty 2nd to Minicozzi on the team in batting average, and ranks 9th in the Eastern League (.309, 72-233). He is also the club leader in 2Bs (19), RBIs (41) and stolen bases (15). A native of Caracas, VZ, Herrera signed with the Giants as a minor league free agent during the off-season.
     
  • Andrew Susac (C) - Susac, 23, is the youngest Squirrels' All-Star. A dual-threat catcher, the Oregon State product has impressed on both sides of the ball during his first year in the Eastern League. He has thrown out 39% of base stealers, while also batting .268 with 9 HRs and 36 RBIs. Additionally, he has walked 34 times, and boasts an on-base percentage of .375. A 2nd round pick of the Giants in 2011, Susac is in his second professional season and is currently ranked by Baseball America as the top catching prospect in the San Francisco organization.
     
  • Edwin Quirarte (RHP) - Quirarte, 26, will make his first Eastern League All-Star appearance in his third season in the Eastern League. He has blossomed into one of the top pitchers in the circuit after converting to a sidearm angle in May of 2012. In his first full season since making the conversion, Quirarte is tops among Squirrels relievers with a 2.37 ERA. He is 2nd on the team in appearances (29) to LHP Phil McCormick (30), and boasts an average against of .245. A native of Oxnard, CA, Quirarte was chosen in the 5th round of the 2008 draft by the Giants. 2013 is his sixth professional season.
     
  • Jack Snodgrass (LHP) - Snodgrass took the Eastern League by storm, co-authoring the first no-hitter in Flying Squirrels history in his Double-A debut against the New Britain Rock Cats on April 5th. It was only the beginning for the Austin Peay State product. He currently sits 5th in the EL in ERA (2.82) through 13 starts. He boasts an average against of .215 and a WHIP of 1.04, having allowed just 56 hits in 73.1 IP. The 25-year old was also a California League All-Star while a member of the San Jose Giants in 2012. He was selected by the Giants in the 27th round of the 2011 draft.

The Squirrels are currently on the road and will return home on July 4th for an Independence Day Fireworks Extravaganza presented by Heart of VA Chevrolet Dealers, Verizon Wireless and Chili's. Tickets for July 4th are sold out, however, limited availability remains for the Fireworks Extravaganzas on July 5 and July 6th by contacting the box office at (804) 359-FUNN (3866) or on-line at SquirrelsBaseball.com.