10th Anniversary Team Vote: Second Base
With the 10-Year Anniversary season around the corner, the IronPigs are enlisting its fans in assembling a 10-Year Anniversary Team. This All-IronPigs squad will be featured in team publications and on select promotional items during the 2017 season.
Each week, the IronPigs will host an "election" for a different position via Twitter. The player with the most votes will be named to the team. There will be four candidates for each position. Each candidate has been selected in advance and must meet certain requirements - first, and foremost, that each played their listed position as their primary position for at least one season with Lehigh Valley. Some players will appear at multiple positions throughout the voting process.
A summary making a case for each candidate will appear in a position feature on www.ironpigsbaseball.com. It is encouraged that votes be cast for each player's performance as an IronPig as opposed to prospect status or later success in Major League Baseball.
Dec. 12-Dec. 18: Second Base
SECOND BASEMAN (L to R in photo above):
Tyler Henson, Kevin Frandsen, Cesar Hernandez, Josh Barfield
Click here to vote!
Tyler Henson* (2013-15)
Career Stats: .266-15-117 in 269 G, 48 SB
Bacon Bits: Henson started his IronPigs career with a bang -- hitting two home runs in his first game with Lehigh Valley on July 30, 2013. This debut was a harbinger for this terrific clutch hitter and one of the best utility players in franchise history. Henson finished his IronPigs career second all-time in stolen bases (48), tied for third in doubles (67), tied for fourth in games (269), fifth in hits (252), sixth in runs (124) and seventh in RBI (117). The offense was just one part of the significant contributions from the Oklahoma City native, who logged games at first base (4), second base (94), shortstop (4), third base (41), left field (39), center field (12) and right field (68). Henson was also the IronPigs lone representative at the 2015 Triple-A All-Star Game - and broke a 3-3 tie in the top of the ninth inning with the game-winning, RBI single in the International League's 4-3 victory over the Pacific Coast League. *Henson will also appear in the voting for the Utility spot on the 10th Anniversary Team.
Kevin Frandsen* (2011-12)
Career Stats: .302-5-73 in 176 G
Bacon Bits: This fan favorite was also perhaps the favorite of manager Ryne Sandberg because of his versatility, his offensive ability and the way in which he went about his business. Frandsen was incredibly consistent, batting .303 in 2011 - when he helped guide the IronPigs to their lone Governors Cup appearance -- and .302 in 2012. The San Jose, Calif., native spent time at all four infield positions in each of his two years in the Valley and currently ranks second all-time in career batting average (.302) and 10th in hits (204). In 2011, Frandsen set a franchise record with seven straight multi-hit games and later had the game-winning RBI in both Game 1 and Game 3 of the first-round playoff sweep over Pawtucket. In 2012, he was leading IL in doubles (34) and was tied for first in hits (118) at time of promotion to Philadelphia on July 27 (finished tied for third in doubles and fifth in batting average) and finished as the toughest player in IL to strike out (1 per 13.48 at-bats). *Frandsen will also appear in the voting for the Utility spot on the 10th Anniversary Team.
Cesar Hernandez (2012-14)
Career Stats: .286-2-50 in 174 G, 44 SB
Bacon Bits: Hernandez made his Triple-A debut in 2012 after being selected as an Eastern League midseason All-Star with Reading. In 2013, he became a force in Triple-A -- leading the in IL in triples (9), while ranking third in AVG (.309) and sixth in SB (32). For that effort, the Venezuela native was named to both the IL midseason and postseason All-Star teams - making him just one of four IronPigs all-time to receive both accolades in a season (Andy Tracy '09, Tyler Cloyd '12, Cody Asche '13). His .309 average is the second highest in single season in franchise history (Mike Cervenak '08, .311) and his .286 career mark ranks seventh. He also lists second in career triples (13) and third in stolen bases (44). In 2014, he tied the franchise record with an eight-game run scoring streak (Steve Susdorf '12). It was also during his time in Lehigh Valley that Hernandez learned to play both shortstop and center field to increase his versatility.
Josh Barfield (2012)
Career Stats: .257-6-55 in 123 G
Bacon Bits: The son of an American League All-Star slugger (Jesse), this Barfield made his biggest contribution to the IronPigs with his glove. The everyday second baseman of Lehigh Valley's only Governors Cup finalist, Barfield led IL second basemen in fielding percentage in 2011 (.984) while still holding franchise since-season records for fielding percentage, putouts (189), assists (302) and double plays (77) by a second baseman. The Texas native also contributed offensively - posting the IronPigs highest single-season RBI total (55) from the position while also posting a pair of 10-game hitting streaks and the IL's eighth highest average (.328) during a 48-game span from May 1 through June 29.
Catcher: Erik Kratz (68%)
Other Nominees: Andrew Knapp (28%), Jason Jaramillo (5%), John Suomi (3%)
First Base: Andy Tracy (49%)
Other Nominees: Darin Ruf (34%), Cody Overbeck (9%), Russ Canzler (8%)