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Canzler, Teheran voted IL's top players

Braves prospect named league's Pitcher of the Year, top rookie
August 30, 2011
Long considered among the elite pitchers at the Triple-A level, Julio Teheran's status was recognized officially Monday.

The Braves prospect was named the International League's Most Valuable Pitcher and Rookie of the Year as the league revealed its postseason All-Star team. Durham infielder Russ Canzler was named Most Valuable Player, and Columbus' Mike Sarbaugh earned Manager of the Year honors.

Teheran, also selected as the starting pitcher for the All-Star squad, leads the league with 15 wins and a 2.22 ERA in 24 appearances for Triple-A Gwinnett. He made his Major League debut this season, starting two games for Atlanta.

The right-hander ranks second with a 1.13 WHIP and has 121 strikeouts in 141 2/3 innings this year in the Minors. He was a two-time Pitcher of the Week, was selected to the mid-season All-Star team and played in the All-Star Futures Game this summer in Arizona.

Canzler finished second in the Southern League with 21 homers for Tennessee last summer but ended up signing with Tampa Bay as a free agent over the winter. He put up perhaps his best season in the Minors in 2011, hitting .312 with 18 homers and 79 RBIs through 124 games with Durham and leads the league with a .535 slugging percentage. He ranks fifth in average, fourth in RBIs and third in on-base percentage.

Columbus second baseman Jason Kipnis, promoted to Cleveland, was an easy choice for the IL infield, which also includes Indianapolis first baseman Matt Hague and a pair of Louisville sluggers, catcher Devin Mesoraco and shortstop Zack Cozart.

Indy's Alex Presley, Charlotte's Dayan Viciedo and Gwinnett's Stefan Gartrell form the All-Star outfield, while veteran first baseman Jorge Vazquez made the team at designated hitter from Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.

Pirates prospect Tim Wood was selected as the top relief pitcher, and Columbus' Luis Valbuena earned a spot as a utility player.

The full roster is below:

Most Valuable Player: Russ Canzler, Durham
Most Valuable Pitcher: Julio Teheran, Gwinnett
Rookie of the Year: Julio Teheran, Gwinnett
Manager of the Year: Mike Sarbaugh, Columbus

2011 International League Postseason All-Star Team
Position Players
POS PLAYER TEAM AFFILIATE
C Devin Mesoraco Louisville Cincinnati
1B Matt Hague Indianapolis Pittsburgh
2B Jason Kipnis Columbus Cleveland
3B Russ Canzler Durham Tampa Bay
SS Zack Cozart Louisville Cincinnati
OF Stefan Gartrell Gwinnett Atlanta
OF Alex Presley Indianapolis Pittsburgh
OF Dayan Viciedo Charlotte Chicago (AL)
DH Jorge Vazquez Scranton/Wilkes-Barre New York (AL)
UT Luis Valbuena Columbus Cleveland
Pitchers
POS PLAYER TEAM AFFILIATE
SP Julio Teheran Gwinnett Atlanta
RP Tim Wood Indianapolis Pittsburgh

Danny Wild is an editor for MLB.com.