Gallo to bring power to All-Star Game
Carolina League pitchers have faced enough of Joey Gallo this season. They'll be happy to see their California League counterparts give it a shot in two weeks.
The Rangers' No. 4 prospect will lead the Carolina League All-Stars on June 17 in the 2014 California/Carolina League All-Star Game at Wilmington's Frawley Stadium.
Gallo has been without a doubt the best slugger the Minors has seen through the first half of this season. His 21 homers in 55 games are tops among all levels as are his .753 slugging percentage and 1.219 OPS. He ranks second in the Carolina League with a .320 average and leads the circuit with 50 walks and a .466 on-base percentage. MLB.com has ranked Gallo as the No. 78 overall prospect in the game and No. 8 among third basemen.
The left-handed slugger will be joined by seven Myrtle Beach teammates on the Carolina League roster -- the Pelicans posted a league-best 38-18 record as of Wednesday. Right-hander Alex Gonzalez (5-2, 2.49 ERA) and Andrew Faulkner (4-0, 2.28 ERA) and left-handed reliever Alex Claudio (1.19 ERA, 13 appearances) will represent the pitching staff. Catcher and Rangers top prospect Jorge Alfaro (.272 average, five homers, 30 RBIs), outfielders Nick Williams (.305 average, five homers, 16 doubles) and Royce Bolinger (.308 average) and first baseman Preston Beck (.257 average, .359 OBP) will also be in Wilmington.
With his 10 homers this season, White Sox No. 5 prospect Courtney Hawkins should provide plenty of additional pop to the Carolina League offense. Royals No. 11 prospect Christian Binford, who leads the league with 67 strikeouts, will represent the hometown team.
Here is the rest of the Carolina League All-Star team:
2014 CAROLINA LEAGUE ALL-STARS
CATCHERS | |||
---|---|---|---|
NAME | POS | TEAM | MLB ORG |
Jorge Alfaro | C | Myrtle Beach | TEX |
Cam Gallagher | C | Wilmington | KC |
INFIELDERS | |||
NAME | POS | TEAM | MLB ORG |
Tim Anderson | INF | Winston-Salem | CWS |
Preston Beck | INF | Myrtle Beach | TEX |
Joey Gallo* | INF | Myrtle Beach | TEX |
Erik Gonzalez | INF | Carolina | CIN |
Reed Gragnani | INF | Salem | BOS |
Jose Peraza | INF | Lynchburg | ATL |
Stephen Perez | INF | Potomac | WAS |
Shawn Pleffner | INF | Potomac | WAS |
OUTFIELDERS | |||
NAME | POS | TEAM | MLB ORG |
Royce Bolinger* | OF | Myrtle Beach | TEX |
Glynn Davis | OF | Frederick | BAL |
Anthony Gallas* | OF | Carolina | CIN |
Chris Garia | OF | Myrtle Beach | TEX |
Courtney Hawkins | OF | Winston-Salem | CWS |
Kevin Heller | OF | Salem | BOS |
Jonathan Roof* | OF | Salem | BOS |
Nick Williams* | OF | Myrtle Beach | TEX |
Kyle Wren | OF | Lynchburg | ATL |
PITCHERS | |||
NAME | POS | TEAM | MLB ORG |
Christian Binford | RHP | Wilmington | KC |
Alex Claudio | LHP | Myrtle Beach | TEX |
Jonathan Dziedzic | LHP | Wilmington | KC |
Andrew Faulkner | LHP | Myrtle Beach | TEX |
Alex Gonzalez* | RHP | Myrtle Beach | TEX |
Justin Haley | RHP | Salem | BOS |
Ryan Merritt | LHP | Carolina | CIN |
Mark Peterson | RHP | Wilmington | KC |
Greg Ross | RHP | Lynchburg | ATL |
Derek Self | RHP | Potomac | WAS |
Matt Taylor* | LHP | Frederick | BAL |
FIELD STAFF | |||
NAME | POS | TEAM | MLB ORG |
Darryl Kennedy | Manager | Wilmington | KC |
Steve Luebber | Pitching Coach | Wilmington | KC |
James Stone | Trainer | Wilmington | KC |
Sam Dykstra is a contributor to MiLB.com.