IL announces Triple-A All-Star roster

The International League revealed Wednesday its 30-man roster for the Triple-A All-Star Game, one day after its Pacific Coast League foes were announced. The two circuits will do battle for the 16th time on July 17 in Reno, Nev.

A total of 30 players -- including 12 pitchers -- comprise the IL roster, with 13 directly elected by fans and 17 selected by league managers and officials.

The All-Star squad is very evenly balanced among the league's 14 teams: first-place Indianapolis (Pirates) has four representatives and Durham (Rays) has three, while Syracuse (Nationals) is sending just one player, reserve shortstop Zach Walters. The other 11 teams each have a pair of All-Stars.

The IL offense is anchored by starting first baseman Chris Colabello of Rochester, who leads the league in batting (.359), slugging (.659) and RBIs (65) in his first Triple-A season. Designated hitter Mauro Gomez of Gwinnett is the Triple-A home run leader with 24 blasts. Durham's Vince Belnome, who paces the league with a .435 on-base percentage, will start at third base. The table will be set by Louisville speedster Billy Hamilton, who has 49 stolen bases in 58 attempts this season and set a Minor League record with 155 steals in 2012.

Louisville starter Greg Reynolds, who is atop the league with 10 wins and a 2.44 ERA, is among the IL's 12 pitchers, as is saves leader Jairo Asencio of Norfolk.

Since the event began in 1988, 77 Triple-A All-Stars have gone on to play in the Major League All-Star Game, including Derek Jeter, Pedro Martinez, Mike Piazza, Chase Utley and Joey Votto.

Between 1988 and 1997, the game pitted American League-affiliated All-Stars against their National League counterparts, with the latter winning six of the 10 games. The IL and PCL have squared off in 15 games since 1998, with the International League winning eight, including seven of the last 10. The PCL won last year's showdown in Buffalo, 3-0, with Wil Myers -- then with Omaha, now with the Tampa Bay Rays -- earning MVP honors.

* On July 5, Steve Tolleson was announced as replacement for teammate Josh Phegley. On July 9, Danny Dorn was announced as replacement for teammate Nick Castellanos. On July 11, Rubby De La Rosa (Pawtucket), Josh Harrison (Indianapolis), David Purcey (Charlotte) and Joey Terdoslavich (Gwinnett) were removed from the roster; no replacements were named.