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Lively, Correa headline Cal League Stars

Reds prospect will start on mound; 2012 top pick to come off bench
June 4, 2014

The California League is supposed to be a hitter's league. Ben Lively's first half of the season has directly confronted that truism, and now the right-handed pitcher is the player with the most impressive first-half resume in the Class A Advanced circuit.

As such, it's no surprise that Lively was named Wednesday as the California League starting pitcher for the 2014 California/Carolina League All-Star Game to be played June 17 at Wilmington's Daniel S. Frawley Stadium.

Through 12 starts (74 innings) with Bakersfield, Lively is 9-1 with a league-leading 1.95 ERA. The Reds' No. 12 prospect also stands second in the Minor Leagues with 86 strikeouts and fourth with a 0.85 WHIP.

But on the prospect landscape, Lively doesn't have the biggest name on the Cal League contingent. That belongs to Astros top prospect and 2012 first overall pick Carlos Correa, who will come off the bench in the Class A Advanced showcase. The 19-year-old owns a .328/.399/.495 line with five homers, three triples, 13 doubles, 49 RBIs and 15 stolen bases in 50 games with Lancaster.

He was beat out for the starting shortstop job by Dodgers top prospect Corey Seager, who leads the league with 21 doubles and ranks third in average (.335) and OPS (.960).

Lancaster second baseman Tony Kemp, who leads the Minors in hits (77) and runs (64), and Lake Elsinore outfielder Hunter Renfroe, who leads the league with 15 home runs, will add to an impressive Cal League lineup.

Here is the rest of the California League All-Star team:

2014 CALIFORNIA LEAGUE ALL-STARS
CATCHERS      
NAME POS TEAM MLB ORG
Bruce Maxwell* C Stockton OAK
Roberto Pena C Lancaster HOU
INFIELDERS      
NAME POS TEAM MLB ORG
Carlos Correa INF Lancaster HOU
Brandon Drury* INF Visalia ARI
Diego Goris INF Lake Elsinore SD
Chris Jacobs* INF Rancho Cucamonga LAD
Anthony Kemp* INF Lancaster HOU
Corey Seager* INF Rancho Cucamonga LAD
Trevor Story INF Modesto COL
OUTFIELDERS      
NAME POS TEAM MLB ORG
Gabriel Guerrero* OF/DH High Desert SEA
Teoscar Hernandez* OF Lancaster HOU
Hunter Renfroe* OF Lake Elsinore SD
Kyle Waldrop* OF Bakersfield CIN
Jesse Winker OF Bakersfield CIN
PITCHERS      
NAME POS TEAM MLB ORG
Austin Adams RHP Inland Empire LAA
Andrew Barbosa† LHP Visalia ARI
Enrique Burgos RHP Visalia ARI
Trevor Gott RHP Lake Elsinore SD
Josh Hader LHP Lancaster HOU
Ben Lively* RHP Bakersfield CIN
Steven Okert LHP San Jose SF
Joe Ross RHP Lake Elsinore SD
Nate Smith† LHP Inland Empire LAA
Kurt Spomer† RHP Inland Empire LAA
Seth Streich RHP Stockton OAK
Kyle Westwood RHP Lancaster HOU
FIELD STAFF      
NAME POS TEAM MLB ORG
Denny Hocking Manager Inland Empire LAA
Brenton Del Chairo Hitting Coach Inland Empire LAA
Matt Wise Pitching Coach Inland Empire LAA
Omar Uribe Trainer Inland Empire LAA
* In starting lineup
† Will not participate due to injury or promotion

Sam Dykstra is a contributor to MiLB.com.