Rathjen Named to Pioneer League All-Star Team
The former Rice Owl is among the league leaders in several offensive categories. Rathjen ranks first in runs scored (57), second in on-base percentage (.447), third in walks (40) and sixth in batting average (.330). He has also played 56 games in the outfield, most in the league.
The 11th-round pick reached base in 35 straight games from July 8 to Aug. 18, the second longest streak in Pioneer League history.
Rathjen was named the Pioneer League Player of the Week for the period of July 9-16. In that week's six games, the 6-foot-5-inch, 184-pounder hit .481 with 13 hits and 10 runs scored. He also hit three doubles, two home runs and drove in eight runs, while stealing three bases.
The Houston native is the lone representative for Ogden on the All-Star Team.
The Raptors also had five members named as honorable mentions.
Pitchers Carlos Frias and Kazuki Nishijima, catcher Eric Smith, shortstop Corey Seager and manager Damon Berryhill were named as honorable mentions.
Frias ranks first in starts (13), second in innings pitched (67.0), third in wins (6), fifth in strikeouts (57) and WHIP (1.37) and sixth in earned run average (4.57). Among starters per nine innings, Frias is third in fewest walks (2.55) and third in fewest baserunners (12.63).
Nishijima has earned seven wins this season, second most in the league. Nishijima's win total is tied for sixth most in Raptors history for wins in a season with John O'Reilly (1996), Jim Miller (1998), Ryan Miller (2000) and David Pfeiffer (2005).
Smith ranks first in sacrifice flies (6), second in hits (78) and fewest strikeouts per plate appearance (9.43), third in batting average (.350) and fourth in triples (7). The Stanford product's triple total is second most in team history, one behind Ryan Rogowski and Scott Schebler's eight in 2006 and 2011, respectively.
Seager was the Los Angeles Dodgers first-round pick this year. In his rookie season, the Kannapolis, N.C., native is hitting .317 with seven home runs and 32 RBIs. Seager is the first first-rounder to play for the Raptors since Bryan Morris in 2006.
Lastly, manager Damon Berryhill was named an honorable mention. Berryhill is in his fourth season as the Raptors manager. He has won the first-half title in each of his four seasons and made a championship appearance in each of the last two years. Berryhill is the Raptors all-time leader in wins as a manager with 162 through Friday.
The rest of the Pioneer League All-Star team features Billings' third baseman Seth Mejias-Brean and pitcher Ismael Guillon, Grand Junction's outfielder David Dahl and pitchers Eddie Butler and Scott Oberg, Great Falls' second baseman Micah Johnson, Idaho Falls' pitcher Sam Selman, Missoula's catcher Michael Perez and Orem's first baseman Wade Hinkle, shortstop Wendell Soto, outfielder Joel Capote, designated hitter Michael Snyder and pitcher Gabriel Perez.
Helena was the only team without an All-Star representative.
Dahl was named the league's Most Valuable Player, and Selman was named Pitcher of the Year. Billings manager Pat Kelly was named Manager of the Year.
The Pioneer League team is chosen by a vote of the Pioneer League's eight managers and eight broadcasters.
Everyone who received at least one vote is named as an honorable mention.