Santana, Taylor highlight EL All-Stars
Santana continues to progress quickly through the Minors behind the plate. He's batting .285 with 21 homers and 89 RBIs in 121 games with Akron, leads the league in walks (84) and ranks second in homers and RBIs. The 23-year old was the starting catcher for the Southern Division at the 2009 Eastern League All-Star Game, competed in the 2009 Home Run Derby and was also selected to the World Team for the 2009 Futures Game in St. Louis.
Taylor, another prospect who's garnered a lot of attention, was promoted to Triple-A on July 16 and hit for the cycle with the IronPigs less than a month later on Aug. 12. At Reading, Taylor hit .333 with 22 doubles, four triples, 15 homers, 65 RBIs and 18 steals in 86 games, earning Player of the Month honors for June. He's also joined on the All-Star team by former Reading teammate Quintin Berry, who leads the league in stolen bases.
Santana highlights a powerful infield -- Connecticut's Brett Pill and Brock Bond were selected at first and second base, respectively, while Reading third baseman Neil Sellers joined Trenton shortstop Eduardo Nunez on the left side of the All-Star infield.
Making the cut on the mound were Cleveland prospect Jeanmar Gomez, who made headlines with his perfect game on May 21, as well as Reading's Joe Savery and New Britain's Anthony Slama, who've both since received promotions to Triple-A.
The team was voted upon by managers and coaching staffs, sportswriters, radio and television broadcast personnel and other members of the media.
2009 Eastern League Postseason All-Star Team | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Infielders | Outfielders/Pitchers | ||||
POS. | PLAYER NAME | TEAM | POS. | PLAYER NAME | TEAM |
C | Carlos Santana | Akron | OF | Quintin Berry | Reading |
1B | Brett Pill | Connecticut | OF | Brennan Boesch | Erie |
2B | Brock Bond | Connecticut | OF | Michael Taylor | Reading |
3B | Neil Sellers | Reading | RHSP | Jeanmar Gomez | Akron |
SS | Eduardo Nunez | Trenton | LHSP | Joe Savery | Reading |
UTIL | Brian Dinkelman | New Britain | RP | Anthony Slama | New Britain |
DH | Brian Dopirak | New Hampshire |
Danny Wild is an editor for MLB.com.