Three Sea Dogs among EL All-Stars
Sea Dogs second baseman Dustin Pedroia, shortstop Hanley Ramirez and left-hander Jon Lester were joined by SeaWolves utilityman Don Kelly, right-hander Joel Zumaya and closer Edwin Almonte.
The rest of the team consists of Binghamton Mets catcher Mike Jacobs, Trenton Thunder first baseman Shelley Duncan, Altoona Curve third baseman Jose Bautista, Norwich Navigators outfielder Dan Ortmeier, New Britain Rock Cats outfielder Alex Romero, and outfielder Chris Roberson and designated hitter Randy Ruiz of the Reading Phillies.
Pedroia made the team even though he was promoted to Triple-A Pawtucket in late June. The 22-year-old was fifth in the league in hitting at .324 at the time of the call-up with 19 doubles, 40 RBIs, 39 runs scored and seven stolen bases.
Ramirez, rated by Baseball America as the top prospect in the Boston Red Sox organization, is hitting .275 with 19 doubles, seven triples, six homers, 51 RBIs, 64 runs and 26 steals. The 21-year-old participated in the 2005 Futures Game in Detroit.
Lester is 9-6 with a 2.86 ERA and 151 strikeouts in 24 starts, helping Portland to the top of the Northern Division. He leads the league in strikeouts, shares the top spot in complete games (three) and shutouts (one) and is third in ERA.
Kelly has played shortstop and third base, but his bat landed him All-Star laurels. The 25-year-old is second in the EL with a .340 average. He has nine homers, 54 RBIs, a .402 on-base percentage and .508 slugging percentage, and earlier this month he was named the league's "Best Batting Prospect" by Baseball America. Like Pedroia, Zumaya was named an All-Star, despite a midseason promotion to Triple-A Toledo. The 20-year-old Futures Game participant was 8-3 with a 2.77 ERA and 143 strikeouts in 18 EL starts. Baseball America tabbed him the league's top pitching prospect.
Almonte has a league-leading 33 saves in 50 games, striking out 49 and walking 11 in 49 innings. The 28-year-old won Pitcher of the Week honors in early May.
Jacobs, who has four homers in five games since he was promoted to the Major Leagues, batted .321 with 25 round-trippers and 93 RBIs with Binghamton. Duncan leads the Eastern League with 30 homers, becoming the second player in Trenton history to reach that plateau. Bautista established career highs with 27 doubles, 90 RBIs and 23 homers in 117 games before he was promoted to Triple-A Indianapolis on Tuesday.
Ortmeier ranks among the league leaders with 82 runs scored, 33 steals, 226 total bases, six triples, 77 RBIs, 20 homers and 131 hits. Romero is ninth in the league in hitting at .300 with 30 doubles, 74 RBIs and 218 total bases in 130 games.
Roberson leads the EL with 160 hits and 84 runs scored while hitting .313 with 31 steals and eight triples. Despite a pair of suspensions, Ruiz is trying to become the fifth Triple Crown winner in Eastern League history. He leads the circuit in hitting at .353, is second with 26 homers and third with 86 RBIs.