The rosters for three of the four MiLB All-Star games the Braves minor leaguers are eligible for have been announced, and 11 former Danville Braves have earned nods. Ronald Acuña Jr. (2015), Kolby Allard (2016), Carlos Castro (2015), Brett Cumberland (2016), Braxton Davidson (2014), Drew Harrington (2016), Tyler Neslony (2016),
The rosters for three of the four MiLB All-Star games the Braves minor leaguers are eligible for have been announced, and 11 former Danville Braves have earned nods. Ronald Acuña Jr. (2015), Kolby Allard (2016), Carlos Castro (2015), Brett Cumberland (2016), Braxton Davidson (2014), Drew Harrington (2016), Tyler Neslony (2016), Christian Pache (2016), Austin Riley (2015), Mike Soroka (2015), and Devan Watts (2016) will all compete in the All-Star games for their respective leagues. Fan voting is still underway for the 2017 Triple-A All-Star Game (July 12 in Tacoma, Wash.).
Rome Braves, South Atlantic League (Class A)
All-Star Game: June 20 in Columbia, SC (Spirit Communications Park, Columbia Fireflies)
Four Rome Braves were named 2017 All-Stars, including catcher Brett Cumberland and outfielder Christian Pache. Both played in Danville last season. Cumberland has made headlines across the Minors in recent weeks after breaking out at the plate. He currently leads the SAL in on-base percentage (.462) and is also in the league's top-five for slugging percentage (.563) and RBI (36). Pache currently owns a .286 batting average with 28 RBI.
Florida Fire Frogs, Florida State League (Class A Advanced)
All-Star Game: June 17 in Lakeland, Fla. (Publix Field at Joker Merchant Stadium, Lakeland Flying Tigers)
The Fire Frogs, Atlanta's new High-A affiliate, lead the Florida State League's North Division with eight all-stars, six of whom played in Danville. Pitchers Drew Harrington and Devan Watts (both 2016 D-Braves) were named to the squad; Harrington has recorded four wins for the Fire Frogs - tied for most on the team - while Watts has tallied a team-leading four saves while striking out 29 batters in 22.2 innings pitched.
2016 D-Braves' outfielder Tyler Neslony boasts a .321 batting average, good for the fourth-best mark in the FSL. Neslony recently snapped a 14-game hitting streak on June 4. 2015 Danville Braves infielders Austin Riley and Carlos Castro will also represent the Fire Frogs in the All-Star Game. Riley leads the Fire Frogs with 55 hits and 35 RBI, while Castro is batting .313 with seven home runs, both good for third on the team. 2014 D-Braves outfielder Braxton Davidson is third on the team with a .362 on-base percentage, a mark aided by a team-high 37 walks drawn.
Mississippi Braves, Southern League (Class AA)
All-Star Game: June 20 in Pensacola, Fla. (Blue Wahoos Stadium, Pensacola Blue Wahoos)
Seven Mississippi Braves earned All-Star nods, including three former D-Braves - pitchers Kolby Allard (2016) and Mike Soroka (2015) and infielder Ronald Acuña Jr. (2015). Allard, the Atlanta Braves' Organizational Pitcher of the Month at Double-A Mississippi for the month of April, owns a 4-3 record with a 2.87 ERA and 51 strikeouts. Soroka is tied atop the Southern League with seven wins; he has 60 strikeouts and a 2.73 ERA.
Acuna leads Mississippi with a .367 batting average; he was promoted to Double A on May 9. He was named the Atlanta Braves' Organizational Player of the Month at Double-A Mississippi for the month of April. All three former D-Braves earning All-Star selections for the M-Braves are just 19 years old.
