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PCL announces postseason All-Star team

Multiple midseason All-Stars and rookies grace roster
August 31, 2009
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. -- The Pacific Coast League today announced its 2009 All-PCL Team, featuring the league's best players at every position including right-handed and left-handed starting pitchers, as well as a relief pitcher.

The prestigious team is selected annually by vote of the PCL's field managers and media representatives based on season-long performance.

Two PCL rookies, second baseman Eric Young Jr. of Colorado Springs and shortstop Alcides Escobar of Nashville, patrol the middle of the infield. Young and Escobar are first and third in the league in stolen bases with 58 and 42 respectively and both are currently in the Major Leagues. Young leads the league in runs scored with 118.

First baseman Randy Ruiz of Las Vegas is hitting .322 with 25 home runs and a league-leading 106 RBIs, despite being called up by the Blue Jays in early August. The newcomer to the PCL also leads the league in extra base hits with 70 and doubles with 43. Esteban German of the Oklahoma City RedHawks is the third baseman for the PCL. He is eighth in the league in batting average at .317 and third in on-base percentage at .416.

Young, Escobar, Ruiz and German all were members of the 2009 midseason PCL All-Star team.

Designated hitter Mitch Jones of Albuquerque leads the PCL in home runs with 33 and slugging percentage at .635 and is tied for second in RBIs with 93. Behind the plate is another PCL rookie, John Hester of Reno, who was hitting .328 with nine home runs and 66 RBIs before he was promoted to Arizona last Friday.

The outfield members are John Bowker of Fresno, Terry Evans of Salt Lake and Matt Miller of Colorado Springs, and their names can be found among many of the league's offensive statistical leaders.

Bowker leads the PCL with a .340 batting average and a .449 on-base percentage to go along with 21 home runs and 83 RBIs. A member of the 2009 midseason PCL All-Star team, Evans is hitting .286 with 25 home runs and 86 RBI. He is second in the league in extra base hits with 63, third in runs scored with 96 and tied for fourth in hits with 146. Miller, another member of the 2009 midseason PCL All-Star team, sits in third place in the league in average at .325 but is the league leader in hits with a 159. The Sky Sox outfielder is also tied for second in RBIs with 93 and third in doubles with 36.

On the mound for the PCL are Bud Norris of Round Rock and Lenny DiNardo of Omaha with Norris as the top right-hander and DiNardo as the top left-hander. Norris started the midseason All-Star game for the PCL and leads the league in ERA at 2.63, despite a callup to Houston in late July. DiNardo is fifth in the PCL in ERA with a 3.33 and second in strikeouts with a 126.

Scott Strickland of Albuquerque, the league leader in saves with 31, is the relief pitcher for the PCL.

Announcement of the league's Rookie of the Year, Pitcher of the Year, Most Valuable Player and Manager of the Year will be announced from Sept. 1-4 in that respective order.

2009 Pacific Coast League Postseason All-Star Team
Infielders/DHOutfielders/Pitchers
POS.PLAYER NAMETEAMPOS.PLAYER NAMETEAM
CJohn HesterRenoOFJohn BowkerFresno
1BRandy RuizLas VegasOFTerry EvansSalt Lake
2BEric Young Jr.Colorado SpringsOFMatt MillerColorado Springs
3BEsteban GermanOklahoma CityRHPBud NorrisRound Rock
SSAlcides EscobarNashvilleLHPLenny DiNardoOmaha
DHMitch JonesAlbuquerqueRPScott StricklandAlbuquerque
Rookie of the Year: Eric Young Jr., Colorado Springs
Pitcher of the Year: Bud Norris, Round Rock
Manager of the Year: Tim Wallach, Albuquerque
Most Valuable Player: Randy Ruiz, Las Vegas