Ten Suns Awarded All-Star Honors
JACKSONVILLE, FL - The Jacksonville Suns were richly honored following their first-half championship with ten players selected as Southern League All-Stars, the most of any team in the league in 2010. The All-Star Team was selected by a vote of Southern League field managers, radio broadcasters, general managers and print media.
The South Division roster will feature at least six Suns during the Southern League All-Star Game on Monday, July 12: third baseman Matt Dominguez, infielder Tim Torres, outfielder Brandon Tripp and pitchers Dan Jennings, Tom Koehler and Elih Villanueva. Shortstop Osvaldo Martinez was also honored but may not participate due to his selection to the MLB Futures Game on Sunday, July 11. Three other Suns were also named All-Stars but will not play in the All-Star Game due to promotions: closer Matt Peterson (promoted to AAA New Orleans), starting pitcher Alex Sanabia (promoted to Marlins) and outfielder Mike Stanton (promoted to Marlins).
Matt Dominguez is in his first full season at AA after a late-season stint (31 games) with the Suns in 2009. A first-round pick for the Marlins in the 2007 draft, Dominguez was an All-Star for the Florida State League in 2009 and is currently in the top ten in the league for doubles (20, T-8th), home runs (9, T-6th) and extra-base hits (31, 8th).
Dan Jennings is also in his first full year at AA after pitching seven games for the Suns in 2009, including four playoff appearances. Jennings has posted a 3-1 record and a 2.63 ERA over 28 games with the Suns in 2010. The Marlins' ninth-round pick from the 2008 draft, Jennings was also a New York-Penn League All-Star in 2008.
Tom Koehler leads the Southern League in wins (10) versus only one loss and has a 3.21 ERA and 74 strikeouts over 92 2/3 innings (fourth in the league) during his first time at AA. The graduate of SUNY Stony Brook was selected by the Marlins in the 18th round of the 2008 draft.
Osvaldo Martinez has been named a Southern League All-Star but may not play due to his selection to the MLB Futures Game on Sunday, July 11. His participation in the Southern League All-Star Game depends on travel availability from Anaheim. Martinez, the 11th-round pick of the Marlins in 2006, is in the top-five in the league in hits (90, 3rd), runs scored (57, 3rd), on-base percentage (.391, 5th) and walks (39, T-5th). He was also named the Marlins' Minor League Hitter of the Month for May.
Tim Torres becomes an All-Star in his second year with the Suns after a first-half that has him in the top ten in home runs (9, T-6th), on-base percentage (.383, 10th), slugging percentage (.485, 7th) and OPS (.868, 6th). Originally a 23rd-round pick in the 2006 draft by the Houston Astros, the utility infielder was signed by the Marlins in 2009.
Brandon Tripp makes his third All-Star game appearance and first with the Marlins system after being named in 2007 (South Atlantic League) and 2008 (Carolina League) as a member of the Orioles organization. Despite missing time this season with an injury, Tripp, a 12th-round selection in 2006, still leads the Suns in batting average (.322), slugging percentage (.517) and doubles (21).
Elih Villanueva, one of the Suns' heroes from the 2009 Southern League Playoffs, continues his great pitching for the Suns in 2010. The Marlins' 27th-round pick in 2008 out of Florida State leads the league in innings pitched (101 1/3) and is in the top five in wins (7, T-5th) and ERA (2.34, 4th).
Three other Suns were recognized for their outstanding play in the first half but have already been promoted from the Suns. Matt Peterson, the Southern League single-season record holder for saves with 37 (accomplished for the Suns in 2009), held opposing batters to a .218 batting average and recorded 15 saves in 2010, which still leads the league. Alex Sanabia was promoted to the Marlins on June 22; at the time of his promotion, Sanabia was in the top five in the league for ERA (2.03, 2nd), opposing batting average (.194, 1st), WHIP (0.89, 1st) and innings pitched (84 1/3, 4th). Mike Stanton was also promoted to the Marlins on June 8 and at the time was dominating several offensive categories; his 21 home runs, .442 on-base percentage and .729 slugging percentage still lead the league.
The Southern League All-Star Game is hosted by the Huntsville Stars and will be played on Monday, July 12, at Joe Davis Stadium in Huntsville, AL. The Southern League will announce starting lineups for the game on July 1 for the North Division and July 2 for the South Division.
The South Division roster will feature at least six Suns during the Southern League All-Star Game on Monday, July 12: third baseman Matt Dominguez, infielder Tim Torres, outfielder Brandon Tripp and pitchers Dan Jennings, Tom Koehler and Elih Villanueva. Shortstop Osvaldo Martinez was also honored but may not participate due to his selection to the MLB Futures Game on Sunday, July 11. Three other Suns were also named All-Stars but will not play in the All-Star Game due to promotions: closer Matt Peterson (promoted to AAA New Orleans), starting pitcher Alex Sanabia (promoted to Marlins) and outfielder Mike Stanton (promoted to Marlins).
Matt Dominguez is in his first full season at AA after a late-season stint (31 games) with the Suns in 2009. A first-round pick for the Marlins in the 2007 draft, Dominguez was an All-Star for the Florida State League in 2009 and is currently in the top ten in the league for doubles (20, T-8th), home runs (9, T-6th) and extra-base hits (31, 8th).
Dan Jennings is also in his first full year at AA after pitching seven games for the Suns in 2009, including four playoff appearances. Jennings has posted a 3-1 record and a 2.63 ERA over 28 games with the Suns in 2010. The Marlins' ninth-round pick from the 2008 draft, Jennings was also a New York-Penn League All-Star in 2008.
Tom Koehler leads the Southern League in wins (10) versus only one loss and has a 3.21 ERA and 74 strikeouts over 92 2/3 innings (fourth in the league) during his first time at AA. The graduate of SUNY Stony Brook was selected by the Marlins in the 18th round of the 2008 draft.
Osvaldo Martinez has been named a Southern League All-Star but may not play due to his selection to the MLB Futures Game on Sunday, July 11. His participation in the Southern League All-Star Game depends on travel availability from Anaheim. Martinez, the 11th-round pick of the Marlins in 2006, is in the top-five in the league in hits (90, 3rd), runs scored (57, 3rd), on-base percentage (.391, 5th) and walks (39, T-5th). He was also named the Marlins' Minor League Hitter of the Month for May.
Tim Torres becomes an All-Star in his second year with the Suns after a first-half that has him in the top ten in home runs (9, T-6th), on-base percentage (.383, 10th), slugging percentage (.485, 7th) and OPS (.868, 6th). Originally a 23rd-round pick in the 2006 draft by the Houston Astros, the utility infielder was signed by the Marlins in 2009.
Brandon Tripp makes his third All-Star game appearance and first with the Marlins system after being named in 2007 (South Atlantic League) and 2008 (Carolina League) as a member of the Orioles organization. Despite missing time this season with an injury, Tripp, a 12th-round selection in 2006, still leads the Suns in batting average (.322), slugging percentage (.517) and doubles (21).
Elih Villanueva, one of the Suns' heroes from the 2009 Southern League Playoffs, continues his great pitching for the Suns in 2010. The Marlins' 27th-round pick in 2008 out of Florida State leads the league in innings pitched (101 1/3) and is in the top five in wins (7, T-5th) and ERA (2.34, 4th).
Three other Suns were recognized for their outstanding play in the first half but have already been promoted from the Suns. Matt Peterson, the Southern League single-season record holder for saves with 37 (accomplished for the Suns in 2009), held opposing batters to a .218 batting average and recorded 15 saves in 2010, which still leads the league. Alex Sanabia was promoted to the Marlins on June 22; at the time of his promotion, Sanabia was in the top five in the league for ERA (2.03, 2nd), opposing batting average (.194, 1st), WHIP (0.89, 1st) and innings pitched (84 1/3, 4th). Mike Stanton was also promoted to the Marlins on June 8 and at the time was dominating several offensive categories; his 21 home runs, .442 on-base percentage and .729 slugging percentage still lead the league.
The Southern League All-Star Game is hosted by the Huntsville Stars and will be played on Monday, July 12, at Joe Davis Stadium in Huntsville, AL. The Southern League will announce starting lineups for the game on July 1 for the North Division and July 2 for the South Division.