Clark, Miller Headline Northwest All-Stars
SPOKANE, Wash., -- The Northwest League has released the 2015 All-Star roster for the inaugural Northwest League vs. Pioneer Baseball League All-Star Game presented by Cenex Zip Trip® stores. The event will be hosted at Avista Stadium, home of the Spokane Indians, on Tuesday, August 4, 2015. Click here to view a full roster.
All eight NWL teams are represented on the roster, including MVP candidate LeDarious Clark, starting center fielder for the Spokane Indians and Jared Miller, the ring leader of Hillsboro's dominant pitching staff. Other notables include Salem-Keizer's Chris Shaw, the 31st overall pick by the San Francisco Giants in the 2015 MLB First-Year Player Draft, and Boise's Kevin Padlo, one of the Colorado Rockies' top prospects. The projected starting lineup for the Northwest League is:
- P Jared Miller, Hillsboro Hops, representing the Arizona Diamondbacks
- C Miguel Gomez, Salem-Keizer Volcanoes, representing the San Francisco Giants
- 1B Brian Mundell, Boise Hawks, representing the Colorado Rockies
- 2B Dylan Moore, Spokane Indians, representing the Texas Rangers
- 3B Kevin Padlo, Boise Hawks, representing the Colorado Rockies
- SS Drew Jackson, Everett AquaSox, representing the Seattle Mariners
- OF LeDarious Clark, Spokane Indians, representing the Texas Rangers
- OF Zach Nehrir, Hillsboro Hops, representing the Arizona Diamondbacks
- OF Logan Taylor, Everett AquaSox, representing the Seattle Mariners
- DH Jose Vizcaino Jr., Salem-Keizer Volcanoes, representing the San Francisco Giants
Spokane's managerial staff, led by nine-year veteran Tim Hulett, will take charge of the squad. Hulett is joined by Jose Jaimes, Rick Down, Chase Lambin and Dustin Vissering.
"It's exciting to see a single team highlighting some of the best prospects from the Northwest League" said Mike Ellis, President of the Northwest League. "The city of Spokane is going to experience a great baseball contest, and both leagues are very excited to be a part of the event."
The Salem-Keizer Volcanoes, Vancouver Canadians and Hillsboro Hops will each have four representatives to lead the league, with all eight teams having at least two players on the roster.
Honorary managers for the game include Hall-of-Famer George Brett (Pioneer Baseball League) and local native Mike Redmond (Northwest League).
A limited amount of tickets for the inaugural Northwest/Pioneer League All-Star Game presented by Cenex Zip Trip Stores are still available for only $12! Gates of Avista Stadium will open at 4:00 PM for the Fan Fest and Home Run Derby, with first pitch at 7:05 PM. Click here for tickets!
PITCHERS
RHP Pedro Araujo, Eugene Emeralds, Chicago Cubs
0-0, 2.76 ERA, 29.1 IP, 13 G, 5 BB, 43 SO, .217 OBA
The Dominican Republic native has a knack for making people swing and miss. The reliever has already collected 43 strikeouts. On July 19 against Vancouver, he logged 10 strikeouts in five innings of work, both season highs for the right hander.
RHP Andrew Case, Vancouver Canadians, Toronto Blue Jays
0-1, 2.20 ERA, 16.1 IP, 14 G, 4 BB, 14 SO, .210 OBA
Case is leading the NWL with seven saves in 14 appearances, eight of which were save opportunities. The second-year pro's 2.20 ERA is a career low. Case was signed as an undrafted free agent after being noticed in the Toronto Blue Jay's inaugural Tournament 12 hosted at the Rogers Centre.
RHP Oscar De La Cruz, Eugene Emeralds, Chicago Cubs
3-2, 3.13 ERA, 37.1 IP, 7 G, 7 GS, 12 BB, 37 SO, .224 OBA
The righty from the Dominican Republic is in the midst of his first stateside baseball experience after spending two seasons with the Dominican League Chicago Cubs. He has struck out 36 batters in 37.1 innings, and is approaching career numbers in the category. He had a season-high nine strikeouts against the NWL's South Division first-half champions, the Hillsboro Hops, on July 2.
LHP Luiz Gohara, Everett AquaSox, Seattle Mariners
2-3, 4.20 ERA, 30.0 IP, 7 G, 7 GS, 14 BB, 34 SO, .257 OBA
Gohara is playing his third season within the Seattle organization after being signed as a highly-touted International Free Agent in 2012. The lefty is listed as the Mariners' No. 7 overall prospect. He has allowed only two runs to opposing left-handed hitters this season.
RHP Carlos Hernandez, Hillsboro Hops, Arizona Diamondbacks
2-1, 1.47 ERA, 43.0 IP, 7 G, 7 GS, 12 BB, 53 SO, .172 OBA
Hernandez is leading the NWL in strikeouts, thanks to six games with seven punch outs or more. He fanned 10 on two occasions: July 2 against Eugene and again against Everett on July 18. He's keeping hitters at bay and off the bases, allowing batters to only hit a measly .172 against him.
LHP Brandon Hinkle, Vancouver Canadians, Toronto Blue Jays
2-0, 0.93 ERA, 19.1 IP, 10 G, 13 BB, 14 SO, .177 OBA
Hinkle has been quite the set-up man for fellow NWL All-Star Andrew Case. The lefty from Lancaster has a minimal 0.93 ERA thanks to him allowing only two runs in 19.1 innings this season. He has struck out 14 and held batters to a .177 line while sporting a 2-0 record.
LHP Elvin Liriano, Tri-City Dust Devils, San Diego Padres
2-0, 1.31 ERA, 20.2 IP, 12 G, 8 BB, 28 SO, .187 OBA
Liriano has been lights out coming from the Dust Devil bullpen this season, posting a stellar 1.31 ERA in 12 appearances. In 20.2 innings, he has allowed only three earned runs and is holding batters to a clip of .187. He was signed as an International Free Agent in 2011, and has already logged 200 innings in his young career.
LHP Drew Leenhouts, Salem-Keizer Volcanoes, San Francisco Giants
5-2, 2.27 ERA, 43.2 IP, 8 G, 8 GS, 13 BB, 35 SO, .254 OBA
Leenhouts is in his third season with the Volcanoes after being drafted in the 23rd round in the 2012 MLB First-Year Player Draft., and he is beginning to find his groove on the bump. On June 21 against Vancouver, he struck out a season-high nine batters in seven innings to earn the win. The left-hander enters today's game with a 4-2 record.
LHP Jared Miller, Hillsboro Hops, Arizona Diamondbacks
7-1, 1.65 ERA, 54.2 IP, 8 G, 8 GS, 11 BB, 52 SO, .188 OBA
Jared Miller, the All-Star starter, is dominating the Northwest League in 2015. With an impressive record of 7-1 in eight starts, Miller has fanned 52 batters (third in the NWL) in a league-high 54.2 innings. His ERA (1.65) is second in the NWL and he has only given up one home run on the season.
LHP Cody Reed, Hillsboro Hops, Arizona Diamondbacks
4-2, 2.85 ERA, 41.0 IP, 8 G, 8 GS, 11 BB, 47 SO, .192 OBA
Reed is another piece to the Hops' dominant pitching staff. Reed, a second-round pick in the 2014 MLB First-Year Player Draft, has held opposing hitters to a.153 batting average. The Alabama native has only given up six runs to post a 1.37 ERA, both low marks in the NWL.
CATCHERS
C Miguel Gomez, Salem-Keizer Volcanoes, San Francisco Giants
.376 AVG (53-141), 14 R, 8 2B, 3 HR, 30 RBI, 11 SO, .379 OBP, .496 SLG
The starting catcher for the NWL All-Star squad is on an absolute tear. In his past 10 games, he's sporting a .409 average with seven RBI. The streak has pushed him to lead the NWL with a .376 batting average, plus his 30 RBI are tied for second in the league with All-Star teammate Logan Taylor of Everett.
C Hamlet Marte, Boise Hawks, Colorado Rockies
.297 AVG (35-118), 13 R, 12 2B, 3 HR, 14 RBI, 29 SO, 3SB, .344 OBP, .475 SLG
Marte is the defensive specialist amongst backstops in the NWL. His .995 fielding percentage is league-best for the position, and he has only committed one error. Marte has picked off 10 base runners and allowed a minimal seven passed balls to get by him.
INFIELDERS
1B Justin Atkinson, Vancouver Canadians, Toronto Blue Jays
.316 AVG (25-79), 11 R, 6 2B, 2 HR, 13 RBI, 2 BB, 14 SO, .333 OBP, .468 SLG
Atkinson is in his fifth full season of professional baseball, splitting time between catcher and first base. In 19 games, the 2011 draft pick is batting .316 with six doubles and two home runs. He has seven RBI in his past 10 games.
SS Drew Jackson, Everett AquaSox, Seattle Mariners
.360 AVG (41-114), 30 R, 6 2B, 1 HR, 12 RBI, 18 SO, 21 SB, .403 OBP, .439 SLG
Jackson, the starting shortstop for the Northwest League, is batting .474 with 18 hits in his past 10 games for the AquaSox. He's also a speed demon on the base paths, leading the league with 21 stolen bases in 23 attempts. He was drafted in the fifth round of the 2015 MLB First-Year Player Draft.
1B Brian Mundell, Boise Hawks, Colorado Rockies
.259 AVG (29-112), 19 R, 7 2B, 2 HR, 15 RBI, 26 SO, 3 SB, .351 OBP, .375 SLG
Mundell, a rookie drafted by the Colorado Rockies in the seventh round of the 2015 MLB First-Year Player Draft, is playing well leading into the All-Star Game. He paces the Hawks with 16 walks on the year, bringing his on-base percentage up to .351. Mundell will be the starting first baseman for the NWL.
2B Dylan Moore, Spokane Indians, Texas Rangers
.282 AVG (35-124), 23 R, 9 2B, 1 3B, 4 HR, 22 RBI, 34 SO, 3 SB, .395 OBP, .468 SLG
The NWL starting second baseman has a knack for being in the right place at the right time. Moore has collected three walk-off hits in the 2015 season - all coming at home at Avista Stadium. The seventh-round pick out of Central Florida has a slugging percentage of .468 thanks to his nine doubles and four home runs.
3B Kevin Padlo, Boise Hawks, Colorado Rockies
.306 AVG (38-124), 25 R, 10 2B, 2 3B, 4 HR, 26 RBI, 22 BB, 34 SO, 19 SB, .423 OBP, .516 SLG
Padlo, the starting third baseman for the NWL All-Star squad, was drafted in the fifth round of 2014. His .308 average places him in the top eight, but his league-leading .423 on-base percentage pushes him ahead of the pack when it comes to plate discipline. Colorado has him placed as their No. 14 overall prospect.
1B Christopher Shaw, Salem-Keizer Volcanoes, San Francisco Giants
(Will not participate due to injury)
.270 AVG (24-89), 9 R, 3 2B, 4 HR, 15 RBI, 11 BB, 20 SO, .359 OBP, .438 SLG
The 31st overall pick in the 2015 MLB First-Year Player Draft, Shaw, has been taking full control of Salem-Keizer's first base. On top of his .270 batting average and four home runs, the former Boston College Eagle has posted a .972 fielding percentage with 135 put outs.
SS Peter Van Gansen, Tri-City Dust Devils, San Diego Padres
.317 AVG (44-139), 24 R, 6 2B, 1 3B, 2 HR, 17 RBI, 17 BB, 25 SO, 5 SB, .395 OBP, .417 SLG
Van Gansen has been the Dust Devils' go-to offensive punch in 2015. With a line of .317/.395/.417, the California native led the team to a First-Half Championship and a playoff berth - the first for Tri-City since 2011.
SS Jose Vizcaino Jr., Salem-Keizer Volcanoes, San Francisco Giants
.333 AVG (31-93), 18 R, 5 2B, 1 3B, 4 HR, 13 RBI, 7 BB, 18 SO, 1 SB, .394 OBP, .538 SLG
Vizcaino is the NWL starting designated hitter, and also the son of former Major Leaguer Jose Vizcaino. The shortstop is batting .333, which places him fourth in the NWL in batting. He has 10 extra-base hits, which is second on the Volcanoes despite missing the season's first 10 games.
SS Yeyson Yrizarri, Spokane Indians, Texas Rangers
.314 AVG (37-133), 15 R, 4 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR, 16 RBI, 5 BB, 30 SO, 7 SB, .314 OBP, .346 SLG
Yrizarri was one of the prized signings by the Texas Rangers in the 2013 International pool. He has already skyrocketed to the No. 12 overall prospect in the Rangers' organization. After a slow start in his first Spokane campaign, the Dominican has knocked in 16 RBI with an on-base percentage of .314. He has a fielding percentage of .941.
OUTFIELDERS
OF LeDarious Clark, Spokane Indians, Texas Rangers
.347 AVG (51-147), 34 R, 7 2B, 5 3B, 8 HR, 20 RBI, 13 BB, 38 SO, 16 SB, .402 OBP, .626 SLG
Clark, the All-Star starting center fielder, got off to one of the hottest starts in the NWL. The 12th-round pick out of West Florida had an 18-game hitting streak to start his career, the second longest since Spokane has been affiliated with the Texas Rangers. Clark leads the league in runs (34), triples (5), home runs (8), total bases (92) and slugging (.626). He's top three in hits (51) stolen bases (16), on-base percentage (.402) and average (.347).
OF Sean Hurley, Vancouver Canadians, Toronto Blue Jays
.233 AVG (28-120), 22 R, 2 2B, 3 3B, 7 HR, 17 RBI, 19 BB, 35 SO, 3 SB, .345 OBP, .475 SLG
Hurley, a 24th-round pick in 2013 for the Toronto Blue Jays, is second in the NWL with seven home runs on the season. His slugging percentage of .475 is seventh in the league.
OF Eloy Jiminez, Eugene Emeralds, Chicago Cubs
.276 AVG (34-123), 19 R, 5 2B, 3 HR, 12 RBI, 8 BB, 26 SO, 3 SB, .321 OBP, .390 SLG
Jiminez has five double and three homers on the season. The right-handed bat was signed out of the Dominican Republic in 2014, skipping the Dominican Summer League and heading straight to the Arizona Rookie League.
OF Zach Nehrir, Hillsboro Hops, Arizona Diamondbacks
.309 AVG (43-139), 24 R, 14 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR, 17 RBI, 12 BB, 24 SO, 7 SB, .373 OBP, .446 SLG
Nehrir, a starting outfielder for the NWL, leads the league with 14 doubles. The 2015 16th-round pick out of Houston Baptist is batting .309 with 17 RBI and seven stolen bases. He has nine multi-hit games this year, including two four-hit games.
OF Logan Taylor, Everett AquaSox, Seattle Mariners
.314 AVG (37-118), 19 R, 8 2B, 2 3B, 3 HR, 30 RBI, 12 BB, 31 SO, 6 SB, .394 OBP, .492 SLG
Taylor is a starting outfielder for the NWL. Taylor is second in the NWL with 30 RBI, thanks to his 13 total extra-base hits. He has played five positions so far this season, include second and third base, and all outfield spots. He has yet to commit an error in the outfield in 30 games played.