GreenJackets Duo Placed on All-Star Team

Augusta, GA - Augusta GreenJackets third baseman Chris Dominguez and right-handed starting pitcher Jorge Bucardo were selected to the South Atlantic League's Annual All-Star Team, as announced Wednesday by league president Eric Krupa.

Dominguez currently leads the league with 94 RBI's and his 18 home runs are tied for fourth-most in the circuit. He's been a mainstay in manager Dave Machemer's lineup this year, leading the league in games played with 131 - staying out of the lineup just once to date this season. The third baseman recognizes that although he's the one being honored, he couldn't have done it without a little help.

"It's a great honor to be recognized and it comes as a little bit of a surprise because I haven't really focused on my numbers. I've been focused more on winning with my team because it's all about them." Dominguez said. "They're the ones that get on base ahead of me and I couldn't have done any of this without them."

Bucardo got red-hot for the GreenJackets during May and June with a combined 8-0 record in ten starts during the midsummer months and a 1.43 ERA. He struck out 95 hitters and walked just 31 in 114 innings this season before earning a promotion to advanced-A San Jose at the end of July. He finished his time in Augusta with a 2.21 ERA that stands as second-best in the league.

"Jorge Bucardo was the premier right-handed pitcher in the league when he was here - all you have to do is look at his stats to see that." GreenJackets manager Dave Machemer said. "You really had to be here every night to watch him though just to fully appreciate how good he was."

Machemer realizes that the contributions of both are a large part of the reason that his team has been one of the best in the Southern Division throughout the season.

"Dominguez was the horse of the league this year." Machemer said. "He's had over 500 at-bats, he's missed only one game for us and he's done it all this year. He's been the cog in the wheel that made us roll."

Both were midseason All-Stars and participated in events during the league's All-Star Game in Greenville, SC this past June, though Bucardo didn't appear in the game. Dominguez won the Home Run Derby as part of the midseason festivities. The two selections from the 2010 team were one better than last season when Josh Mazzola was the lone GreenJackets representative.

Lakewood manager Mark Parent was selected as Manager of the Year. Other notable awards include James Fuller of the Savannah Sand Gnats being selected as Most Outstanding Pitcher, Lakewood BlueClaws first baseman Jonathan Singleton's selection as Most Outstanding Major League Prospect and the selection of Lexington outfielder J.D. Martinez as Most Valuable Player in the South Atlantic League.

The All-Star team was selected through voting by representatives of the league's 14 teams, totaling 56 completed ballots. Voters included field managers and coaches, general managers, broadcasters and sports writers. Below is the full team:

2010 South Atlantic League All-Star Team

Manager Mark Parent Lakewood BlueClaws

Coach Marc Valdes Savannah Sand Gnats

RH Pitcher Jorge Bucardo Augusta GreenJackets

LH Pitcher James Fuller Savannah Sand Gnats

Catcher Sebastian Valle Lakewood BlueClaws

First Baseman Jared Clark Asheville Tourists

Second Baseman Jose Altuve Lexington Legends

Shortstop Jonathan Villar Lakewood BlueClaws

Third Baseman Christopher Dominguez Augusta GreenJackets

Utility Infielder Robert Lyerly Charleston RiverDogs

Outfielder J.D. Martinez Lexington Legends

Outfielder Eliezer Mesa Asheville Tourists

Outfielder Jeremy Hazelbaker Greenville Drive

Utility Outfielder Destin Hood Hagerstown Suns

Designated Hitter Justin Bloxom Hagerstown Suns

Most Outstanding Pitcher James Fuller Savannah Sand Gnats

Most Outstanding MLB Prospect Jonathan Singleton Lakewood BlueClaws

Most Valuable Player J.D. Martinez Lexington Legends

The GreenJackets continue their final road trip of the season tonight with the third game of a four-game series in Lakewood against the BlueClaws at 7:05 p.m. The game can be heard live on WRDW-AM 1630 or online at www.greenjacketsbaseball.com.