Rosters Announced for 2016 Eastern League All-Star Game
(AKRON, OHIO) June 30, 2016 - The Akron RubberDucks, in conjunction with the Eastern League of Professional Baseball, announced the rosters today for the 2016 Eastern League All-Star Game, which will take place at Canal Park Wednesday, July 13, at 7:05 p.m. This will be the first time the franchise has hosted the All-Star Game since it relocated to Northeast Ohio in 1989.
The Eastern and Western Divisions will each be represented by 24 players, 10 pitchers and 14 position players, who were selected by Eastern League managers, media members, and fans. The rosters feature five players from Baseball America's Top-100 prospects entering the season, five players from MLB.com's Top-100 prospects entering 2016, and four players chosen to participate in the 2016 Sirius/XM All-Star Futures Game in San Diego on July 10.
"We are extremely excited to host the Eastern League All-Star Game for the first time at Canal Park," said RubberDucks General Manager Jim Pfander. "This showcase is the perfect chance to show our brand of affordable family fun to fans throughout the league, while putting on a show that Akron will always remember."
The Eastern Division team will be headlined by six members of both the Reading Fightin Phils (Phillies) and Hartford Yard Goats (Rockies). Hartford outfielder David Dahl is among the team's top prospects, ranking as the second-rated Rockies farmhand and 39th overall by Baseball America and ranking 41st on MLB.com's list. Reading brings the league's top two home run hitters-infielder Rhys Hoskins and outfielder Dylan Cozens, who each have 21 home runs. Baseball America ranked Cozens as the 16th-rated Phillies' farmhand and Hoskins as the 23rd-rated before the season. Catcher Jorge Alfaro (87th by MLB.com), left-handed pitcher Hoby Milner, right-handed pitcher Nick Pivetta, and infielder Jesmuel Valentin round out the Reading all-stars.
The hometown Akron RubberDucks lead the Western Division team with six players, including the Cleveland Indians' top two rated prospects by both Baseball America and MLB.com-outfielders Bradley Zimmer and Clint Frazier. Zimmer is the top-rated Indians' farmhand and was ranked 22nd by MLB.com and 31st by Baseball America entering 2016. Frazier was the 23rd-rated player by MLB.com and 44th by Baseball America. Left-handed starting pitcher Shawn Morimando, first baseman Nellie Rodriguez, catcher Jeremy Lucas, and relief pitcher Perci Garner will join Zimmer and Frazier in the home dugout.
The Western Division team also boasts the San Francisco Giants' top two prospects, and former first-round selections-right-handed pitcher Tyler Beede and infielder Christian Arroyo (62nd Baseball America, 73rd MLB.com entering 2016). Outfielder Harold Ramirez from the Altoona Curve was the fifth-rated Pittsburgh Pirates' farmhand and 95th overall by Baseball America.
Akron RubberDucks manager David Wallace and his staff will lead the home-team Western Division squad, and Reading Fightin Phils manager Dusty Wathan and his staff will coach the Eastern Division team after they led the Fightins to the 2015 Eastern Division title.
The four players selected for the MLB Futures Game include Reading outfielder Cozens and outfielder Raimel Tapia of Hartford from the Eastern Division, and catcher Chance Sisco will join Akron outfielder Frazier from the Western Division.
EASTERN DIVISION ROSTER
Pitchers: RHP Matt Carasiti (HFD), LHP Dietrich Enns (TRE), LHP Williams Jerez (POR), RHP German Marquez (HFD), LHP Hoby Milner (REA), LHP Jordan Montgomery (TRE), RHP Tyler Pill (BNG), RHP Nick Pivetta (REA), RHP Murphy Smith (NH), RHP Logan Taylor (BNG)
Catchers: Jorge Alfaro (REA), Kyle Higashioka (TRE), Jake Romanski (POR)
Infielders: Rhys Hoskins (REA), Matt Oberste (BNG), Rowdy Tellez (NH), Pat Valaika (HFD), Jesmuel Valentin (REA), Tyler Wade (TRE)
Outfielders: Dylan Cozens (REA), David Dahl (HFD), Dustin Fowler (TRE), Raimel Tapia (HFD), Dillon Thomas (HFD)
Manager: Dusty Wathan (REA)
WESTERN DIVISION ROSTER
Pitchers: LHP Jayson Aquino (BOW), RHP Tyler Beede (RICH), RHP Tommy Collier (ERI), RHP Tyler Eppler (ALT), RHP Perci Garner (AKR), LHP Donnie Hart (BOW), LHP Jared Lakind (ALT), RHP Tyler Mapes (HBG), LHP Shawn Morimando (AKR), RHP Andrew Robinson (HBG)
Catchers: Jeremy Lucas (AKR), Chance Sisco (BOW)
Infielders: Christian Arroyo (RICH), Edwin Espinal (ALT), Corey Jones (ERI), Ryder Jones (RICH), Nellie Rodriguez (AKR), Garabez Rosa (BOW), Neftali Soto (HBG)
Outfielders: Clint Frazier (AKR), Connor Harrell (ERI), Jason Krizan (ERI), Harold Ramirez (ALT), Bradley Zimmer (AKR)
Manager: David Wallace (AKR)
The Eastern League All-Star festivities span two days, July 12-13. Tuesday, July 12, will feature a Celebrity Softball Game at 7:00 p.m., which will be followed by the 2016 Eastern League Home Run Derby at 8:05 p.m. The softball game will feature a team led by three-time Major League all-star and Indians Hall of Famer Carlos Baerga against a team led by RubberDucks manager David Wallace. Participants for the Home Run Derby will be announced soon. Following the Derby, there will be an Akron-themed fireworks show.
On the date of the 2016 Eastern League All-Star Game, Wednesday, July 13, gates will open at 4:30 p.m. for an autograph session. From 5:00-7:00 p.m., there will be a Main Street Festival on S. Main St. featuring live music, street entertainers, inflatables, and more fun and games. The All-Star Game is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. and will be followed by an Akron-themed fireworks show.
Co-sponsors of the 2016 Eastern League All-Star Game and festivities are Summa Health, Akron/Summit Convention & Visitors Bureau, Medical Mutual of Ohio, and Northern Ohio Honda Dealers.
Tickets for the Eastern League Home Run Derby and RubberDucks Celebrity Softball Game are $10 for reserved seats and $6 for general admission. Tickets for the 2016 Eastern League All-Star Game are $18 for reserved seats, $10 for general admission, groups of 24 or more can get $15 reserved tickets, and McDonald's Family Territory seats are $35, which includes a two-hour, all-you-can-eat picnic. Tickets can be purchased by calling the RubberDucks at 330-253-5151 or at www.akronrubberducks.com/allstar.
The 2016 Eastern League All-Star Game will be broadcast on Fox Sports 1350 AM, the WARF iHeart channel, and the TuneIn Radio App., and it will be available on MiLB.TV.
The Akron RubberDucks are the Double-A affiliate of the Cleveland Indians. The 2016 season is its 20th since moving to Akron and third since becoming the RubberDucks. For more information about the team, please visit the RubberDucks' website, www.akronrubberducks.com, Facebook page www.facebook.com/AkronRubberDucks, Twitter feed @AkronRubberDuck, and Instagram at @akronrubberducks.