2016 Eastern League All-Stars Announced
The Eastern League of Professional Baseball is pleased to announce the selections for the 2016 Eastern League All-Star Team as voted on by respective Eastern League managers and coaches and media personnel.
(Statistics for games played through August 26, 2016)
Catcher: Chance Sisco, Bowie Baysox (.309, 3 HR, 41 RBI, 49 R)
After making his Double-A debut with the Baysox at the end of the 2015 season, Chance Sisco returned to Bowie this season and is hitting .309 (121-for-392) with 25 doubles, one triple, three home runs, 49 runs scored and 40 RBIs in 106 games. Sisco currently leads the Eastern League with a .401 on-base percentage and is also ranked among the league leaders in batting average (.309-5th), walks (57-6th) and hits (121-tied 10th). In addition to his offensive contributions Sisco has also thrown out 26.7 percent of the stolen base attempts against him this season, which ranks fifth in the league. Chance, who is rated by MLB.com as the second best prospect in the Baltimore organization, was a member of the U.S. Team at the 2016 MLB Futures Game in San Diego and was selected for the Western Division roster at the 2016 Eastern League All-Star Game in Akron. He was also voted as having the "Best Strike Zone Judgement" in the Eastern League this season in the 2016 edition of the Baseball America Best Tools.
First Base: Rhys Hoskins, Reading Fightin Phils (.278, 36 HR, 109 RBI, 86 R)
Reading first baseman Rhys Hoskins is hitting .278 (129-for-464) with 25 doubles, 36 home runs, 109 RBIs and 86 runs scored in 125 games in his Double-A debut for the Fightins this season. Hoskins, who is rated by MLB.com as the 13th best prospect in the Philadelphia organization, is ranked among the league leaders in homers (36-2nd), RBIs (109-2nd), total bases (262-2nd), extra-base hits (61-2nd), slugging percentage (.565-2nd), OPS (.934-2nd), runs scored (86-tied 2nd), walks (62-3rd), hits (129-6th) and on-base percentage (.369-tied 8th). Rhys was also the Eastern League Player of the Week earlier this season for the period of June 6th-12th and was the Eastern League Player of the Month for the month of June after hitting .351 with 13 homers and 33 RBIs in 27 games during the month. Hoskins was also a member of the Eastern Division roster for the 2016 Eastern League All-Star Game in Akron.
Second Base: Erich Weiss, Altoona Curve (.279, 6 HR, 59 RBI, 49 R)
This marks the second straight season Altoona Curve second baseman Erich Weiss has been selected for the season ending All-Star Team in his respectively league, as he was a Florida State League All-Star last season with the Bradenton Marauders. In 118 games for the Curve this season Erich is batting .279 (118-for-423) with 21 doubles, nine triples, six home runs, 59 RBIs and 49 runs scored. Weiss currently ranks third in the Eastern League in triples (9). Erich has been especially impressive during the second half of the season as he is hitting .294 with 18 RBIs in 39 games since the all-star break. That includes a performance on August 21st in which Weiss drove in a career-high seven runs in an 11-5 win over the New Hampshire Fisher Cats.
Third Base: Eric Wood, Altoona Curve (.255, 16 HR, 50 RBI, 60 R)
In 110 games with the Altoona Curve this season third baseman Eric Wood is hitting .255 (94-for-369) with 19 doubles, four triples, 16 home runs, 50 RBIs and 60 runs scored. Eric's 16 home runs this season are a new career high and currently have him tied for sixth in the league. In addition to his offensive contributions this season Wood has also been outstanding defensively, leading all Eastern League third baseman with a .948 fielding percentage and being voted as the "Best Defensive Third Baseman" in the Eastern League this season in Baseball America's Best Tools rankings.
Shortstop: Tyler Wade, Trenton Thunder (.271, 5 HR, 25 RBI, 86 R)
For the second consecutive season Trenton Thunder shortstop Tyler Wade has been selected as a season ending All-Star, as he was a Florida State League All-Star last season with the Tampa Yankees before appearing in 29 games with the Thunder following a late-season promotion to Trenton. In his return to Trenton this season Wade is hitting .271 (127-for-469) with 16 doubles, seven triples, five home runs, 86 runs scored, 25 RBIs and 24 stolen bases in 124 games. Tyler currently ranks second in the Eastern League in walks (63) and is tied for second in runs scored (86). He is also ranked among the league leaders in hits (127-7th), triples (7-tied 7th), and stolen bases (24-10th). Wade, who is rated by MLB.com as the 15th best prospect in the Yankees organization, was also a member of the Eastern Division roster for the 2016 Eastern League All-Star Game in Akron.
Outfielder: Dylan Cozens, Reading Fightin Phils (.279, 37 HR, 114 RBI, 101 R)
Reading outfielder Dylan Cozens is a member of his season ending All-Star Team for the second year in a row, after earning the honor last year with the Clearwater Threshers of the Florida State League. Cozens is batting .279 (134-for-480) with 36 doubles, three triples, 37 home runs, 114 RBIs, 101 runs scored and 21 stolen bases in 124 games this season. Dylan currently leads all of Minor League Baseball in homers (37), total bases (287) and extra-base hits (76). He also leads the Eastern League in RBIs (114), runs scored (101), slugging percentage (.598), OPS (.953) and doubles (36) and is ranked fourth in the league hits (134) and walks (59). Cozens, who is rated by MLB.com as the seventh best prospect in the Philadelphia organization, was a member of the U.S. Team at the 2016 MLB Futures Game in San Diego and was named to the Eastern Division roster for the 2016 Eastern League All-Star Game in Akron. Dylan was also the Eastern League Player of the Week for the periods of June 27th-July 3rd and August 1st-August 7th and was the Eastern League Player of the Month in May after he hit .289 with nine homers and 26 RBIs during the month. He was also voted as having the "Best Power" in the Eastern League this season in the Baseball America Best Tools rankings.
Outfielder: Raimel Tapia, Hartford Yard Goats (.323, 8 HR, 34 RBI, 79 R)
This marks the fourth consecutive season that Hartford Yard Goats outfielder Raimel Tapia has been named a season ending All-Star, previously taking home the honors with Grand Junction (2013 Pioneer League), Asheville (2014 South Atlantic League) and Modesto (2015 California League). Tapia batted .323 (137-for-424) with 20 doubles, five triples, eight home runs, 79 runs scored, 34 RBIs and 17 stolen bases in 104 games in his Double-A debut for the Yard Goats this season before receiving a promotion to Triple-A Albuquerque on August 9th. At the time of his promotion Raimel was leading the league in hits (137) and was also ranked among the league leaders in batting average (.323-tied 2nd), runs scored (79-3rd) and total bases (191-5th). Tapia, who is rated by MLB.com as the fifth best prospect in the Colorado organization, was a member of the World Team at the 2016 MLB Futures Game in San Diego and was also a member of the Eastern Division roster for the 2016 Eastern League All-Star Game in Akron.
Outfielder: Aneury Tavarez, Portland Sea Dogs (.335, 5 HR, 42 RBI, 53 R)
In 98 games for the Sea Dogs this season Portland outfielder Aneury Tavarez is hitting .335 (117-for-349) with 18 doubles, 13 triples, five home runs, 53 runs scored, 42 RBIs and 17 stolen bases. Aneury's .335 batting average currently leads the Eastern League and he is also ranked among the league leaders in triples (13-2nd), on-base percentage (.383-3rd), slugging percentage (.504-4th) and OPS (.887-4th). Tavarez, who had a brief five game stint with Triple-A Pawtucket at the end of June, was selected as a member of the Eastern Division roster for the 2016 Eastern League All-Star Game in Akron.
Utility Player: Garabez Rosa, Bowie Baysox (.304, 8 HR, 61 RBI, 42 R)
Garabez Rosa has appeared in games at first base, second base, third base, shortstop, right field and center field this season for the Bowie Baysox while batting .304 (126-for-415) with 18 doubles, two triples, eight home runs, 61 RBIs and 42 runs scored in 101 games. Rosa, who also played in 20 games with Triple-A Norfolk this season during the month of May, is currently tied for seventh in the Eastern League in batting average (.306) and ranked eighth in hits (126). Garabez was a member of the Western Division roster for the 2016 Eastern League All-Star Game in Akron and on August 2nd he became the Bowie Baysox all-time leader in games played when he appeared in his 435th career game.
Designated Hitter: Rowdy Tellez, New Hampshire Fisher Cats (.300, 18 HR, 72 RBI, 63 R)
New Hampshire first baseman Rowdy Tellez is hitting .300 (121-for-403) with 27 doubles, two triples, 18 home runs, 72 RBIs and 63 runs scored in 114 games while making his Double-A debut for the Fisher Cats this season. Tellez is currently ranked among the league leaders in on-base percentage (.388-2nd), slugging percentage (.511-3rd), OPS (.899-3rd), home runs (18-5th), walks (58-5th), total bases (206-6th), extra-base hits (47-6th), RBIs (72-tied 6th), doubles (27-tied 8th), runs scored (63-tied 8th), batting average (.300-9th) and hits (121-tied 10th). Rowdy, who is rated by MLB.com as the ninth best prospect in the Toronto organization, was a member of the Eastern Division roster for the 2016 Eastern League All-Star Game in Akron.
Right-Handed Starter: German Marquez, Hartford Yard Goats (9-6, 2.85 ERA)
Hartford right-hander German Marquez put together a record of 9-6 with 126 strikeouts and a 2.85 ERA in 21 starts while making his Double-A debut for the Yard Goats this season before receiving a promotion to Triple-A Albuquerque on August 10th. Marquez currently leads the league in ERA (2.85) and is also ranked among the leaders in strikeouts (126-2nd), WHIP (1.16-2nd), batting average against (.245-3rd) and wins (9-tied 8th). German, who is rated by MLB.com as the seventh best prospect in the Colorado organization, was a member of the Eastern Division roster for the 2016 Eastern League All-Star Game in Akron and was also the Eastern League Pitcher of the Week for the period of May 2nd-May 8th.
Left-Handed Starter: Jordan Montgomery, Trenton Thunder (9-4, 2.55 ERA)
Jordan Montgomery started 19 games while making his Double-A debut with the Trenton Thunder this season and put together a record of 9-4 with 97 strikeouts and a 2.55 ERA before receiving a promotion to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on August 1st. At the time of his promotion Montgomery was leading the league in ERA (2.55) and was also ranked among the league leaders in batting average against (.239-2nd), wins (9-tied 3rd) and strikeouts (97-7th). Jordan, who is rated by MLB.com as the 20th best prospect in the Yankees organization, was a member of the Eastern Division roster for the 2016 Eastern League All-Star Game in Akron and was voted as having the "Best Breaking Pitch" in the Eastern League in the Baseball America Best Tools rankings.
Relief Pitcher: Matt Carasiti, Hartford Yard Goats (0-2, 2.31 ERA, 29 Saves)
Hartford closer Matt Carasiti has been slamming the door shut on teams all season, collecting a league-leading 29 saves while posting a record of 0-2 with 43 strikeouts and a 2.31 ERA in 48 games for the Yard Goats this season. Carasiti was rewarded for that performance with a promotion to Triple-A Albuquerque on July 25th. Matt made six scoreless appearances with Albuquerque before getting promoted to the Colorado Rockies where he made his MLB debut on August 12th at Philadelphia. Matt was a member of the Eastern Division roster for the 2016 Eastern League All-Star Game in Akron and was also voted as the "Best Reliever" in the Eastern League this season in the Baseball America Best Tools rankings.