Southern League Home Run Derby Participants Announced
The North Division will feature Jake Shaffer of the Jackson Generals, Matt Spencer of the Tennessee Smokies, Kyle Russell of the Chattanooga Lookouts and Ryan Flaherty of the Tennessee Smokies. The South Division participants are Luke Montz of the Jacksonville Suns, Steven Vogt of the Montgomery Biscuits, Paul Goldschmidt of the Mobile BayBears and Christian Marrero of the Birmingham Barons.
OF Jake Shaffer - 23 (Jackson Generals/Seattle Mariners) is currently T-10th in the Southern League, with 9 homeruns, 11th in batting (.313), 2nd in at-bats (262), 2nd in hits (82) and 3rd in total bases (133). Shaffer has playe in 60 games this season. Shaffer attended Northern Kentucky and was drafted by the Mariners in the 15th round in 2008. He resides in Cincinatti, OH
OF Matt Spencer - 25 (Tennessee Smokies/Chicago Cubs) is currently T-6th in the league with 10 homeruns this season, 9th in RBI's (40), 6th in slugging percentage (.552) and 7th in OPS (.922). Spencer carries a .292 batting average in 59 games. Spencer attended Arizona State University and was originally drafted by the Philadelphia Phillies in the 3rd round (113th overall) in 2007. He was born in Morristown, TN.
OF Kyle Russell - 24 (Chattanooga Lookouts/Los Angeles Dodgers) is currently T-2nd in the league with 13 homeruns, 2nd in extra base hits (36), 4th in slugging percentage (.567), T-10th in RBI's (39) and 8th in OPS (.914). Russell has a .281 batting average in 63 games. Russell attended the University of Texas and was drafted by the Dodgers in the 3rd round (93rd overall in 2008. He was born in Houston, TX.
UTIL Ryan Flaherty - 24 (Tennessee Smokies/Chicago Cubs) is 4th in the league in homers with 13, 3rd in RBI's (53), 5th in slugging percentage (.565), 9th in runs scored (41) and 4th in OPS (.945). Flaherty is batting .301 in 59 games this season, starting 29 at second base, 3 at third base, 12 at short stop, and 26 in the outfield. Flaherty attended Vanderbilt University and was drafted by the Cubs in Compensation 1st round (41st overall) in 2008. He was born in Portland, ME.
C Luke Montz - 27 (Jacksonville Suns/Florida Marlins) is T-2nd in the league homeruns with 13 on the year, 2nd in slugging percentage (.604), 2nd in OPS (.999) and 12th in RBI's (38). Montz is batting .302 in 49 games this season. Montz attended Hill Junior College (TX) and was originally selected by the Washington Nationals in the 17th round of the 2003 draft. He was born in Lafayette, LA.
C Steven Vogt - 26 (Montgomery Biscuits/Tampa Bay Rays) is T-10th in the league with 9 homeruns this season, 2nd in RBI's (57), 4th in at-bats (249), 5th in total bases (124) and T-6th in hits (76). Vogt is batting .305 in 61 games this season, 26 starts in the outfield, 26 at catcher and 3 at first base. Vogt attended Azusa Pacific and was drafted by the Rays in the 12th round (365 overall) of the 2007 draft. He was born in Visalia, CA
1B Paul Goldschmidt - 23 (Mobile BayBears/Arizona Diamondbacks) is 1st in the Southern League and Minor League Baseball with 21 homeruns. He is 3rd in batting average (.343), 1st in RBI's (59), 4th in hits (79), 1st in on-base percentage (.465), 1st in slugging percentage (.687), 1st in runs scored (54), 1st in extra base hits (36), 1st in total bases (158), 1st in OPS (1.152), T-1st in games played (64). Goldschmidt attended Texas State University and was drafted by the D-Backs in the 8th round (246 overall) of the 2009 draft. Goldschmidt was born in Wilmington, DE.
OF Christian Marrero - 24 (Birmingham Barons/Chicago White Sox) is T-5th in the league with 10 homeruns this season, 3rd in slugging percentage (.575), 2nd in total bases (138), 3rd in extra base hits (34), 3rd in triples (8), T-10th in RBI's (39) and 9th in batting average (.317). Marrero has played in 63 games this season, 41 starts in the outfield and 19 at first base. Marrero attended Broward Community College (FL) and was signed as a non-drafted free agent by the White Sox in 2006.
Pringles Park in Jackson, TN is hosting the Southern League All-Star Game for the first time since 1999. The Southern League Homerun Derby and All-Star Gala will be held a day prior, on June 20th. Tickets for the game start as low as $8 and VIP packages for only $40. Fans may purchase tickets by calling 731-988-5299 or visit the Pringles Park box office.
The Jackson Generals are the Double-A affiliate of the Seattle Mariners and a member of the Southern League. Individual game tickets, flex plans, and group packages with the Generals are on sale. For more information and to reserve your seats at Pringles Park, call 731-988-5299 or visit www.jacksongeneralsbaseball.com.