2011 PCL All-Star Team Announced

The Pacific Coast League today announced its 2011 All-Star team, comprised of players from each of the 16 PCL clubs. The PCL All-Stars will take on their International League counterparts in the 24th annual Triple-A All-Star Game, set for Wednesday, July 13th, at Spring Mobile Ballpark in Salt Lake City, Utah. First pitch is slated for 7:05 p.m. MT and can be seen live on MLB Network.

Lorenzo Bundy of the Albuquerque Isotopes will manage the PCL All-Star club, which features 30 of the top hitters and pitchers in Minor League Baseball. Thirteen players were elected to the squad by the balloting of the club's field managers and general managers, members of the media, and online fan voting, while 17 were selected by the Pacific Coast League office.

The PCL starting infield will consist of Bryan LaHair of the Iowa Cubs, who is tied for the league's lead in home runs with 21, at first base, Johnny Giavotella of the Omaha Storm Chasers at second base, Brian Barden of the Round Rock Express at third base and Cody Ransom of the Reno Aces, the PCL leader in runs batted in with 70, at shortstop. Top overall vote-getter Collin Cowgill of the Reno Aces will be among the starting outfielders, a group which also includes the Memphis Redbirds' Andrew Brown and the Albuquerque Isotopes' Trayvon Robinson. Clint Robinson of Omaha will be the starting designated hitter. Las Vegas 51s' left-handed pitcher Brad Mills and Sacramento River Cats' catcher Anthony Recker will make up the starting battery.

Also elected to the squad were starting pitcher Andrew Kown of the Fresno Grizzlies and relief pitchers John Gaub of Iowa and Willie Eyre of Sacramento. The group of elected pitchers will be joined in the PCL pitching staff by Dana Eveland (Albuquerque), Luis Mendoza (Omaha), Sam Narron (Nashville Sounds), David Carpenter (Oklahoma City RedHawks), Victor Garate (New Orleans Zephyrs), Mark DiFelice (Nashville), Jim Miller (Colorado Springs Sky Sox) and Josh Lueke (Tacoma Rainiers).

Among the PCL All-Star reserves is Las Vegas' infielder David Cooper, the league's leader in batting average (.384) and on-base percentage (.446). Infielder Gil Velazquez is the lone Salt Lake Bees player who will play in front of the local crowd while catcher Konrad Schmidt and infielder Tony Abreu will add to Reno's four All-Star representatives, the most by any PCL team. The remaining selected reserve players include catcher Welington Castillo of Iowa, infielder Eric Sogard of Sacramento, infielder Chris Davis of Round Rock, outfielder Bryan Petersen of New Orleans and outfielder Aaron Cunningham of the Tucson Padres.