2011 International League All-Star Team Announced

SALT LAKE CITY- The International League today announced the members of its 2011 All-Star Team. The squad of 30 IL standouts will take on the Pacific Coast League's best in the 24th annual Triple-A All-Star Game, slated for July 13 in Salt Lake City at 7:05 p.m. MT. The matchup will be broadcast live on MLB Network and the Triple-A All-Star Game Radio Network.

The 2011 International League All-Star squad is made up of 13 elected players who have received the most votes from ballots submitted by clubs' field managers and general managers (1/3), members of the media (1/3), and online fan voting (1/3). The elected players are joined by 17 additional All-Stars selected by the International League office. Each of the IL's 14 clubs will be represented in Salt Lake City.

Three clubs lead the way with four players on the team. The IL All-Star manager Mike Sarbaugh will have four of his Columbus Clippers on the roster, including elected second baseman Jason Kipnis and starting pitcher Zach McAllister along with selected infielder Luis Valbuena and pitcher Jeanmar Gomez. Also with four All-Stars, including a league-best three elected players, is Louisville. The IL's top hitter, outfielder Jeremy Hermida, was elected to the game along with Bats catcher Devin Mesoraco and shortstop Zack Cozart, and outfielder Yonder Alonso was selected to the team. The Gwinnett Braves boast the elected designated hitter Stefan Gartrell and starting pitcher Julio Teheran, the youngest IL All-Star, plus selected infielder Mauro Gomez and outfielder Jose Constanza.

Constanza is one of three players returning from the 2010 International League All-Star squad, along with two catchers from clubs sending three All-Stars apiece to the game. Lehigh Valley's Erik Kratz is back for his third consecutive Triple-A All-Star Game appearance, and will be joined by a pair of IronPigs relievers in Michael Schwimer and Mike Zagurski. Scranton/Wilkes-Barre catcher Jesus Montero is an All-Star for the second straight year, selected to the team this season along with two elected Yankees in IL home runs leader Jorge Vazquez and saves leader Kevin Whelan. Norfolk reliever Mark Worrell is the only other player to have previously appeared in the Triple-A All-Star Game, having suited up for the Pacific Coast League during the 2007 tilt while with Memphis.

Third baseman Russ Canzler and outfielder Brandon Guyer of Durham were elected to this year's game, two of three Bulls headed to Salt Lake City along with outfielder Desmond Jennings. The Charlotte Knights are contributing two All-Stars, selected reliever Shane Lindsay from Australia and elected outfielder Dayan Viciedo from Cuba, the league leader in RBI. In all, seven nationalities are represented on the IL All-Star roster, including players from Mexico, Venezuela, Colombia, and the Dominican Republic.

With the International League's 2-1 victory at last year's Triple-A All-Star Game, the IL owns a slim 7-6 lead in the 13 years since the event changed to the current IL vs. PCL format. The winning league this season will once again earn the right to have its champion play as the "home team" at the Triple-A National Championship Game which will take place Tuesday, September 20 in Albuquerque, N.M.

2011 International League All-Star Team Roster (PDF)