Brentz, Wheeler highlight EL All-Stars

The best of the Eastern League will meet in Reading, Pa., next month after All-Star rosters for the Eastern and Western divisions were revealed Thursday.

The host Reading Phillies will have six representatives on the Eastern squad, including catcher Sebastian Valle -- the Phils' top catching prospect -- Troy Hanzawa, Cesar Hernandez, Darin Ruf, Justin Friend and Julio Rodriguez.

The Eastern team is also anchored by a solid pitching corps, with Binghamton ace Zack Wheeler leading a staff that includes Trenton's Brett Marshall, New Hampshire's Yohan Pino and Sam Dyson and Portland's Chris Hernandez.

Wheeler, the Mets' No. 1 prospect, is 7-3 with a 2.29 ERA in 13 starts and ranks third in the league with 77 strikeouts.

Trenton's Cody Johnson, the Eastern League's home run leader with 16, joins the circuit's stolen base leader Abraham Almonte, who has 30 steals for the Thunder. Boston's No. 2 prospect, Bryce Brentz, was also voted to the team after hitting .293 with 10 homers and 32 RBIs in 70 games for Portland.

The visiting Western team includes sluggers like Jordan Lennerton, who ranks second in the league with 15 homers, and Altoona's Brock Holt, a 2011 Eastern League All-Star.

Erie's James Avery, who leads the league with eight wins, highlights the West's pitching staff that also boasts the arms of Bowie's Zach Clark, Altoona's Brandon Cumpton, Richmond's Chris Heston, Harrisburg's Danny Rosenbaum and Akron's Steven Wright, all voted to the team by the fans.

Full rosters for both teams are below:

** Reading pitcher replaces former teammate Justin Friend, who was promoted to Triple-A Lehigh Valley. Friend was a fan selection.


* denotes selection via fan voting.