Blash, Lamb highlight Cal All-Stars
The Carolina League already set its roster for the 2013 Carolina-California League All-Star Game on June 18 in San Jose. Now, we know who precisely that team will be battling.
The California League announced its team of All-Stars on Friday for the annual contest between the pair of Class A Advanced circuits. High Desert's Jabari Blash, who leads the Cal League's active players with a .649 slugging percentage and 1.026 OPS, headlines an outfield group of Andrew Aplin (Lancaster) and league home run leader Zach Borenstein (Inland Empire).
D-backs' No. 16 prospect Jake Lamb, who has put up a .287/.415/.558 slash line with eight homers and 24 RBIs for Visalia, will start at third base. First baseman Max Muncy (Stockton), second baseman Alex Yarbrough (Inland Empire) and shortstop Chris Taylor (High Desert) will also start in the infield. Padres' No. 9 prospect Cory Spangenberg was the announced starting second baseman but was promoted to Double-A San Antonio on Friday.
Lake Elsinore's Robert Kral, whose 1.020 OPS ranks second behind Blash among active Cal League players, gets the nod to start behind home plate.
Among the 10 active pitchers named to the roster were ERA leader Daniel Winkler of Modesto (2.45), strikeouts leader Drew Granier of Stockton (83) and saves leader Jake Barrett of Visalia (12).
San Jose manager Andy Skeels will lead the squad at Municipial Stadium, along with his entire coaching and training staff.
The full roster is below.
2013 California League All-Stars
| Catchers | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| NAME | POS | TEAM | MLB ORG |
| Robert Kral* | C | Lake Elsinore | SD |
| Jeff Arnold | C | San Jose | SF |
| Infielders | |||
| NAME | POS | TEAM | MLB ORG |
| Max Muncy* | 1B | Stockton | OAK |
| Alex Yarbrough* | 2B | Inland Empire | LAA |
| Ryan Mount* | 3B | Rancho Cucamonga | LAD |
| Chris Taylor* | SS | High Desert | SEA |
| Angel Villalona* | DH | San Jose | SF |
| Gerson Montilla | 2B/3B | Visalia | ARI |
| Jake Lamb** | 3B | Visalia | ARI |
| Ryan Cavan** | 2B/3B | San Jose | SF |
| Ji-Man Choi** | 1B | High Desert | SEA |
| Cory Spangenberg** | 2B | Lake Elsinore | SD |
| Outfielders | |||
| NAME | POS | TEAM | MLB ORG |
| Andrew Aplin* | OF | Lancaster | HOU |
| Jabari Blash* | OF | High Desert | SEA |
| Devin Harris* | OF | San Jose | SF |
| Noel Cuevas | OF | Rancho Cucamonga | LAD |
| Preston Tucker | LHP | Lancaster | HOU |
| Zach Borenstein** | OF | Inland Empire | LAA |
| Pitchers | |||
| NAME | POS | TEAM | MLB ORG |
| Jake Barrett | RHP | Visalia | ARI |
| Ty Blach | LHP | San Jose | SF |
| Edwin Escobar | LHP | San Jose | SF |
| Drew Granier | RHP | Stockton | OAK |
| Chris Jensen | RHP | Modesto | COL |
| Scott Oberg | RHP | Modesto | COL |
| Josh Osich | LHP | San Jose | SF |
| Brady Rodgers | RHP | Lancaster | HOU |
| Kramer Sneed | LHP | Inland Empire | LAA |
| Dan Winkler | RHP | Modesto | COL |
| Carlos Contreras** | RHP | Bakersfield | CIN |
| El'Hajj Muhammed** | RHP | Bakersfield | CIN |
| Mark Sappington** | RHP | Inland Empire | LAA |
| Hunter Strickland** | RHP | San Jose | SF |
| Field Staff | |||
| NAME | POS | TEAM | MLB ORG |
| Andy Skeels | Manager | San Jose | SF |
| Mike Couchee | Pitching | San Jose | SF |
| Lipso Nava | Hitting | San Jose | SF |
| Dave Getsoff | Trainer | San Jose | SF |
| Dustin Brooks | Strength | San Jose | SF |
| Nate Alleyne | Clubbie | San Jose | SF |
* denotes starter
*denotes player will not play due to injury or promotion
Sam Dykstra is a contributor to MLB.com.