Seven Missions Headed to Texas League All-Star Game
San Antonio - Earlier today, Texas League President Tom Kayser announced the rosters for the 77th Annual Texas League All-Star Game, which will be held Tuesday, June 25th at Arvest Ballpark in Springdale, AR.
The Missions will be well represented in Springdale, with seven of their players being named to the South Division roster. San Antonio and Frisco are tied for the most selections in the South, one shy of Arkansas' TL-high, eight participants.
Three Missions will be in the South's starting lineup: 3B Jake Blackwood and OF's Reymond Fuentes and Rico Noel.
In 60 games this season, Blackwood is hitting .297 (69-for-232) with 15 doubles, 3 home runs, 34 RBI and 31 runs. The Charleston, SC native is tied for third in the TL in hits, fourth in at-bats and ninth in batting average.
Fuentes has played in 61 of San Antonio's 62 games in 2013, hitting .322 (74-for-230) with 14 doubles, two triples, 5 homers, 26 RBI, 43 runs and 23 steals. The 22-year-old is second in the TL in average, hits, runs and steals, third in on-base percentage at .412 and tied for third in games played.
In 61 games, Noel is hitting .260 (58-for-223) with 11 doubles, three triples, 23 RBI, 34 runs and 33 steals. The speedy outfielder is tied for fifth in all of MiLB in stolen bases.
Jeudy Valdez was selected as a reserve infielder for the South squad. The shortstop is hitting .248 (53-for-214) with 13 doubles, two triples, two homers, 18 RBI and 19 runs scored in 59 games for the Missions.
On the pitching side, San Antonio ace Matt Andriese will be making the trip to Springdale. Andriese has been one of the top pitchers in the TL this season, his first at the Double-A level. In 12 starts, the Redlands, CA native is 7-1 with a 2.02 ERA (2nd in TL), striking out 51 against just 10 walks in 62.1 innings. Six of his seven wins have come at the Wolff, where he has allowed just two earned runs in 38.1 innings (0.47 ERA).
Joining Andriese on the South Stars' pitching staff will be Mission closer Kevin Quackenbush and his setup partner, Matt Stites.
Quackenbush, who was recently named the San Diego Padres Minor League Pitcher of the Month for May, has had an incredible season for San Antonio. The hard-throwing, right-hander is 1-0 with a minuscule 0.31 ERA (1 ER/29 IP) in 27 games this season. Quackenbush leads TL relievers in five categories: saves with 12, games finished with 22, lowest batting average at .133 (13-for-98), highest SO/9 IP ratio at 13.03 (42 in 29) and fewest baserunners/9 IP ratio at 8.07 (26 in 29).
In 29 games, Stites is 2-2 with a 1.69 ERA, striking out 26 in 32 innings. The former University of Missouri star also has two saves and has allowed just 23 hits on the season.
San Antonio (34-28) is home for the final time before the All Star Game tonight to take on first-place Corpus Christi (38-25). First pitch is at 7:05 PM. The Missions leave town tomorrow to begin a season-long, 12-game road trip, beginning at Citibank Ballpark in Midland on Wednesday night.