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MLB

Season Ending Eastern League All-Stars Announced

By Bill Rosario
August 22, 2014

The Eastern League of Professional Baseball is pleased to announce the selections for the 2014 Eastern League All-Star Team as voted on by respective Eastern League team managers and coaching staffs, sportswriters, radio and television broadcast personnel and other members of the media.

(Statistics for games played through August 21, 2014)

Catcher: Elias Diaz, Altoona Curve (.328, 6 HR, 54 RBI, 41 R)

Altoona catcher Elias Diaz went 3-for-3 in his Double-A debut on April 5th and continued his hot hitting throughout the season, batting .328 (107-for-326) with 20 doubles, six home runs, 54 RBI and 41 runs scored in 91 games with the Curve before receiving a promotion to Triple-A Indianapolis on August 15th. Diaz is currently ranked second in the league in batting average (.328) and is ranked fifth in on-base percentage (.378). Elias was the starting catcher for the Western Division at the Eastern League All-Star Game in Altoona and was also selected by Baseball America as being the "Best Defensive Catcher" in the Eastern League this season.

First Base: Christian Walker, Bowie Baysox (.301, 20 HR, 77 RBI, 58 R)

After hitting.242 in a brief 17 game stint with the Baysox in 2013, Christian Walker returned to Bowie for the start of the 2014 season and batted .301 (110-for-366) with 15 doubles, two triples, 20 home runs, 77 RBI and 58 runs scored in 95 games. He was rewarded for that performance with a promotion to Triple-A Norfolk on July 17th. At the time of his promotion Walker was leading the league in RBI (77) and total bases (189) and also ranked among the leaders in hits (110-tied 2nd), extra-base hits (37-3rd), OPS (.884-3rd), slugging percentage (.516-4th) and runs scored (58-tied 4th). Walker was a two time winner of the Eastern League Player of the Week Award, for the periods of April 14th-20th and May 12th-18th. He was also named to the Western Division roster for the Eastern League All-Star Game in Altoona and was selected by Baseball America as being the "Best Defensive First Baseman" in the Eastern League this season.

Second Base: Devon Travis, Erie SeaWolves (.298, 9 HR, 42 RBI, 63 R)

This marks the second straight season that Devon Travis has been selected to the season ending All-Star Team for his league, as he was a Midwest League All-Star last season after hitting .352 in 77 games with the West Michigan White Caps. Travis is hitting .298 (108-for-362) with 19 doubles, five triples, nine homers, 63 runs scored, 42 RBI and 14 steals in 90 games in his Double-A debut with the SeaWolves this season. Devon currently leads all Eastern League second baseman with a .972 fielding percentage, making just four errors while appearing in 88 games at second base this season. Travis, who is rated by MLB.com as the fourth best prospect in the Detroit organization, was also selected as the Eastern League Player of the Week for the period of July 14th-20th.

Third Base: Niuman Romero, Bowie Baysox (.327, 5 HR, 48 RBI, 85 R)

In 122 games for the Bowie Baysox this season Niuman Romero is batting .327 (147-for-450) with 26 doubles, five home runs, 85 runs scored, 48 RBI and seven stolen bases. Romero currently leads the league in hits (147), on-base percentage (.426), runs scored (85) and walks (82), and is ranked third in batting average (.327). This marks the second time in his career that Niuman has been named to the Eastern League All-Star Team, as he was selected as the shortstop on the 2012 edition of the team after hitting .300 with 73 runs scored and 19 stolen bases in 135 games for the Erie SeaWolves. Romero was selected by Baseball America as being the "Best Defensive Third Baseman" and having the "Best Strikezone Judgment" in the Eastern League this season.

Shortstop: Matt Duffy, Richmond Flying Squirrels (.332, 3 HR, 62 RBI, 53 R)

In 97 games with the Richmond Flying Squirrels this season Matt Duffy batted .332 (122-for-367) with 24 doubles, four triples, three home runs, 62 RBI, 53 runs scored and 20 stolen bases. He was rewarded for that performance with a promotion from Richmond directly to the San Francisco Giants on August 1st. He made his MLB debut that night at Citi Field against the New York Mets and collected his first major league hit on an RBI single in the top of seventh inning of a 5-1 San Francisco victory. Matt's .332 batting average currently leads the league and he ranks second in the league with a .398 on-base percentage. Duffy was named to the Western Division roster for the Eastern League All-Star Game in Altoona and was also named the Eastern League Player of the Week for the period of May 5th-11th.

Outfielders

Dariel Alvarez, Bowie Baysox (.309, 14 HR, 68 RBI, 52 R)

Bowie outfielder Dariel Alvarez hit .309 (111-for-359) with 20 doubles, 14 home runs, 68 RBI, 52 runs scored and seven stolen bases in 91 games for the Baysox before receiving a promotion to Triple-A Norfolk on July 17th. Alvarez currently ranks sixth in the league in batting average, and at the time of his promotion to Triple-A he was leading the league in hits (111) and was ranked third in RBI (68). Dariel was named to the Western Division roster for the Eastern League All-Star Game in Altoona and was also a member of the World Team at the MLB Futures Game in Minnesota.

Steven Moya, Erie SeaWolves (.276, 33 HR, 98 RBI, 75 R)

Steven Moya has been one of the top sluggers in the Eastern League while making his Double-A debut with the Erie SeaWolves this season. Moya is hitting .276 (132-for-478) with 29 doubles, 33 home runs, 98 RBI, 75 runs scored and 15 stolen bases in 123 games this season. He currently leads the league in home runs (33), RBI (98), slugging percentage (.556), total bases (266) and extra-base hits (65). He is ranked third in runs scored (75), tied for third in doubles (29) and ranked fifth in OPS (.860). Steven was especially impressive during the month of July, when he was selected as the Eastern League Player of the Month after hitting 10 homers and driving in 33 runs in 29 games during the month. Moya was the winner of the Top Star Award as the MVP of the Eastern League All-Star Game in Altoona after hitting the game-winning grand slam in a 5-2 Western Division victory. He was also a member of the World Team for the MLB Futures Game in Minnesota and was selected by Baseball America as the "Best Power Prospect" in the Eastern League this season.

Michael Taylor, Harrisburg Senators (.313, 22 HR, 61 RBI, 74 R)

For the second straight season Michael Taylor has been named to the season ending All-Star Team for his respective league, as he was chosen for the Carolina League All-Star Team last season with the Potomac Nationals. Taylor, who is rated by MLB.com as the third best prospect in the Washington organization, batted .313 (120-for-384) with 17 doubles, 22 home runs, 74 runs scored, 61 RBI and 34 stolen bases in 98 games with Harrisburg before receiving a promotion to Triple-A Syracuse on August 4th. Taylor went on to receive a promotion to the Washington Nationals where he went 2-for-4 with a homer in his MLB debut on August 12th in a 7-1 win over the Mets at Citi Field. Michael currently leads the league in OPS (.935) and is ranked second in slugging percentage (.539), third in on-base percentage (.396) and fifth in batting average (.313). At the time of his promotion to Triple-A he was ranked second in the league in total bases (207) and runs scored (74) and third in homers (22). Taylor won the Eastern League Player of the Month Award in May, was a member of the Western Division roster at the Eastern League All-Star Game in Altoona, and played for the US Team at the MLB Futures Game in Minnesota. He was also selected by Baseball America as being the "Best Batting Prospect", "Fastest Baserunner", "Best Defensive Outfielder" and "Most Exciting Player" in the Eastern League this season.

Utility Player: Brian Burgamy, Binghamton Mets (.275, 23 HR, 75 RBI, 74 R)

Brian Burgamy has appeared in games at first base, second base and third base while batting .275 (113-for-411) with 28 doubles, 23 home runs, 75 RBI and 74 runs scored in 110 games for the Binghamton Mets this season. Burgamy is currently ranked among the league leaders in home runs (23-tied 2nd), OPS (.890-2nd), RBI (75-3rd), extra-base hits (52-3rd), total bases (212-4th), walks (64-4th), runs scored (74-tied 4th), slugging percentage (.516-5th) and doubles (28-tied 5th). Brian was selected as the Eastern League Player of the Week for the period of June 9th-15th and was a member of the Eastern Division roster for the Eastern League All-Star Game in Altoona.

Designated Hitter: Reynaldo Rodriguez, New Britain Rock Cats (.299, 19 HR, 59 RBI, 76 R)

In 114 games for the New Britain Rock Cats this season Reynaldo Rodriguez is hitting .299 (124-for-415) with 34 doubles, 19 home runs, 76 runs scored and 59 RBI. Rodriguez currently leads the league in doubles (34) and is also ranked among the league leaders in runs scored (76-2nd), total bases (219-2nd), extra-base hits (55-2nd), OPS (.884-3rd), slugging percentage (.528-3rd) and batting average (.299-10th). Reynaldo was the Eastern League Player of the Week for the period of June 30th-July 6th and was a member of the Eastern Division roster for the Eastern League All-Star Game in Altoona.

Right-Handed Starter: Adrian Sampson, Altoona Curve (10-5, 2.55 ERA)

Altoona right-hander Adrian Sampson compiled a record of 10-5 with 99 strikeouts and a 2.55 ERA over 148.0 innings pitched in 24 starts for the Curve this season before receiving a promotion to Triple-A Indianapolis on August 14th. Adrian currently ranks second in the league in ERA (2.95) and innings pitched (148.0), is ranked third in WHIP (1.05) and batting average against (.229), and is tied for third in wins (10), complete games (2) and shutouts (1). Sampson was the Eastern League Pitcher of the Week of the period of July 14th-20th and was named to the Western Division roster for the Eastern League All-Star Game in Altoona.

Left-Handed Starter: Henry Owens, Portland Sea Dogs (14-4, 2.60 ERA)

Henry Owens kicked off his 2014 season by throwing rain-shortened, six-inning no-hitter at Reading on opening night. He carried that momentum with him throughout the season, putting together a record of 14-4 with 126 strikeouts and a 2.60 ERA in 20 starts for the Sea Dogs before receiving a promotion to Triple-A Pawtucket on August 1st. Owens currently leads the league in wins (14) and batting average against (.201), is tied for the league lead in complete games (3) and shutouts (2), and is ranked third in ERA (2.60) and fifth in WHIP (1.12). Owens, who is rated by MLB.com as the second best prospect in the Red Sox organization, was the Eastern League Pitcher of the Week for the period of April 3rd-13th, was named to the Eastern Division roster for the Eastern League All-Star Game in Altoona and was the starting pitcher for the US Team at the MLB Futures Game in Minnesota. Henry was also selected by Baseball America as the "Best Pitching Prospect" and as having the "Best Breaking Pitch" and "Best Changeup" in the Eastern League this season.

Relief Pitcher: Oliver Drake, Bowie Baysox (2-3, 3.02 ERA, 27 Saves)

Bowie closer Oliver Drake has been slamming the door shut on teams all season, collecting a league-leading 27 saves while posting a record of 2-3 with 64 strikeouts and a 3.02 ERA in 45 games for the Baysox this season. In addition to leading the league in saves, Drake also leads the league in games finished (42). Oliver was named to the Western Division roster for the 2014 Eastern League All-Star Game in Altoona and struck out a pair of batters in one scoreless inning of work. He was also selected by Baseball America as being the "Best Reliever" in the Eastern League this season.