FSL leads off 2006 All-Star season
This Class A Advanced contest pits the best of the six-team East Division against their six-team counterparts from the West at the home stadium of the Lakeland Tigers and the Spring Training home of the Detroit Tigers.
The All-Star field staffs are selected on the basis of the preceding season's championship series participants, so it was simply happy coincidence that Lakeland manager Mike Rojas and his staff (hitting coach Larry Herndon and pitching coach Britt Burns) will be in their familiar home dugout for the game.
Last year, Lakeland won the West with an 85-48 record, the best winning percentage in the full-season Minors, falling to the East Division champion Palm Beach Cardinals in the finals.
"I know the front office here has worked a tremendous amount of hours to set this up and put on a spectacular event for us," said Rojas, who is more than happy to forego the two days off and lead the 23-man West squad. He's also thrilled to have Herndon and Burns there by his side. "It makes it so much easier, since if it wasn't for them, and the good year we had here last year, we wouldn't be here doing this."
The game will showcase two of the top contenders for Minor League Pitcher of the Year in Brevard County Manatees (Brewers) right-hander Yovani Gallardo and Fort Myers Miracle (Twins) right-hander Kevin Slowey.
Gallardo was 6-3 with a 1.97 ERA, second in the league, and was leading the Minors with 100 strikeouts. Slowey, meanwhile, topped the league with a 1.10 ERA, third in the Minors, and had struck out 92 batters while walking just seven over 81 2/3 innings, scattering 48 hits.
The initial West Division team had five of Rojas' Lakeland Tigers named to the club, but ace right-hander Jair Jurrjens was promoted to Double-A Erie earlier this week, leaving the squad with four home-team representatives: outfielder Jeff Frazier, catcher Chris Robinson, closer Kevin Whelan and reliever Jeff Hahn.
The Clearwater Threshers (Phillies) and Dunedin Blue Jays each had five players on the team, including Dunedin's power "Ryan duo" of outfielder Ryan Patterson (.298, 14 homers, 50 RBIs) and shortstop Ryan Klosterman (.282, 11 homers, 52 RBIs).
The Tampa Yankees had four players on the squad, including outfielder Brett Gardner, who was leading the league with 30 stolen bases while hitting .323.
Fort Myers also had four players named originally, but when ace Matt Garza moved up to Double-A New Britain, they were left with three, including Slowey.
The Sarasota Reds rounded out the squad with two players, including the West Division's lone first-rounder, right-hander Homer Bailey (3.31 ERA, 79 strikeouts).
For the East, Brevard County led the way with seven representatives, including Gallardo and third baseman Ryan Braun, the Brewers' first-round pick out of Miami in 2005 and the only other first-rounder in the game.
The St. Lucie Mets had six players on the team, including right-hander Michael Devaney, who was among the league's ERA leaders (1.81) and outfielder Corey Coles, whose .329 batting average ranked him second.
The Daytona Cubs had four players selected, including catcher Jake Fox, the league's top slugger since the promotion of Palm Beach Cardinals outfielder Terry Evans. Fox was fifth in the league in batting at .313 and was leading the loop with 16 homers and 61 RBIs, which also ranked atop the Minor League leader board. Daytona also featured outfielder Sam Fuld, the league's top hitter at .337, whose 89 hits led the Minors. Surprisingly Fuld had not been named to the original roster, but replaced Evans when he was promoted.
Finally, the Vero Beach Dodgers, Palm Beach Cardinals and Jupiter Hammerheads (Marlins) will be represented by two players each.
The East squad will be led by the Cardinals field staff of manager Ron "Pop" Warner, hitting coach Derrick May and pitching coach Derek Lilliquist.
Eight players, four from each division, have been selected to compete in the popular Home Run Derby to be held at 6 p.m. ET prior to the game. The East squad will be represented by Fox, Braun (7), Daytona infielder Matt Craig (8) and St. Lucie catcher Jesus Flores (11). For the West, Patterson and Klosterman will try to go deep, joined by hometown favorite Frazier (6) and Tampa's Cody Ehlers (9).
Lakeland and surrounding Polk County will be the site of two days of All-Star festivities leading up to the main event. On Friday night, there will be a free concert, preceded by All-Star player introductions, at the Lake Mirror Amphitheater, featuring popular local reggae band, Democracy.
Saturday's plans are highlighted by the Big Brothers Big Sisters All-Star Autograph Hunt from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. All-Star players will be situated at various shops and businesses around downtown Lakeland, and fans can go from store to store collecting autographs and pictures, with proceeds going to the local Big Brothers Big Sisters organization.
The game itself starts at 7:35 p.m. with gates opening at 5:30 p.m. It will be followed by a fireworks show.
Tickets for the game are just $8 for every seat in the house and can be purchased at the Tigertown ticket office, Ticketmaster.com and Ticketmaster outlets.
Joker Marchant Stadium is located at 2301 Lakeland Hills Boulevard. More information can be obtained by calling the Tigers at (863) 686-8075, or by visiting the online home of the Tigers at www.lakelandtigers.net.
Lisa Winston is a reporter for MLB.com.