Peterson, Wacha Named To PCL All-Star Team

MEMPHIS, Tenn. - First baseman Brock Peterson and right-hander pitcher Michael Wacha have been named to the Pacific Coast League All-Star team and will represent the Redbirds on the 30-man squad that takes on the International League stars in the 2013 Triple-A All-Star Game on Wednesday, July 17 at Aces Ballpark in Reno, Nevada.

The 29-year-old Peterson - who was elected as a starter at first base for the contest by the PCL office - is batting .311 (92-for-296) with a league-leading 19 home runs, and 59 RBIs in a team-leading 81 games played for the Redbirds.

Peterson ranks tied for the PCL lead in extra-base hits (41), third in total bases (171) and OPS (.968), fourth in slugging percentage (.578) and RBIs, and tied for seventh in doubles (22).

Wacha is 4-1 with a 2.34 ERA (15er/57.2ip) and 40 strikeouts in 10 starts for Memphis this season. Prior to having his contract purchased by St. Louis in late May, Wacha led all qualified PCL starting pitchers with a .187 average against (35-for-187), and fewest baserunners per nine innings (8.12), while ranking second in WHIP (0.90) and ERA (2.05).

The tall right-hander also made three starts in the big leagues, where he went 1-0 with a 4.58 ERA (9er/17.2ip) and 14 strikeouts. Wacha makes his 11th overall start for Memphis tonight in Iowa and second since being optioned by St. Louis in mid-June. He was selected as a reserve pitcher by the PCL office.

The All-Star honors are Peterson's second and Wacha's first in their professional careers. Currently in his 11th professional season, Peterson was a 2004 Midwest League Mid-Season All-Star. He was signed by the Cardinals as a minor league free agent in August 2012.

Wacha - who celebrated his 22nd birthday yesterday - is in his second professional season in the Cardinals organization after being drafted in the first round (19th overall) in the June 2012 First-Year Player Draft out of Texas A&M University. He is a member of the St. Louis Cardinals' 40-man roster.

The 2013 Triple-A All-Star game will be broadcast live on MLB Network as well as on the radio on Sports 56 WHBQ at 8:05 p.m. CDT.

The complete Pacific Coast League All-Star roster at the link above. The International League All-Star roster will be released on Wednesday.

About Memphis Redbirds Baseball Foundation: The Memphis Redbirds Baseball Foundation is the first and only not-for-profit charitable organization in the United States to own and operate a professional baseball franchise, the Triple-A Memphis Redbirds. AutoZone Park - the finest ballpark ever built in the United States below the Major League level - is the home of the Redbirds and has served as the cornerstone of development in downtown Memphis. Incorporating the Memphis Redbirds as not-for-profit entity allows the community to own the team and facility. For the first time in history, Mid-South residents, corporate leaders and baseball fans are able to give back to the community - and at the same time enjoy first class entertainment - by supporting Memphis Redbirds Baseball.

About Global Spectrum: Global Spectrum (global-spectrum.com) manages the Memphis Redbirds, as well as more than 100 other public assembly facilities around the world. Nearly 20-million people attended more than 11,000 events in Global Spectrum venues last year. Based in Philadelphia, PA, Global Spectrum is part of Comcast-Spectacor, one of the world's largest sports and entertainment companies. Comcast-Spectacor also owns the Philadelphia Flyers of the National Hockey League, Ovations Food Services, a food and beverage services provider, New Era Tickets, a full-service ticketing and marketing product for public assembly facilities, Paciolan, the leading provider of venue establishment ticketing, fundraising and marketing technology solutions, Front Row Marketing Services, a commercial rights sales company, and Flyers Skate Zone, a series of community ice skating rinks.