Four Daytona Cubs named FSL All-Stars
Daytona Beach, FL - The Florida State League announced, Tuesday, that INF Gioskar Amaya, LHP Andrew McKirahan, RHP Felix Pena & OF Bijan Rademacher were selected to the 2014 Florida State League North Mid-Season All-Star Team. The FSL All-Star Game will be played on Saturday, June 14 at McKechnie Field in Bradenton at 7:05 p.m.
Amaya, 21, is hitting .292 (40-for-137) with one home run and 15 RBIs in 42 games for Daytona this season. The Bejumas Carabobo, VZ native has six doubles and three stolen bases in six attempts. Amaya is hitting .343 (12-for-35) with runners in scoring position, and .356 (21-for-59) with runners on base. The 5-foot-11, 175-pound Amaya started the season hitting .519 (14-for-26) through is first nine games and hit .408 (20-for-49) in April. Amaya hit .252 in 117 games for A-Kane County last season, with five home runs, 28 RBIs, 26 doubles and six triples. Amaya was signed by Chicago in 2009.
McKirahan, 24, is 1-1 with a 1.04 ERA in 16 relief appearances for the Cubs this season. In 26 innings pitched, McKirahan has allowed five runs (three earned) on 23 hits, with seven walks and 26 strikeouts. The Georgetown, TX native leads Daytona with four saves in four opportunities. McKirahan has held opponents to a .200 batting average (7-for-35) with runners in scoring position, and opponents leading off innings are only 4-for-21 this season. The 6-foot-2, 195-pound McKirahan has retired 15 of 16 first batters he's faced in his relief appearances this season. McKirahan went 1-0 with a 0.61 ERA with three saves in eight May appearances. The southpaw went 2-0 with a 2.75 ERA in 14 appearances for Kane County last season after recovering from Tommy John surgery (7/13/12). McKirahan was selected by Chicago in the 21st round of the 2011 draft out of The University of Texas.
Pena, 24, is 1-5 with a 1.41 ERA in 10 games (all starts) for Daytona. In 51 innings, Pena has allowed 15 runs (eight earned), on 33 hits, with 18 walks and 28 strikeouts. He has not surrendered more than one earned run in any of his 10 starts this season. Opponents are hitting only .181 (33-for-182) off Pena, which is the lowest batting average against in the FSL among starters. No other starting pitcher has a BAA under .200. His 1.41 ERA ranks second in the league (Daniel Norris, 1.12 - DUN). The San Pedro de Macoris, DR native is fourth in the league with a 1.00 WHIP (Walks + Hits / Innings Pitched). Daytona has scored two runs or less in seven of Pena's 10 starts this season. Pena has surrendered only one hit in 10 first innings this year. The 6-foot-2, 200-pound Pena was a 2013 Midwest League Mid-Season All-Star with the Cougars. Pena was signed by the Cubs in 2009.
Rademacher, 22, is hitting .313 (47-for-150) with three home runs and 21 RBIs. In 45 games, Rademacher has hit 12 doubles, one triple, has 17 walks and has stolen three bases. The Anaheim Hills, CA native has a .411 on-base percentage, good for third in the FSL. Rademacher hit .355 (27-for-76) in April, and has been hit-by-a-pitch eight times, three-shy of league-leader Nathan Orf of Brevard County. Rademacher is hitting .447 (17-for-38) with runners in scoring position, .452 (14-for-31) when leading off innings, .377 (29-for-77) at Jackie Robinson Ballpark and .339 (37-for-109) against righties. The 6-foot, 200-pound Rademacher was a 2013 Midwest League Mid-Season All-Star with Kane County before his promotion to Daytona in June. Rademacher was selected by the Cubs in the 13th round of the 2012 draft out of Orange Coast College in California.
The FSL North All-Star Team will be led by Daytona Cubs Manager Dave Keller. His staff will include the entire Daytona field staff, featuring Hitting Coach Mariano Duncan, Pitching Coach Ron Villone, Trainer Pete Fagan and Strength & Conditioning Coach Jason Morriss.
- Daytona Cubs Media -