McAllister Among Five Thunder All-Stars

Five members of the Trenton Thunder were named to participate in the 2009 Eastern League All-Star Game today.

In addition, Tony Franklin will manage the North Division, and will be accompanied by his staff.

Zach McAllister is in his first season at the Double-A level, but you’d never know it from the numbers.  He’s 5-3 with an Eastern League best 1.76 ERA.  He came into the season as the Yankees sixth best prospect, as rated by Baseball America.

Josh Schmidt is 6-1 with a 1.48 ERA with the Thunder this season, one year after being shipped to Tampa after starting the year in Trenton.  His .185 batting average against is best among his active teammates.

Eduardo Nunez is hitting .309 with four home runs and 30 RBI in 61 games this season, his first in Double-A.  Although his 17 errors are a team high, his batting average puts him second on the team, behind only…

…The Jorge Vazquez Experience!  TJVE is the best longball threat the Thunder have, and is leading the club with 10 home runs through 43 games.  His .321 average is a team-high as well, as are his 42 RBI. 

Reegie Corona has seen time at Triple-A Scranton this season, but it’s his Double-A numbers that earned him this All-Star appearance.  Returned by the Mariners as a Rule 5 Draft Pick this year, he’s hitting .298 with three home runs and 16 RBI for Trenton this year.

Here’s the Thunder’s press release, complete with full rosters.

(PR) (Trenton, NJ)- The Trenton Thunder, Double-A affiliate of the New York Yankees, in conjunction with the Eastern League, today announced the rosters for the 2009 Eastern All-Star Game, which will take place Wednesday, July 15th at Waterfront Park in Trenton, NJ.

The 2009 Eastern League All-Star Game will feature some of the top prospects and brightest stars from the league’s 12 teams. The top players from the Eastern League’s Northern Division (Binghamton Mets, Connecticut Defenders, New Britain Rock Cats, New Hampshire Fisher Cats, Portland Sea Dogs and Trenton Thunder) will take on the best of the Southern Division (Akron Aeros, Altoona Curve, Bowie Baysox, Erie Sea Wolves, Harrisburg Senators, and Reading Phillies).

Each roster consists of 24 players, including at least three players from each of the Eastern League’s 12 teams. At least one position player, and one pitcher, who were selected by fans of each team through online and stadium balloting, represent every team. The remaining selections were made through voting by league media, managers and officials. The field staffs will be from the host Thunder and the Akron Aeros (Double-A affiliate of the Cleveland Indians) and will be led by managers Tony Franklin (Trenton), and Mike Sarbaugh (Akron).

Several of the players selected to the Eastern League All-Star Game are among the top prospects in their respective organizations. Five players – Connecticut Pitcher Madison Bumgarner, Akron Catcher Carlos Santana, New Britain Outfielder Rene Tosoni, Portland Pitcher Junichi Tazawa, and Akron Outfielder Nick Weglarz – will represent their teams in the Eastern League All-Star Game and the MLB XM All-Star Futures Game at Busch Stadium in St. Louis, MO. on Sunday, July 12th. Trenton Manager Tony Franklin will also be a coach for the U.S. Team at the Futures Games.

Below are the rosters for the 2009 Eastern League All-Star Game:
* = Fan Vote

NORTHERN DIVISION ALL-STARS

P Madison Bumgarner* Connecticut
P Matt Fox New Britain
P T.J. Large Portland
P Zach McAllister* Trenton
P Roy Merritt* Binghamton
P Joe Paterson Connecticut
P Reidier Gonzalez* New Hampshire
P Josh Schmidt Trenton
P Anthony Slama* New Britain
P Junichi Tazawa* Portland
C Brian Jeroloman* New Hampshire
C Josh Thole* Binghamton
INF Lars Anderson* Portland
INF Brock Bond* Connecticut
INF Reegie Corona Trenton
INF/OF Brian Dinkelman New Britain
INF Brian Dopirak New Hampshire
INF Jorge Jimenez Portland
INF Eduardo Nunez Trenton
INF Whitney Robbins* New Britain
INF Jorge Vazquez* Trenton
OF Eddy Martinez-Esteve Connecticut
OF Rene Tosoni New Britain
OF D.J. Wabick Binghamton

SOUTHERN DIVISION ALL-STARS

P Daniel Moskos* Altoona
P Ryan Ouellette* Bowie
P Josh Perrault Bowie
P Vinnie Pestano Akron
P Josh Rainwater* Erie
P Hector Rondon* Akron
P Joe Savery* Reading
P Jack Spradlin* Harrisburg
P Josh Wilkie Harrisburg
P Vance Worley Reading
C Alex Avila Erie
C Carlos Santana Akron
INF/OF Miguel Abreu* Bowie
INF/OF Leonard Davis* Harrisburg
INF/OF Jason Delaney* Altoona
INF Brian Friday Altoona
INF Beau Mills* Akron
INF Neil Sellers Reading
INF/OF Ryan Strieby Erie
INF/OF Jonathan Tucker Bowie
OF Brennan Boesch Erie
OF Deik Scram* Erie
OF Michael Taylor* Reading
OF Nick Weglarz Akron

The 2009 Eastern League All-Star Game will be played at Mercer County Waterfront Park on Wednesday, July 15th at 7:05 PM. The gates at Waterfront Park will open for all fans at 2:05 PM – a full five hours before the first pitch. Fans will be able to watch both teams take batting practice then there will be an autograph session and a Home Run Derby.

All-Star Game tickets are available now by calling 609-394-3300 or online at http://www.trentonthunder.com.

The Thunder are the only team in Minor League Baseball history at the Double A Level or below to draw over 400,000 fans for 14 consecutive seasons and have drawn over 6 million in attendance in its 15-year history.