Three Former Hawks Among Midwest League Alums in MLB All-Star Game
Justin Upton, Miguel Montero & Jose Valverde to Play in 2011 Mid-summer Classic
South Bend, IN – Former South Bend Silver Hawks Justin Upton, Miguel Montero, and Jose Valverde will play in the 2011 Major League Baseball All-Star Game hosted by the South Bend parent club Arizona Diamondbacks. Twenty-four other former Midwest League players join Upton, Montero and Valverde in this year’s mid-summer classic.
Upton will represent the Arizona Diamondbacks as a reserve for the National League team. The outfielder played for the South Bend Silver Hawks in 2006, his first season in professional baseball. The former number one overall pick has posted a .297 batting average with 15 homers, 46 RBI’s, 23 doubles, and 14 stolen bases in his fifth Major League season. Upton was a National League All-Star in 2009.
Montero will also represent Arizona as a National League reserve. The catcher spent the 2004 season with South Bend. Montero is batting .272 with 10 home runs, 45 RBI’s, and 22 doubles for the Diamondbacks in 2011. The former Silver Hawk was named to the NL All-Star team as a replacement for the injured Placido Polanco.
Valverde earns his second straight All-Star Selection and third overall. The closer, in his second season with the Detroit Tigers, pitched for the Silver Hawks in 1999 and 2000. In 2011, Valverde is a perfect 23 for 23 in save opportunities, having appeared in 41 total games. The righty has a 2-3 record with a 2.77 ERA for the Tigers. Valverde was a National League All-Star in his final season with the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2007.
The former Hawks are just three of twenty-seven former Midwest League players selected to play in the 2011 MLB All-Star Game. Pitcher Tyler Clippard (Washington Nationals) was a member of the Battle Creek Yankees in 2004. Former Beloit Snappers and current Milwaukee Brewers first baseman Prince Fielder and second baseman Rickie Weeks will both play for the National League team. Fielder spent time with Beloit in 2002 and 2003, while Weeks played for the Snappers in 2003. Former Cedar Rapids Kernels second baseman Howie Kendrick and pitcher Jordan Walden will represent the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim on the AL squad. Kendrick played for Cedar Rapids in 2004, while Walden played for the Kernels in 2008. The Dayton Dragons have two former players on the NL team: Cincinnati first baseman Joey Votto played for Dayton in 2003 and 2004, while Reds outfielder Jay Bruce spent 2006 with the Dragons. Minnesota Twins outfielder Michael Cuddyer was a member of the 1998 Fort Wayne Wizards, now known as the TinCaps.
Meanwhile, the Kane County Cougars have four former players in the All-Star Game: pitcher Josh Beckett (Boston Red Sox) played in 2000, first basemen Miguel Cabrera (Detroit Tigers) and Adrian Gonzalez (Boston Red Sox) in 2001, and outfielder Andre Eithier (Los Angeles Dodgers) in 2003. Former Great Lakes Loons pitcher Clayton Kershaw (Dodgers) play for the National League squad. Kershaw pitched for the Loons in 2007. Outfielder Carlos Beltran (New York Mets) spent part of the 1996 season with the Lansing Lugnuts and will play for the NL as well. Placido Polanco, who played for the Peoria Chiefs in 1995, is one of five Philadelphia Phillies selected for this year’s MLB All-Star Game. Catcher Yadier Molina (St. Louis Cardinals) was a member of the 2002 Peoria Chiefs. Cleveland Indians closer Chris Perez pitched for the Quad Cities River Bandits in 2006.
In addition, West Michigan alums playing in this year’s mid-summer classic include 2006 outfielder Matt Joyce (Tampa Bay Rays) and 2008 catcher Alex Avila (Detroit Tigers). Finally, the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers have five former players on the AL All-Star team: Alex Rodriguez (Yankees) played in 1994, DH David Ortiz (Red Sox) in 1996, pitcher Felix Hernandez (Seattle Mariners) in 2003, shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera (Indians) in 2005, and pitcher Michael Pineda (Mariners) in 2008.
Jair Jurrjens played for West Michigan in 2005 and now plays for the Atlanta Braves
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