The Revs placed five players on this year’s All-Star team – the league announced Wednesday.
York starting pitcher Chris Cody, catcher Salvador Paniagua, utility man Eric Patterson, second baseman Andres Perez, and reliever Michael Wuertz will represent York at the All-Star game. The Southern Maryland Blue Crabs will host the game for the first time in franchise history. The game will be at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, July 10 at Regency Furniture Stadium in Waldorf, Md.
“I was able to tell them all about it … (and) I’m happy for all of them, because it’s an honor to be named an All-Star in any league,” Revs manager Mark Mason said Wednesday afternoon.
All five of York’s players expect to attend and play in the game as of Wednesday, Mason said.
The All-Star Game will be managed by the two managers from last season’s league championship series: Long Island’s Kevin Baez and Lancaster’s Butch Hobson. Former York manager Andy Etchebarren, who served as a bench coach for Hobson’s Southern Maryland Blue Crabs in 2008 and part of the 2009 season, confirmed he will return to serve as an honorary coach for Hobson.
Cody, Paniagua, Patterson and Wuertz earned their first trip to the Atlantic League All-Star Game.
* Perez – the Revs’ top hitter with a .319 average — will head to the game for the second consecutive year. A liability at second base early in his career, Perez has become a quality fielder after concentrating on fielding and throwing. He leads York with 27 multiple-hit games.
“The hitting aspect, he’s always been able to do that, but over the last season and a half he’s found a defensive position and that’s made all the difference,” Mason said.
* Patterson (.282 average) leads York with 13 homers despite missing time with a leg injury and shuffling between infield and outfield positions. It’s Patterson’s first All-Star appearance since he earned selection on the Pacific Coast League’s squad in 2009.
“He just had to get out there on a more regular basis and be healthy when he was out there,” Mason said. “I think (the injury) was something that held him back in the beginning of the season. Once he came back he found his rhythm and he’s been the player we thought he would be.”
* Paniagua returned to York after being a midseason release a year ago. He led the league in hitting early in the year, and even though his average has dropped to .300, he remains one of the league’s best hitting catchers.
“I think Sal stayed with the approach that works the best for him, which is hit the ball to the opposite field,” Mason said. “And he’s been able to stay with that approach this year, and that’s the difference between hitting .300 rather than .250, because he stayed with that approach. And he still has his power numbers (nine homers).”
* Cody (8-4, 3.27 ERA) has turned into York’s most dominant starter, going 5-2 since May 28 – including a loss where he didn’t allow an earned run in a complete-game loss to Sugar Land. He ranks third in the league in ERA and second in victories.
“He’s been our most consistent starter probably all year, ranking in the top 10 all season,” Mason said.
* Wuertz – a former big leaguer – struggled through a three-game stretch in early May where he allowed five hits and six runs in 2 1/3 innings of relief. But he has bounced back to be near unhittable since the end of May. Using a devastating slider, the middle reliever has not allowed a hit in nine of his last 14 appearances. He has a team-best 2.52 ERA. He has struck out 33 batters in 25 innings pitched.
“He might be one of the best relievers in the league,” Mason said. “He’s done a great job for us and solidified the back end of our bullpen.”
Notes: Since the league adopted its current divisional alignment in 2008, the Freedom Division has won three of the five games – including each of the last two contests. … York starting pitcher Corey Thurman did not earn an All-Star selection for the first time since 2010, when he missed significant time because of a blood clot in his hand. … Since joining the league in 2008, Thurman earned All-Star selections in 2009, 2011 and 2012 – and started the game in 2009 and 2011. … Etchebarren will appear in the league All-Star Game for the third straight season. He managed the Freedom Division to 7-0 and 9-5 victories in each of the last two seasons. He has continued to work with Southern Maryland to help as the franchise prepares for its first All-Star Game.
