GRASSHOPPERS SET RECORD WITH 2012 ALL-STAR PLAYER SELECTIONS
Greensboro- The South Atlantic League announced Tuesday the
participants for the 53rd Annual SAL All-Star Game at the home of the
Charleston RiverDogs in Charleston, South Carolina. Eleven members of
the Greensboro Grasshoppers have been selected to participate in the
2012 All-Star game.
The eight players selected marks a franchise record for Greensboro who
will also have manager David Berg, pitching coach Blake McGinley and
trainer Chris Olson joining the Northern Division All-Star Team.
The four pitchers selected from Greensboro are Jose Fernandez, Adam
Conley, Kevin Cravey and Gregory Nappo. The hitters include catcher
Austin Barnes, infielder Josh Adams, center fielder Brent Keys and
designated hitter Matt Smith.
A 19-year-old starting pitcher from Cuba, Jose Fernandez is the highest
draft pick currently playing for the Grasshoppers. He was selected 14th
overall in the 2011 First-Year Player Draft by the Miami Marlins. This
season, he sports a stellar 6-0 record with a league-leading 1.34 ERA
and has struck out a league-high 85 batters in just 67 innings while
allowing only 10 earned runs. Fernandez has held batters to a .184
average this season, putting him at first in the league in that
category.
Southpaw Adam Conley currently has a 6-2 record with a 2.56 ERA and has
struck out 75 batters in just over 63 innings pitched. Conley is third
in the SAL in strikeouts and has held batters to a .190 batting average
this season, putting him at second in the league behind only Fernandez.
The 22-year-old was drafted by the Miami Marlins in the second round of
the 2011 First-Year Player Draft.
Right-handed relief pitcher Kevin Cravey also has six wins for the
Grasshoppers to go along with zero losses. Cravey, out of Texas A&M,
displays a 1.67 ERA and has given up just five runs over 27 innings
while striking out 22 batters.
Left-handed pitcher Gregory Nappo shows off a 2.18 ERA in his 15
appearances. In 33 innings pitched, Nappo has given up just nine runs
while striking out 36 batters.
Center fielder Brent Keys leads the SAL in batting average and on-base
percentage, with a .369 average and a .453 OBP. In the month of May,
Keys obtained an incredible .412 batting average in addition to 42 hits.
A 17th-round draft pick out of Simi Valley High School in 2009, Keys
leads the team in hits with 73 and is second in the league in that
category. He also leads the Grasshoppers with 44 runs scored and 14
stolen bases. Keys has struck out just 16 times in 198 at-bats this
season.
Infielder Josh Adams currently leads the team in doubles, home runs and
RBI, with 15, 11 and 46, respectively. Adams home run total is good
enough to tie him for third in the league in that category. The 46 RBI
rank him at 5th in the SAL. He is also ranked second on the team with 60
hits and a .495 slugging percentage.
Designated hitter Matt Smith leads the Grasshoppers with a .525 slugging
percentage and is second on the team in home runs and RBI, with eight
and 38, respectively. Smith adds 29 runs scored and 42 hits.
Catcher Austin Barnes has a .292 batting average this season, which
includes 57 hits and 25 RBI. Barnes has also been walked 33 times this
season and has stolen five bases, both of which rank him second on the
team.
Grasshoppers manager David Berg is in his first season with Greensboro
and his third as a manager. Assisting him at the All-Star Game will be
Hoppers pitching coach Blake McGinley and trainer Chris Olson.
The Home Run Derby will take place on Monday, June 18th aboard the deck
of the USS Yorktown. Tuesday’s festivities begin with a luncheon
featuring New York Yankees General Manager Brian Cashman as the keynote
speaker. Beginning at 2:30pm, the All-Fan Fest will allow fans to get
autographs and pictures with the league’s best players. The first pitch
for the 2012 All-Star Game is set for 7:30pm, Tuesday, June 19th.
The Grasshoppers start a three game home stand this Friday. The home
stand features FIREWORKS on Friday and Saturday. A special appearance
Friday by the crazy and funny Myron Noodleman. Sunday is Family Fun Day,
starting with play catch on the field. Tickets can be purchased online
at www.gsohoppers.com www.gsohoppers.com or by calling (336)
268.2878.