SOUTH ATLANTIC LEAGUE ANNOUNCES ROSTERS FOR 59th ANNUAL SAL ALL-STAR GAME

            CLEARWATER, FL—Eric Krupa, president of the South Atlantic League, has announced the rosters for the 59th Annual SAL All-Star Game, scheduled to be played on June 19, 2018, at First National Bank Field in Greensboro, North Carolina, home of the Greensboro Grasshoppers.

For the Northern Division, the Kannapolis Intimidators placed seven players on the roster, including second baseman Tate Blackman, shortstop Laz Rivera and center fielder Luis Gonzalez.  The Lakewood BlueClaws provide six players, including starting pitcher Will Stewart.  The Delmarva Shorebirds and Hickory Crawdads each contribute three players.  The Delmarva Shorebirds provide first baseman Seamus Curran, third baseman Trevor Craport and left fielder Zach Jarett.  The Greensboro Grasshoppers, the Hagerstown Suns and the West Virginia Power each provide two players.  The Greensboro Grasshoppers provide designated hitter Lazaro Alonso and the West Virginia Power provide catcher Deon Stafford and right fielder Calvin Mitchell.

            Greensboro manager Todd Pratt will skipper the Northern Division All-Stars for the first time.  Pratt is in his second season in the league.  Pratt will be assisted by Hagerstown’s Patrick Anderson, Kannapolis’ Justin Jirschele and Greensboro pitching coach Mark DiFelice.  Handling the athletic trainer's duties for the Northern Division will be Greensboro’s Eric Reigelsberger.  Greensboro’s Brady Fitzgerald will serve as the strength and conditioning coach for both teams.

For the Southern Division, the Rome Braves placed six players on the team, including center fielder Drew Waters.  The Columbia Fireflies and Lexington Legends each provided four players, with Lexington providing catcher MJ Melendez, right fielder Seuly Matias and designated hitter Nick Pratto.  The Asheville Tourists, the Augusta GreenJackets and the Greenville Drive each contributed three players, with Asheville supplying first baseman Chad Spanberger, second baseman Bret Boswell and left fielder Casey Golden.  The Augusta GreenJackets provide starting pitcher Joey Marciano and shortstop Manuel Geraldo.  The Charleston RiverDogs contribute two players, including third baseman Chris Hess.

Greenville skipper Iggy Suarez will manage the Southern Division squad.  Suarez is in his first season managing in the league and in his third season as a manager.  The other coaches for the Southern Division will be announced later this week.  Greenville’s Phil Millan will serve as the team's athletic trainer.

Both all-star teams will be represented by 25 players, selected by the votes of the team’s managers and coaching staffs, local media and front office executives.  First National Bank Field will be hosting its second SAL All-Star Game.  The first time was 2008, when the Northern Division beat the Southern Division 13-4 in a game that featured Madison Bumgarner, Freddie Freeman and Jason Heyward.  The annual SAL All-Star Game dates to 1960, when the All-Stars defeated the Salisbury club, 6-2, in Newton, NC.

 "Once again, we look forward to enjoying a game that showcases the incredible talent in this league," said Krupa.  “Greensboro Grasshoppers President/GM Donald Moore and the entire staff in Greensboro have been working for more than a year to put together one of the most anticipated events on our baseball calendar.”

 A variety of events have been scheduled in Greensboro in conjunction with the 59th SAL All-Star Game.  The 2018 SAL Hall of Fame inductions will take place as part of the All-Star Luncheon, sponsored by the Greensboro Sports Council, which will be held at The Terrace at the Greensboro Coliseum Complex on Tuesday June 19 with doors opening at 11:00 am. 

A limited number of tickets are available and can be purchased directly from the Greensboro Grasshoppers by calling Mary DeFriest at (336) 268-2879. Tickets are $30.00 per person or $300.00 for tables of 10 guests.  Gates open at 4:00 pm on Tuesday, June 19^th at First National Bank Field for FanFest and autographs.  A Home Run Derby is scheduled to start at 5:15 pm and the 59^th Annual South Atlantic League All-Star Game at First National Bank Field is scheduled to begin at 7:05 pm.  More information can be found at www.gsohoppers.com.