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07/01/2008 6:46 PM ET
Suns Dominate South Division All-Star Roster
Jacksonville Suns
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Jacksonville, FL - The Jacksonville Suns will send a host of players to represent the South Division in the Southern League All-Star Game. The team, which was selected by a vote of Southern League field managers, radio broadcasters, general managers and print media, includes seven selections from the Suns. In all, seven Suns were selected to the All-Star roster, the most of any team in the South Division. Five position players - catcher Lucas May, infielders Ivan De Jesus, Jr., Juan Gonzalez and Russ Mitchell, and outfielder Jamie Hoffmann - join starting pitchers James McDonald and Jesus Castillo as Suns honorees.
Lucas May enters his first season as a member of the Dodgers 40-man roster, and only his second as a full-time catcher. He currently leads Southern League catchers in RBI with 39. This season marks his second All-Star appearance, as he was named a California League All-Star in 2007.
Juan Gonzalez is in his second straight season in Jacksonville and tenth overall minor league season. 2008 is his also his second year named to the Southern League All-Star team as the utility infielder.. Gonzalez has already surpassed last season's home run total (9) with 10 thus far in 2008.
Russ Mitchell has made the most of his first full season in Double-A, batting .270 with 8 home runs with 38 RBI. This All-Star appearance comes on the heels of his 2007 season at Inland Empire where he hit a career-high 22 home runs, along with his 2006 South Atlantic League All-Star selection when he hit 15 home runs with the Columbus Catfish.
Jamie Hoffmann is also in his first full season in Double-A, and has been rated the best defensive outfielder in the Dodgers organization two straight years by Baseball America. He is currently on track to top his career high in stolen bases (19) with 16 already in 2008. Earlier this season, Hoffmann posted a team-high 15-game hitting streak.
Ivan De Jesus, Jr., enters his first season in Double-A after batting .287 with four home runs and a career-high 52 RBI with Single-A Inland Empire in 2007. Rated the 13th-highest prospect and as having the best strike zone discipline in the Dodgers organization, De Jesus is currently batting .304 for the Suns this season.
James McDonald, the 2007 Minor League Pitcher of the Year in the Dodgers organization, is in his first full season at Jacksonville after going 7-2 with 1.71 ERA in 10 starts with the club in 2007. He currently leads the league with 93 strikeouts while posting a 3.19 ERA over 90 1/3 innings. McDonald was named Southern League Pitcher of the Week for May 5-11.
Jesus Castillo joins the Suns for his first experience at Double-A after spending 2007 at Inland Empire. Over 88 1/3 innings in 2008 with Jacksonville, he has a 2.85 ERA and 64 strikeouts. Castillo was honored as Southern League Pitcher of the Week for June 9-15.
The Southern League All-Star Game is hosted by the Carolina Mudcats and will be played on Monday, July 14. Only six will make the trip to Zebulon, NC, for the game, as Ivan De Jesus, Jr., will instead play in the 2008 XM Satellite Radio All-Star Futures Game at Yankee Stadium in New York. This story was not subject to the approval of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues or its clubs.
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