Two former Kats named All-Stars
7/1/2010 3:46:00 PM | Baseball
A pair of former Bearkat baseball players will be teaming up again, just for a day anyway. Robert Manuel and Dustin Martin were selected to play in the Triple-A All-Star game to be played July 14, in Allentown, Pa.
Martin, who was voted in as a starting outfielder, currently plays for the Rochester Red Wings in the Minnesota Twins organization, while Manuel is a pitcher for the Pawtucket PawSox in the Boston organization.
"It's exciting to get recognized for what you've done," Manuel said in the Providence Journal. "I'm not one of those guys they write about in Baseball America. It's a culmination of a lot of hard work and perseverance. It shows that if you work hard you can achieve anything."
Manuel, who will turn 27 on July 9, was an undrafted free agent with the Mets in 2005 after playing a season with the Bearkats. He has been superb out of the PawSox bullpen all season posting a 4-1 record with a 1.54 ERA in 30 RA along with 8 saves in 8 opportunities. In 41 innings he has allowed 30 hits, 9 runs (7 ER), 9 BB, 33 SO and opponents are hitting just .204 against him. He began the season with 9 straight scoreless appearances through April 29 (14 IP). He has only been scored upon in 6 outings all season (and in two of those the run he gave up was unearned). To date he still has not given up a run at home going 2-0, 0.00 with 6 SV in 16 games at McCoy Stadium - 23 IP, 8 H, 0 R - as opponents are hitting a mere .111 against him at home.
Manuel was claimed by the Red Sox off waivers from Seattle last November 20. He was selected to Boston's roster this June 19 but did not appear for the Red Sox before being optioned back to Pawtucket on June 22. He does have Major League experience appearing in 3 games for Cincinnati in 2009 (0-0, 0.00). He also made 36 relief appearances for Louisville (3-4, 2.70 with 10 SV) and 15 appearances out of the pen for Tacoma (1-1, 3.32 with 4 SV) last season. He native was a Southern League All-Star in 2008 when he went 5-3 with a 1.40 ERA and 3 SV in 47 RA for Chattanooga (AA-Cincinnati).
Martin is currently leading the team in RBI (51), triples (4) and runs (41) and is second on his team in home runs (8), stolen bases (8), doubles (18), hits (77). His RBI total is fourth in the International League. He was elected as a starter based on ballots from field managers and general managers, members of the media and online fan voting.
The 26-year-old Martin is in his 3rd full season with the Twins organization after getting traded from the New York Mets with Drew Butera for Luis Castillo July 30, 2007. Martin was originally the Mets' 26th round pick in 2006. His homer June 10 gave him three more home runs than all of last year. He homered in back-to-back games April 18 and April 19 vs. Pawtucket.
