2012 S2S Mid-Season All-Stars: Southern League
By Brian French
Tonight, June 19th, 2012 the North and South divisions will take to the field and battle it out to decide who reins supreme. I, of course, am referring to the Southern League All-Star game and not some sort of awkward Civil War reenactment (BTW-for any Civil War hobbyists in the crowd see you at the next event in Reynoldsburg, OH). This year the game will be hosted by the Chicago Cubs Double-A affiliate, the Tennessee Smokies, at Smokies Park.
That’s right folks, the 2012 minor league All-Star season is upon us and we are officially heading into the home stretch for the 2012 regular season. In Seedling to Stars’ continued coverage of the multiple All-Star game festivities across the minor leagues I am glad to present on behalf of the Southern League.
Historically, the Southern League divides its All-Star rosters between two divisions – North and South – within the same league. Currently the Seattle Mariners affiliate the Jackson Generals are enjoying a seven game lead in the North division while the Arizona Diamondbacks affiliate the Mobile Bay Bears are hanging in there with a three game lead atop the South division. Below is a compilation of the best players that represent the entire league.
Just in case you haven’t been following along, here are the rules: to qualify for the team, players had to spend the bulk of the first half of the season and still be in the league at the time of our selections. Another point to make about our picks is that they are based solely on 2012 statistical performance. Whether a player is his organization’s top prospect or just roster filler is immaterial to us when it comes to our selections.
C – Jesus Sucre (24) – Jackson Generals (Seattle Mariners)
Acquired: Signed as Minor League Free Agent in July 2011 with the Mariners
Prospect Ranking: Not Ranked
2012 SL Stats: 49 G, 188 PA, .307/.351/.347, 4 2B, 0 3B, 13 R, 1 HR, 24 RBI, 11 BB, 25 SO, 0 SB
Fun Fact: Prior to the 2011 season Sucre was named the best defensive catcher in the Braves’ organization by Baseball America.
1B – Hunter Morris (23) – Huntsville Stars (Milwaukee Brewers)
Acquired: Drafted in fourth round by the Milwaukee Brewers in 2010
Prospect Ranking: #14 in BA’s Brewers Top-30
2012 SL Stats: 67 G, 277 PA, .285/.343/.474, 23 2B, 2 3B, 32 R, 7HR, 45 RBI 18 BB, 57 SO, 0 SB
Fun Fact: Was a member of Team USA’s silver medal-winning team in the World Games in Cuba
2B – Scooter Gennett (22) – Huntsville Stars (Milwaukee Brewers)
Acquired: Drafted in the 16th round by the Milwaukee Brewers in 2009
Prospect Ranking: #5 in BA’s Brewers Top-30
2012 SL Stats: 70 G, 301 PA, .300/.346/.415, 19 2B, 2 3B, 35 R, 3 HR, 23 RBI, 18 BB, 41 SO, 7 SB
Fun Fact: Hit for the cycle on 3/25/2012
3B – Matt Davidson (21) – Mobile Bay Bears (Arizona Diamondbacks)
Acquired: Drafted in the first round by the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2009
Prospect Ranking: #4 in BA’s D-Backs Top-30
2012 SL Stats: 69 G, 291 PA, .274/.379/.532, 17 2B, 1 3B, 41 R, 15 HR, 40 RBI, 36 BB, 67 SO, 2 SB
Fun Fact: 97th best overall prospect entering 2012
SS – Nick Franklin (21) – Jackson Generals (Seattle Mariners)
Acquired: Drafted in the first round by the Seattle Mariners in 2009
Prospect Ranking: #4 in BA’s Mariners Top-30, #41 in the S2S 2012 Top-100
2012 SL Stats: 57 G, 239 PA, .322/.394/.502, 17 2B, 4 3B, 25 R, 4 HR, 26 RBI, 24 BB, 38 SO, 9 SB
Fun Fact:Ranked No. 61 among Top 100 Prospects by MLB.com entering 2012
RF – Alfredo Marte (23) – Mobile Bay Bears (Arizona Diamondbacks)
Acquired: Signed as as a non-drafted free agent in December 2005
Prospect Ranking: Not Ranked
2012 SL Stats: 62 G, 239 PA, .283/.356/.557, 17 2B, 1 3B, 36 R 13 HR, 43 RBI, 16 BB, 43 SO, 5 SB
Fun Fact: First player suspended in 2011 for violating the minor league drug program
CF – Jared Mitchell (23) – Birmingham Barons (Chicago White Sox)
Acquired: Drafted in the first round by the Chicago White Sox in 2009
Prospect Ranking: #16 in BA’s White Sox Top-30
2012 SL Stats: 67 G, 287 PA, .265/.394/.440, 11 2B, 9 3B, 32 R, 4 HR, 37 RBI, 45 BB, 83 SO, 14 SB
Fun Fact: Leads Southern League in Triples
LF – Marc Krauss (24) – Mobile Bay Bears (Arizona Diamondbacks)
Acquired: Drafted in the second round by the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2009
Prospect Ranking: #16 in BA’s Diamondbacks Top-30
2012 SL Stats: 70 G, 282 PA, .279/.399/.515, 20 2B, 2 3B, 46 R, 10 HR, 42 RBI, 40 BB, 65 SO, 2 SB
Fun Fact: First player in University of Ohio history to win MAC Player of the Year (2009)
DH – Joseph Dunigan (26) – Jackson Generals (Seattle Mariners)
Acquired: Drafted in the fifth round by the Seattle Mariners in 2007
Prospect Ranking: Not Ranked
2012 SL Stats: 57 G, 234 PA, .277/.342/.531, 14 2B, 2 3B, 36 R, 12 HR, 33 RBI, 19 BB, 76 SO, 10 SB
Fun Fact: Only player in Souther League to have double digit HR and SB
SP1 – Danny Hultzen (22) – LHP – Jackson Generals (Seattle Mariners)
Acquired: Drafted in the first round by the Seattle Mariners in 2011
Prospect Ranking: #2 in BA’s Mariners Top-30, #46 in the S2S 2012 Top-100
2012 SL Stats: 13 GS, 75.1 IP, 1.19 ERA, 0.929 WHIP, 38 H, 32 BB, 79 SO
Fun Fact:Drafted by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the 10th round of the 2008 Draft, but did not sign
SP2 – Tyler Skaggs (20) – LHP – Mobile Bay Bears (Arizona Diamondbacks)
Acquired: Traded to the Arizona Diamondbacks in July 2010
Prospect Ranking: #3 in BA’s Diamondbacks Top-30, #5 in the S2S 2012 Top-100
2012 SL Stats: 12 GS, 64.2 IP, 2.51 ERA, 1.144 WHIP, 56 H, 18 BB, 67 SO
Fun Fact: Was part of the trade that sent Dan Haren to Anaheim
SP3 – Tyler Thornburg (23) – RHP – Huntsville Stars (Milwaukee Brewers)
Acquired: Drafted in the third round by the Milwaukee Brewers in 2010
Prospect Ranking: #4 in BA’s Brewers Top-30, #78 in the S2S 2012 Top-100
2012 SL Stats: 13 GS, 75.0 IP, 3.00 ERA, 1.08 WHIP, 57 H, 24 BB, 71 SO
Fun Fact: When he was 12 years old he played in the Little League World Series
SP4 – Taijuan Walker (19) – RHP – Jackson Generals (Seattle Mariners)
Acquired: Drafted in the first round by the Seattle Mariners in 2010
Prospect Ranking: #1 in BA’s Mariners Top-30, #23 in the S2S 2012 Top-100
2012 SL Stats: 12 GS, 57.0 IP, 3.79 ERA, 1.333 WHIP, 53 H, 23 BB, 59 SO
Fun Fact: Seattle Mariners Pitcher of the Year in 2011
SP5 – Sean Gilmartin (22) – LHP – Mississippi Braves (Atlanta Braves)
Acquired: Drafted in the first round by the Atlanta Braves in 2011
Prospect Ranking: #5 in BA’s Braves Top-10
2012 SL Stats: 14 GS, 88.0 IP, 3.17 ERA, 1.148 WHIP, 78 H, 23 BB, 65 SO
Fun Fact: Selected by the San Diego Padres in the 31st round of the 2008 Draft but did not sign
LHRP – Ryan Buchter (25) – LHP -Mississippi Braves (Atlanta Braves)
Acquired: Traded to the Atlanta Braves by the Chicago Cubs in 2011
Prospect Ranking: Not Ranked
2012 SL Stats: 20 G, 25.1 IP, 1.42 ERA, 0.947 WHIP, 12 H, 12 BB, 31 SO
Fun Fact: Drafted in the 33rd round by the Washington Nationals in 2005
RHRP – Mark Serrano (26) – RHP – Pensacola Blue Wahoos (Cincinnati Reds)
Acquired: Drafted in the 6th round by the Cincinnati Reds in 2009
Prospect Ranking: Not Ranked
2012 SL Stats: 21 G, 46.1 IP, 3.50 ERA, 1.122 WHIP, 40 H, 12 BB, 48 SO
Fun Fact: Attended Oral Robert’s University
Closer – Carter Capps (21) – RHP – Jackson Generals (Seattle Mariners)
Acquired: Drafted in the 3rd Round by the Seattle Mariners in 2011
Prospect Ranking: #16 in BA’s Mariners Top-30
2012 SL Stats: 24 G, 33.2 IP, 1.34 ERA, 1.010 WHIP, 24 H, 10 BB, 51 SO,9 SV
Fun Fact: Not related to Twins closer Matt Capps
As you can see the Mariners, Diamondbacks, Brewers and Braves are all very well represented and both the Reds and White Sox representatives landed players on the list as well. This should not come as a big surprise considering both the Mariners and D-Backs affiliates are atop their respective divisions and have had excellent drafts recently. It will be interesting to see how this All-Star game plays out as it should be exciting considering some of the best next-generation pitching prospects will face off against some talented power bats.
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To check out Mid-Season All-Stars for each of the other full-season leagues, head over to our designated reference page.