River Bandits field staff will lead Western Division All-Stars in West Michigan June 17
DAVENPORT, Iowa. (June 4, 2014) - Quad Cities River Bandits outfielder Brett Phillips has selected to start the 2014 Midwest League All-Star Game, and infielder Chan-Jong Moon and right-hander Tyler Brunnemann were named reserves for the Western Division in the June 17 game hosted by the West Michigan Whitecaps in Comstock Park, Mich. The entire River Bandits field staff will lead the Western Division team, which was announced Wednesday by the Midwest League.
Phillips, 20, was the youngest position player selected for the Western Division roster. A sixth-round pick by the Houston Astros in the 2012 First-Year Players Draft out of Seminole (Fla.) High School, Phillips is third in the Astros organization and 10th in the Midwest League with a .308 batting average. He is tied for second in the league with seven triples and leads the River Bandits in runs (37), hits (60), and total bases (93). Since April 18, he has hit his first three career home runs. Phillips has 17 multi-hit games and eight multi-RBI games, including a career-high four on May 23 against Cedar Rapids. Phillips was ranked as the Astros' No. 30 prospect before the season by Baseball America, has put together a .372 on-base percentage (OBP) and .477 slugging percentage for a .849 on-base-plus-slugging (OPS).
Moon, 23, was signed by the Houston Astros on Aug. 9, 2009, becoming the second player from the Pacific Rim to ever sign with the club. He was selected to the New York-Penn League All-Star Game in 2013. In a team-high 54 games this season, the Seoul, South Korea, native is 10th in the Astros minor league system with a .297 batting average. He is tied for second in the Midwest League with seven triples and tied for third with 23 stolen bases. Moon also has six doubles, a home run and 19 RBIs. His 24 walks are the second-highest of any current Bandit, helping him to a .376 OBP. He is also slugging .422 for a .798 OPS.
Brunnemann, 22, became just the second player ever drafted from Hardin-Simmons University (Texas) when he was taken by Houston in the 40th round of the June 2013 draft. The Garden Ridge, Texas, native is 0-1 with a 1.73 ERA, the best of anyone that has pitched at least 25 innings for Quad Cities. He had a team-best 17 1/3-inning scoreless streak from April 3 to May 9. In 26 innings over 14 relief appearances, Brunnemann has allowed just 7.27 baserunners per nine innings, good for second among Midwest League relievers. He has held opponents to a .163 batting average, the fifth-lowest of any relief pitcher in the Midwest League.
The trio will be joined at the All-Star Game by Quad Cities manager Omar Lopez, pitching coach Dave Borkowski, hitting coach Joel Chimelis, athletic trainer Michael Rendon and strength coach James McNichol who comprise the Western Division All-Star field staff. Lopez, Borkowski and Chimelis were on the staff that guided the River Bandits to the 2013 Midwest League Championship.
The West Michigan Whitecaps are hosting the 2014 Midwest League All-Star Game Tuesday, June 17, at Fifth Third Ballpark.
UP NEXT: The River Bandits return to Modern Woodmen Park at 6 p.m. Saturday with a Craig Biggio Bobblehead Giveaway presented by Prairie Farms and FOX18 for the first 1,500 fans. Tickets are available at riverbandits.com. To order any of the River Bandits 2014 ticket plans - with new lower prices - call the River Bandits box office at 563-324-3000. Season ticket and mini-plan packages start at just seven games and begin at less than $40. Call a River Bandits account representative today to choose your seats and get the details of our various mini-plan packages.
ABOUT THE BANDITS: Having just been named Ballpark Digest's winner of Best Ballpark Improvement in America under $1 million, the River Bandits ownership is making one of the biggest improvements to Modern Woodmen Park since the ballpark was first built back in 1931! A new Ferris wheel, standing 110 feet over the playing field, opened May 24, followed by a new ride called a "Drop and Twist," an expanded 300-foot long zip line, and many other new games and attractions. In 2013, the team unveiled a new 220-foot long dual zip line, a rock climbing wall, and a number of new bounce houses. Last season, the team's major league affiliate, the Houston Astros, saw all six of its affiliates reach the playoffs - the first time in a decade any MLB team can claim such success. The River Bandits were one of three affiliates to reach the championship round and one of two to win their league championship.
