Three P-Nats Named To Carolina League All-Star Team

For the first time since 2009, Potomac has multiple representatives named to the Carolina League All-Star team, as the rosters for the 2013 contingent were announced today.

OF Billy Burns, LHP Robbie Ray, and RHP Blake Schwartz were among those named on the roster. It’s believed to be the first All-Star appearance for all three players.

Burns will be among the starting outfielders, most likely in center. The 23-year-old Georgia native leads the Carolina League with 28 steals, while his .418 on-base percentage is second in the league.

Ray leads the Carolina League with 81 strikeouts in 62 innings, but is also third in most walks allowed with 29. After a disastrous 2012 (4-12, 6.56), the 21-year-old from Tennessee will take it as he’s also third in ERA at 2.32 and has posted a won-loss mark of 4-2.

Schwartz is a bit of a surprise, given that he began the season in Hagerstown and in the bullpen. Since his promotion in late April he’s won five of eight starts (5-1 for Potomac, 7-1 overall) and posted a league-best ERA of 1.29. The 23-year-old Minnesotan has risen rapidly up the Nationals ladder, going from a 17-round pick from Okalahoma City College to High-A in less than a calendar year.

The 2013 Carolina-California All-Star game is scheduled for June 18th with the San Jose Giants as the host city for the California League. The game will be televised locally as well as on MiLB.tv.

As aforementioned, the P-Nats have had only one player named the past three seasons with OF Michael Burgess the sole representative in 2010 and 2011 and C David Freitas in 2012 (RHP Rob Wort was named as an injury replacement). The previous multiple-player representation came in 2009, when RHPs Brad Meyers and Jeff Mandel were named to the Carolina League’s pitching staff.