2003 Eastern League
All-Stars Announced

The Eastern League of Professional Baseball is pleased to announce the selections for the 2003 Eastern League All-Star Team, as voted on by respective Eastern League team managers and coaching staffs, sportswriters, radio and television broadcast personnel and other members of the media.

CATCHER
Guillermo Quiroz, New Haven Ravens
(.281, 19 HR, 76 RBI)

New Haven Ravens catcher Guillermo Quiroz is having an outstanding Eastern League rookie season for the Northern Division leaders. The 21-year old native of Venezuela is currently ranked among the league leaders in home runs (19-2nd), RBI (76-tied 4th) and slugging percentage (.510-3rd). Quiroz, who was selected as the catcher for the 2002 Florida State League All-Star team after hitting .260 with 12 home runs and 68 RBI for the Dunedin Blue Jays, was named to the Northern Division squad for the 2003 Eastern League All-Star Game and was also the starting catcher for the World Team at the Futures Game.

FIRST BASE
Craig Brazell, Binghamton Mets
(.301, 20 HR, 77 RBI)

After hitting .308 with six home runs and 19 RBI in 35 games with the B-Mets last season, Craig Brazell has continued his success with the B-Mets this year. The 23-year old slugger is currently tied for fourth in the league in RBI (76) and is batting .292 with a team-best 17 home runs. The Montgomery, Alabama native was named to the Northern Division team for the 2003 Eastern League All-Star Game and was also selected by Baseball America as the "Best Defensive First Basemen" in the Eastern League.

SECOND BASE
Mike Fontenot, Bowie Baysox
(.314, 9 HR, 57 RBI)

Mike Fontenot is currently batting .314 (7th in E.L.) with nine home runs, 57 RBI, 54 runs scored and 12 stolen bases for the Bowie Baysox. The 23-year old set a new Baysox franchise record by reaching base safely in 43 consecutive games from May 13th-July 4th. Mike was named the Eastern League Chase Most Valuable Player for the month of June and was also chosen to play for the Southern Division squad in the 2003 Eastern League All-Star Game.

THIRD BASE
Terry Tiffee, New Britain Rock Cats
(.320, 12 HR, 86 RBI)

New Britain Rock Cats third baseman Terry Tiffee is currently third in the Eastern League batting race with a .320 average and is also among the league leaders in RBI (86-2nd) and hits (155-3rd). The 24-year old was named to the Northern Division roster for the 2003 Eastern League All-Star Game and drove in the game-winning run with an RBI single in the bottom of the 9th inning in front of the home crowd at New Britain Stadium.

SHORTSTOP
Jason Bartlett, New Britain Rock Cats
(.290, 8 HR, 46 RBI)

New Britain Rock Cats shortstop Jason Bartlett is currently hitting .290 and is among the league leaders in stolen bases (40-2nd) and runs scored (84-4th), which are both new career-highs. The 23-year old also set new career-highs in home runs (8), RBI (46), doubles (27) and triples (7). Bartlett was selected as the Chevrolet Eastern League Player of the Week for the week ending June 22nd and was also named to the Northern Division team for the 2003 Eastern League
All-Star Game.

OUTFIELDERS

Alexis Rios, New Haven Ravens
(.342, 8 HR, 69 RBI)

Since making his Double-A debut with the New Haven Ravens this season, Alexis Rios has dominated Eastern League pitching and helped lead the Ravens to the top record in the Northern Division standings. Rios is currently leading the league with a .342 batting average and is also among the league leaders in triples (10-tied 1st) and hits (160-2nd). The 22-year old was named by Baseball America as the "Best Batting Prospect" and "Most Exciting Player" in the Eastern League and was also selected to the Northern Division team for the 2003 Eastern League All-Star Game and the World Team for the 2003 Futures Game.

Grady Sizemore, Akron Aeros
(.302, 12 HR, 73 RBI)

Grady Sizemore was ranked as the 7th best prospect in the Cleveland Indians organization coming into the season, and his numbers with the Southern Division leading Akron Aeros this season have shown why. The 21-year old is batting .302 with 12 home runs, 73 RBI and a league-leading 89 runs scored. Sizemore, who was named the MVP of the 2003 Futures Game and also selected to play for the Southern Division in the 2003 Eastern League All-Star Game, is tied for the league lead in triples, with 10.

Jeff Inglin, Reading Phillies
(.284, 22 HR, 96 RBI)

Reading Phillies slugger Jeff Inglin is currently hitting .284 with a league-leading 22 home runs and 96 RBI. The 27-year old was named the Chevrolet Eastern League Player of the Week for the week ending July 13th and the week ending August 17th and was selected to play for the Southern Division squad at the 2003 Eastern League All-Star Game.

UTILITY PLAYER
Kevin Youkilis, Portland Sea Dogs
(.327, 6 HR, 37 RBI)

Despite his promotion to the Pawtucket Red Sox (AAA) at the end of July, Portland Sea Dogs infielder Kevin Youkilis is still leading the league in slugging percentage (.487) and is ranked second in the league in batting (.327). Youkilis reached base in 71 consecutive games between Portland and Pawtucket this season, tying the modern day Minor League record, which was set by former Sea Dog Kevin Millar. The 24-year old, who was chose by Baseball America as having the "Best Strike-Zone Judgement" in the Eastern League, was selected to play for the United States team in the 2003 Futures Game and was also named to the Northern Division team for the 2003 Eastern League All-Star Game.

DESIGNATED HITTER
Alejandro Freire, Norwich Navigators
(.310, 17 HR, 75 RBI)

Norwich Navigators slugger Alejandro Freire has a team-leading batting average of .310 and has blasted a team-best 17 homers while driving in 75 runs this season. The 28-year old, who was also selected as the Designated Hitter for the 2001 Eastern League All-Star Team while playing for the Erie SeaWolves, was named to the Northern Division roster for the 2003 Eastern League All-Star Game.

RIGHT-HANDED STARTING PITCHER
Kyle Denney, Akron Aeros
(7-3, 2.42 ERA)

After going 3-1 with a 1.56 ERA in six appearances with the Akron Aeros last season, Kyle Denney is 7-3 with a league leading 2.42 ERA for the Southern Division leaders this season. The 26-year old has 87 strikeouts in 104 innings pitched for the Aeros, who have a league-best team ERA of 3.04. Denney was selected by Baseball America as the Eastern League pitcher with the "Best Control" and was also named the starting pitcher for the Southern Division in the 2003 Eastern League All-Star Game and gave up one hit in one scoreless inning of work.

LEFT-HANDED STARTING PITCHER
Sean Burnett, Altoona Curve
(13-5, 3.09 ERA)

Altoona Curve southpaw Sean Burnett has an Eastern League leading 13 wins this season and is also among the league leaders in ERA (3.09-8th) and innings pitched (148.2-5th) in his first season at the Double-A level. The 2002 Carolina League pitcher of the year was selected as Baseball America as the "Best Pitching Prospect" in the Eastern League named to the Southern Division team for the 2003 Eastern League All-Star Game.

RELIEF PITCHER
Brian Schmack, Erie SeaWolves
(2-3, 2.15, 29 Saves)

Erie SeaWolves right-hander Brian Schmack has a league-best 29 saves while appearing in a league-high 52 games. The 29-year old has converted 29 of 32 saves this season, setting a new SeaWolves record for saves in a season. Schmack, who has 46 strikeouts in 54.1 innings of work, was named to the Southern Division squad for the 2003 Eastern League All-Star Game.