Playing the the 2005 Hannaford Eastern League All-Star game is going to be just another day at the home office for six Portland Sea Dogs next week.
The Eastern League selected Hanley Ramirez, Jon Papelbon, Jon Lester, Brandon Moss, Kenny Perez and Jared Sandberg on Thursday to participate in the annual event that showcases young talent in a miniature version of Major League Baseball’s Mid-Summer Classic.
Ramirez, perhaps the more hyped of the six, is a 21-year-old shortstop ranked among the top 10 best prospects in the country by Baseball America and the No. 1 prospect in the Red Sox organization by the same publication.
This year, Ramirez leads the league with seven triples, and has 10 doubles and 16 stolen bases for the Sea Dogs.
Papelbon, a right-handed pitcher, is 4-2 this season with a 2.67 ERA, good for sixth in the Eastern League. Ramirez and Papelbon were both selected to the team via fan balloting. Media, league officials and team officials selected the remaining four.
Moss, an outfielder rated No. 2 among Red Sox prospects, is hitting .287 with 11 home runs, 20 doubles and 39 RBIs for the Sea Dogs.
Lester, also just 21-years-old, is a southpaw hurler who leads the Sea Dogs in innings pitched (82 1/3). He is also fourth in the Eastern League in both ERA (2.51) and strikeouts (84).
Perez was Boston’s sixth-round choice in the 2000 amateur draft, and prior to this season was the No. 27 prospect in the Red Sox organization. Perez is batting .296 this season with five doubles, two home runs and 20 RBIs.
Sandberg is the elder statesman of the bunch, having played in the major leagues in parts of three seasons with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays.
In 2002, Sandberg played in 99 games for the Devils Rays and finished the season with 18 home runs, third most on the team.
He is batting .253 with the Sea Dogs this season, with 16 doubles, 15 home runs and 49 RBIs.
The six players make up one quarter of the 24-player Northern Division roster, and represent the highest number of Portland players ever selected to the mid-season game. The previous record was five in 2003.
The sold-out 2005 Hannaford Eastern League All-Star Game is scheduled for Wednesday, July 13 at Hadlock Field in Portland.
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