The South Atlantic League announced the all-star rosters for the annual mid-season exhibition game that will take place on Tuesday, June 21 at Lexington, Ky. Included on the Northern Division roster will be four members of the Hickory Crawdads.
The lone starter from Hickory is shortstop Yeyson Yrizarri. In 51 games this season (through June 8), Yrizarri, 19, has posted a .256/.278/.387 slash with 16 extra-base hits and stolen 12 bases. The native of Puerto de Ordaz, Dominican Republic will be a part of his second straight league all-star game. Yrizarri was also picked on the Northwest League All-Star team that played against the Pioneer League in an exhibition game in 2015. He has also been adept in the field, as Yrizarri has committed just eight errors in 273 chances. He is the first Crawdads shortstop to start a SAL all-star game since Hanser Alberto was tabbed to do so in 2012.
The other position player from the Crawdads to make the Northern Division squad is catcher Tyler Sanchez. The native of Port St. Lucie, Fla. has posted a .265/.374/.412 slash in 39 games with four homers and 23 RBI. Sanchez, 23, was the Texas Rangers 17th round pick in 2015.
Two of the Crawdads starting pitchers will be a part of the Northern Division roster, as Pedro Payano and Erik Swanson parlayed strong first halves in to an all-star spot.
Payano, 21, is second in the SAL in ERA (1.47), opponent batting average (.182) and is seventh in WHIP (1.04) over 55 innings. The native of San Pedro de Macoris, D.R. threw a one-hitter earlier this season against Greensboro and has struck out 57 to just 22 walks.
Swanson, 22, is fifth in the SAL in WHIP (1.01) and tenth in ERA (2.45) in his first pro season as a starter. The native of Terrace Park, Ohio has struck out 48 and walked 12 over 51.1 innings of work.
