Hey Now, You're an All-Star! Clevlen, Hessman and Neal To Play in 2008 Triple-A All-Star Game on July 16!

The first place Toledo Mud Hens are proud to announce that they will be sending three players to the 2008 Triple-A All-Star Game on Wednesday, July 16 in Louisville, KY.

The Toledo players selected to the team are:

-3B Mike Hessman
-OF Brent Clevlen
-RHP Blaine Neal

The trio was elected by the league’s managers, league general managers, media members and fans. Both Hessman and Clevlen will start in the game. The International League today announced the members of its 2008 All-Star team. The squad of 28 IL standouts will take on the Pacific Coast League’s best in the 21st annual Triple-A All-Star Game, slated for July 16 in Louisville, Kentucky. First pitch is set for 7:05 p.m. eastern daylight time and can be seen live on ESPN2.

Mike Hessman is having a sensational year for the Mud Hens. The 30-year-old third baseman is tied for first in the I.L. for home runs (26) and runs scored (67). Hessman became the fastest player to hit twenty home runs in thirty years, slugging number twenty on May 28. He also is second in extra-base hits (45), third in slugging percentage (.595), and tied for fifth in RBI (53). Hessman will be playing in the Triple-A All-Star game for the second consecutive year. Hessman went 1-2 with a two-run HR in last year’s game at Albuquerque, NM.

Brent Clevlen earned his first selection to the team after piecing together a break-out first half of the season. Clevlen had an I.L. best 44 game on-base streak from April 20 through June 21 in which he batted .358 (57-159) with 11 doubles, 3 triples, 12 home runs, and 49 RBI with 31 runs scored. The 24-year-old’s offensive performance throughout the year ranks him second in RBI (60) and fifth in slugging percentage (.565).

Blaine Neal has been dominant as Toledo’s closer. The 30-year-old righty began the season on a tear, not allowing a run through his first 9 games. He was a perfect 17-17 in save opportunities to start the year. Neal leads the I.L. in saves (22) and has struck out 32 batters in his 28.2 innings of work. This will be Neal’s first Triple-A All-Star game.

The International League will look to pick up its third consecutive win at the mid-summer classic after coming out victorious in the 2006 All-Star Game held in Toledo, Ohio and the 2007 Game in Albuquerque, New Mexico. This will be the 11th showdown under the current IL vs. PCL format, as the first 10 contests pitted All-Stars selected from National League affiliates against those from the American League. The IL and PCL are currently tied 5-5. The winning League this year will once again earn the right to have its champion play as the “home team” at the Triple-A Championship Game – the Bricktown Showdown – in Oklahoma City this September.