The Boston Red Sox are sending a rather small list of representatives to the 2014 MLB All-Star Game, but the same can’t be said for their Double-A affiliate.
The Eastern League announced the rosters for its 2014 All-Star Game on Monday, and five Portland Sea Dogs players were selected for the July 16 contest in Altoona, Pa.
Headlined by top pitching prospect Henry Owens, the list of Sea Dogs on the roster also includes catcher Blake Swihart, pitcher Brian Johnson, second baseman Sean Coyle and infielder/outfielder Derrik Gibson.
Owens, who entered the 2014 season as Baseball America’s No. 2 overall prospect, is 12-3 with a 2.21 ERA and 111 strikeouts in just 17 games for Portland this season.
Coyle, meanwhile, is enjoying a stellar season at the plate for the Sea Dogs and, like Owens, will represent Team USA at the All-Star Futures Game on July 13 at Target Field in Minneapolis. The 22-year-old is batting .355 with 11 home runs in 47 RBIs in 59 games and earned Eastern League Player of the Week honors in late June after hitting .524 over a seven-day span.
Swihart, the Red Sox’s No. 5 prospect according to Baseball America, leads the Eastern League in throwing out attempted base stealers at 53.2 percent (25-for-47) and has posted nine homers with 44 RBIs at the plate so far this season.
