3 Clippers, 5 Aeros Are All-Stars

Three players from the Indians' top farm team, the Columbus Clippers, have been selected to play for the International League in the Triple-A All-Star Game in Portland, Ore., against the Pacific Coast League. In the Double-A Eastern League, five players from the Akron Aeros were named to the Southern Division team for the All-Star Game in Trenton, N.J.. Both games will be played on July 15.

Representing the Clippers will be third baseman Andy Marte and catcher Wyatt Toregas, both elected to the squad, along with outfielder Jordan Brown, who was added to the team. The Clippers are one of five IL teams with three All-Stars in the game that will be televised by ESPN2.

The Aeros' five All-Stars are first baseman Beau Mills, catcher Carlos Santana, outfielder Nick Weglarz, starting pitcher Hector Rondon and closer Vinnie Pestano. Akron was one of three teams with five players named to the squad.

Mills leads Akron with 21 multi-hit games and entered tonight's doubleheader in Bowie batting .256 with six homers and 40 RBI. He was Cleveland’s first-round pick in 2007 and named the 2008 Class A Carolina League MVP with the Kinston Indians after hitting .293 with 21 homers and 90 RBI.

Santana is batting .269 in 71 games and ranks in the top-ten in the Eastern League in runs (52), homers (12), RBI (47), on-base percentage (.403) and slugging percentage (.498). He leads the Eastern League with 53 walks and is currently on pace for 99, which would shatter the franchise record of 82 set by Ken Ramos in 1992. Acquired in a trade with the Los Angeles Dodgers last July, Santana won the 2008 Class A California League MVP award despite playing only 99 games for Inland Empire before the deal.

Weglarz saw his 23-game on-base streak end Tuesday night against Bowie. Since May 1, he is batting .305 with 14 doubles, 11 homers, 35 runs, and 49 RBI with a .598 slugging percentage.

Rondon, 21, went 5-0 in his first five starts. He entered play Thursday with a 2.59 ERA in 14 games (12 starts). His 65 strikeouts lead the team and are tied for eighth in the EL.

Pestano is 2-3 with a 3.26 ERA and 21 saves in 24 chances. He ranked second in the Indians' farm system with 24 saves last season, and is on pace to break Randy Newsom’s single-season franchise record of 29 saves set a year ago.

Marte has rekindled his career at Columbus. Designated for assignment by the Indians in spring training, he signed back with Cleveland when all 29 other teams refused to claim him on waivers.

The 25-year-old has hit only .211 in 174 MLB games across parts of four seasons, but this year is batting .319 with 15 doubles, 10 homers and 44 RBI in 62 games.

Toregas, 26, is hitting .288 with nine doubles, seven homers and 27 RBI in 48 games.

Brown, 25, is batting .326 with 22 doubles, 10 homers and 40 RBI in 75 games.