In All-Star Home Run Derby –Monday, July 9
Dan Johnson, Matt LaPorta join Pascucci on IL Squad
Former Bisons Slugger Mike Hessman Leads PCL Trio
July 3, 2012 –Buffalo Bisons sluggerVALENTINO PASCUCCI will be one of the six All-Stars that will compete in theTriple-A Home Run Derby, Monday, July 9 at Coca-Cola Field (7:00 p.m.), presented by Seneca Niagara Casino & Hotel.
Pascucci will be joined by 2010 All-Star Home Run Derby champion, Charlotte’sDAN JOHNSON, and Columbus’ MATT LAPORTA for the International League.Former Bison and current member of the Oklahoma City RedHawks MIKE HESSMAN leads the PCL squad that will also include Round Rock’sJOEY BUTLER and Tacoma’s LUIS JIMENEZ.
With Hessman and Pascucci, Monday’s event will include thetop two active leaders in career minor league home runs. Hessman has slugged 354 home runs over parts of 16 seasons. Pascucci has 244 career minor league home runs in 13 seasons, including 51 over the past three years with the Bisons.
The sluggers will compete in a three-round derby to find an overall Triple-A Home Run Derby Champion. The event on Monday, July 9 will also include an appearance byThe Famous Chicken as well as a Celebrity Home Run Derby which will include Hall of Fame Bills players Jim Kelly and Joe DeLamielleure, current Bills running back Fred Jackson, Buffalo Sabres forward Patrick Kaleta and New England Patriots and Buffalo-native Rob Gronkowski.
International League Sluggers
Valentino Pascucci currently leads the Bisons with 13 home runs and 51RBI this season. He’s hit 51 home runs since joining the Herd in 2010, just the sixth Bison to reach the 50-home run plateau in the modern era. He led the Herd with 21 home runs during the 2011 campaign and on June 18, 2010 became one of only four Bisons players to hit three home runs in a single game at Coca-Cola Field.
Dan Johnsonis the only active player in the International League with 20 or more home runs, having slugged 21 for the Charlotte Knights this season. Johnson was the International League’s Most Valuable Player during the 2010 season when he hit 30 home runs for the Durham Bulls. That season, Johnson won the All-Star Home Run Derby that was played at Coca-Cola Park in Lehigh Valley, PA.
Matt LaPorta rounds out the IL trio of sluggers. The Clippers outfielder received more votes than any player in the International League during online fan voting for the Triple-A All-Star Game last month. LaPorta has hit 16 home runs for the two-time defending IL Champion Clippers and 30 home runs over the past three seasons with the Cleveland Indians.
Pacific Coast League Sluggers
The minor league’s active leader in home runs,Mike Hessman leads the Pacific Coast League team for the Home Run Derby. The veteran has 25 home runs for Oklahoma City this year to lead all Pacific Coast League hitters. In 2010, Hessman hit 18 home runs in just 64 games with the Bisons before being promoted to the Mets.
Luis Jimenezhas hit 13 home runs with a .530 slugging percentage in 75 games with Tacoma this season. Jimenez has hit 134 career home runs in the minor leagues, including 22 during the 2007 season with Double-A Bowie.
Joey Butler has hit 12 home runs in 82 games for Round Rock this season, his first season at the Triple-A level. The 15th round draft pick of the Texas Rangers in 2008 leads the Express this season with a .469 slugging percentage.
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