Five B-Mets Named Eastern League All-Stars

BINGHAMTON, NY – The Binghamton Mets will send five representatives to the 2013 Eastern League All-Star Game in New Britain, Connecticut on Wednesday, July 10. Cesar Puello, Josh Rodriguez, Allan Dykstra, Logan Verrett and Jeff Walters will play for the Eastern Division team and battle the Western Division squad at New Britain Stadium.

Outfielder Cesar Puello, 22, has hit .338, slugged 14 home runs and collected 51 RBI through 58 games in his first season at Double-A. Signed as a non-drafted free agent by the Mets in 2007, the Dominican Republic native leads the league in slugging percentage (.616), ranks second in batting average and sits third in RBI and stolen bases (17).

Third baseman Josh Rodriguez, 28, is batting .303 with four home runs and 29 RBI in 67 games in his second turn with the Binghamton Mets. Signed as a free agent in 2012, the Houston, Texas native hit his way into the Eastern League record book with a 23-game hitting streak during the first half of the season, the league’s longest since 2006.

First baseman Allan Dykstra, 26, has compiled a .321 batting average, launched 12 home runs and racked up 50 RBI in 63 games in his third season in the Southern Tier. Acquired in a trade with the San Diego Padres prior to the 2011 season, Dykstra leads the league with a .477 on-base percentage and a total of 56 walks. He also sits fourth in batting average, tied for fourth in RBI and second with a .607 slugging percentage.

“It’s real nice to see those three position players recognized for their efforts,” said B-Mets manager Pedro Lopez. “Our offense is built around them and they’ve made a big impact.”

Starter Logan Verrett, 22, has gone 8-3 with a 3.97 ERA through 14 starts in his debut Double-A season. Selected in the third round of the 2011 draft out of Baylor University, Verrett leads the league in victories. He leads the team in innings pitched (93.0) and strikeouts (77) and has thrown six innings or more in all but two of his starts.

Closer Jeff Walters, 25, has compiled a 2.51 ERA and collected 18 saves over 29 appearances out of the bullpen in his first season with the B-Mets. A seventh-round selection by the Mets out of the University of Georgia in 2010, the Floridian leads the league in saves. He has held opponents to a .216 batting average and compiled a 9.46 K/9 IP ratio.

Lopez said, “Logan has been our most consistent pitcher. It seems that every time he’s gone out there, he’s given the team a chance to win with a quality start. Walters has been great for us in the ninth inning and goes after hitters. The numbers don’t lie. He’s done a terrific job.”

The Eastern Division looks to defend their title after winning in walk-off fashion last year in Reading, Pennsylvania. Former B-Met Eric Campbell drove in the winning run in the Eastern Division’s walk-off 5-4 win and was named the game’s Most Valuable Player.