Altoona Curve 2017 All-Stars

(Photo by Leon Halip/Getty Images)
(Photo by Leon Halip/Getty Images)

All star nods racked up for the Altoona Curve. Six Pittsburgh minor league players from the Curve will represent the West division in New Hampshire.

Outfielders

First of these players is Jordan Luplow. Luplow plays left field for the Curve. This season Luplow has mashed 16 round trippers, good for fifth in the Eastern League.

Luplow has mashed 16 round trippers, good for fifth in the Eastern League. A .291 batting average and 36 RBI accompany the homers. Luplow’s .291 ties for second highest batting average for Pirate affiliates.This is a well deserving spot to an improving player.  The 16 home runs mark a career high for Luplow. His stats in batting average, OBP, slugging and OPS are also career best marks. A great first half for the Pirates number 30 prospect. Called up to triple-a on June 30, 2017 and not likely to play in the game.

Infielders

Three Curve infielders make the list. These picks include Wyatt Mathisen, Kevin Kramer and Edwin Espinal.  Mathisen are second round picks of the Pirates. Mathisen is hitting .290 this season with three homers and 18 RBI.

Kramer sports a .297 average with six home runs and 27 RBI. His marks in OBP, slugging and OPS are rising this season to career best levels. Like Luplow give Kramer is spot for improved performance. He is also in the Pirates top 30 at number 17.

Espinal is hitting at a .286 clip with eight home runs for the season. His 50 RBI and 23 doubles so far are amongst the best in the Eastern League. .His defense stands out as well. This season Espinal has 515 putouts and 46 assists without committing an error.

Pitchers

Two pitchers selected for the Altoona Curve. Starter Alex McRae gets a spot after posting a 6-3 record and 3.58 era in 15 starts. McRae is a work horse logging 88 innings of work. This is the third highest total in the Eastern League.  Strong starter for sure and very worthy of the spot.

Closer Montana Durapau used strong credentials to get an invite. Durapau won Altoona’s fireman of the year award in 2016.

In 26 save chances, he converted 22 in 2016. For 2017 Durapau is 11 of 12 in save opportunities.  The 33 total save over two seasons is an Altoona Curve franchise record.

To accompany the record, 1.38 ERA in 32.2 innings of work highlight an impressive line of statistics. Durapau leads the Eastern League in finished games with 22.

Next: Pittsburgh Pirates prospect selected for game.

  Very happy to see a strong all-star contingent from the Altoona Curve. Six all-stars marks the highest total in the Eastern League this season. The game will take place tonight.

 

Schedule