The Sand Gnats will be well represented in the South Atlantic League All-Star game as five players and four coaches will make the trip to Lakewood, N.J., on June 18 to represent the Southern Division.
Catcher Kevin Plawecki and first baseman Jayce Boyd have been named starters for the Southern squad. Plawecki has been on a tear for the Gnats all season. He entered Tuesday’s game hitting .343 with six home runs and 39 RBIs in 53 games. Boyd is hitting .350 on the season.
Outfielder Brandon Nimmo was selected as a utility player. Nimmo had a stint on the disabled list in May, but is regaining his stroke at the plate. He had hits in all four games of a recent series with Kannapolis and is batting .304 on the season.
Pitchers Gabriel Ynoa and Bret Mitchell were also named to the team. Ynoa, a right-handed starter from the Dominican Republic, has a 7-2 record with a 2.87 ERA and 54 strikeouts in 62 2/3 innings. He became the first pitcher in the SAL to throw a complete game on Sunday. Mitchell has notched nine saves for the Gnats with a 1.13 ERA and 34 strikeouts in 24 innings.
Sand Gnats manager Luis Rojas will manage the Southern Division team, with Gnats pitching coach Frank Viola also making the trip. Trainer Tom Truedson and strength and conditioning coach Jason Griffin will also make the trip to represent Savannah.
The game is set for 7:05 p.m. at FirstEnergy Park.
More information is available at the Lakewood Blueclaws website: blueclaws.com/allstar.