The Lincoln Saltdogs announced on Friday that shortstop Albenis Machado has been added to the 2010 North Division All-Star team.  Machado becomes the fifth Saltdogs player honored as an All-Star this season.

The veteran shortstop has played all or parts of five seasons in Lincoln, originally joining the team for the 2004 and 2005 season, and then re-joining the club late in the 2008 campaign.  Machado got off to a slow start this season, but is hitting .279 in the month of July with 11 RBI.  Albenis leads the Saltdogs in walks with 47, and sports a .370 on-base percentage.  As the Lincoln shortstop, Machado has also been a cornerstone of a defense that currently ranks second in the American Association.

Saltdogs manager Marty Scott, who will manage the North Division All-Stars in the July 27th American Association All-Star Game at Wichita, chose Machado to replace injured Wingnuts shortstop Josh Horn.  Horn, who had been picked as the North’s starting shortstop for the second consecutive season, was hitting .342 in 59 games for Wichita, but suffered an ankle injury last weekend and is currently on the disabled list.

Machado will join outfielder Gavin Dickey, and pitchers Jim Paduch and Chris Thompson as Lincoln’s All-Star representatives in Wichita, along with Scott, hitting coach Chris Miyake and pitching coach Jarrett Gardner.  Catcher Shawn McGill was also selected as an All-Star this season, before his contract was purchased by the Atlanta Braves organization.

For more team and ticket information, go to www.saltdogs.com.