LINCOLN — Three Saltdogs will represent the South in the upcoming 2014 American Association All-Star Game in Winnipeg as slugger Ian Gac (pictured, left), starting pitcher Marquis Fleming (center) and closer Marshall Schuler (right) were voted All-Stars by league managers and media personnel.
Gac is hitting .327 with 11 home runs and 32 RBI in 37 games, after missing most of June with a groin injury. The 28-year old masher ranks second in the league in slugging percentage at .626. Gac, a second-year Saltdog, posted the second-highest slugging percentage in club history in 2013 at .613.
The 2011 Carolina League MVP was named Pointstreak Player of the week June 2.
Fleming is 5-3 and ranks eighth in the league with a 3.04 ERA. The 27-year old from Oakland, Calif. has used his devastating change-up to rack up 51 strikeouts in 68 innings over 11 starts for Lincoln. Fleming earned Pointstreak American Association Pitcher of the Week honors June 2.
The former Tampa Bay Rays prospect has pitched at least six innings in eight of his 11 starts and has never gone fewer than five.
Schuler leads the league with 18 saves, and has gone 3-4 with a 3.18 ERA as the Saltdogs' closer in 2014. The 26-year from Anaheim, Calif. has been very dependable overall for Lincoln, ranking tied for second in the Association with 28 appearances.
Schuler is nine shy of matching Lincoln's single-season saves record with 46 games yet to play, which was set by R.J. Rodriguez in 2013.
The 2014 American Association All-Star game and festivities will take place July 28-29 at Shaw Park in Winnipeg. This is the first All-Star game played in the league since the 2010 season.
The Association was divided into the North (four North division teams plus Sioux City and Gary) and South (four South division teams plus Lincoln and Kansas City).