I am proud to share the news that
two of our very own have been chosen to play in the DSL’s version of the summer
classic. Right-handed starting
pitcher Angel Cruz and C/1B Audris Perez have both been named to the 2008
Dominican Summer League All-Star Game scheduled for Sunday, July 27, playing for
the National League.
Cruz, 20, was a free agent signing
by the St. Louis Cardinals in early 2007 out of the Dominican
Republic.
This is the right-hander’s second season in the DSL under the St. Louis
Cardinals umbrella. Last season the
6'4" 200 pounder was used in relief and also made four starts for the
Cardinals. He posted a 4-4 record
with a 3.76 ERA striking out 41 and walking 16 over 40.2 innings.
The Santo Domingo born pitcher was assigned to DSL
for another season instead of being brought to the states for 2008. This season the ace of the Redbirds
rotation has made nine starts posted a 4-2 record with a 1.62 ERA allowing 33
hits, 14 runs (nine earned), one home run, nine walks, and striking out 47 over
50 innings. He also has the only
complete game for the Cardinals squad, which is tied for 1st overall
in the league. Cruz leads the team
in most if not all pitching categorizes and is ranked 8th in the
league (last updated July 23) with a 0.80 WHIP.
Perez, 19, was a free agent
signing by the St. Louis Cardinals in early 2008 out of the Dominican
Republic.
The catcher/first baseman is currently playing his very first season in
professional ball and is leading the Cardinals squad when it comes at the
plate. The 5'9" 180 pounder has
seen his average gradually raise to a now .275 and has collected ten doubles,
five home runs, 25 RBIs, five walks, and struck out 13 times in 131
at-bats. Like Cruz, Perez is also
the leader of the team when it comes to batting stats. As soon as MiLB updates their
stats for the DSL, Perez will jump into the top ten in home runs as he hit his
fifth Wednesday night.
Even though the team has fallen
back into last place in the Santo Domingo North Division, both have been huge
contributors to the Cardinals 2008 season.
There have been others but not on a daily or weekly basis like these two
have.
Subscribers, make sure you check
out the Dominican Summer League Cardinals reports for weekly updates, here at
The Birdhouse, on these up and coming young stars: link
The DSL official site will be
hosting the All-Star Game on their site: link
© 2008
stlcardinals.scout.com. All rights
reserved. This material may not be published, rewritten or
redistributed.