(Photo By Flickr User Joel Dinda)
This year, Chiefs All-Stars won’t have to travel as far.
Oscar Mercado’s speed on the bases this spring has ensured the shortstop will be in a familiar place on the infield when the rest of the Midwest League’s best talents roll into the River City.
Chiefs fans will get to cheer for the hometown favorite after the Cardinals’ Number 25 prospect was voted a starter in this year’s Midwest League All-Star Game. The 20-year-old, who ranks second in the Midwest League with 22 stolen bases, will highlight the Western Division All-Stars on June 23 when Peoria hosts the 51st Midwest League All-Star Classic at Dozer Park.
Peoria pitchers Daniel Poncedeleon, Austin Gomber, and Luis Perdomo will also join Mercado on the roster along with manager Joe Kruzel and the Chiefs’ entire field staff. The All-Stars were nominated and selected by league field managers earlier this season.
The game will be played on Tuesday, June 23, 2015 with events leading up to it the day before.
Chiefs president Rocky Vonachen said,
“It’s incredibly exciting, it’s been 10 years since we last hosted an All-Star Game; we’re looking forward to this moment, and we’re already beginning preparations.”
According to milb.com, the Midwest League went to a system a few years ago that essentially is a hybrid of a lottery and a waivers procedure for awarding its All-Star host sites.
The rights to host the game rotate around the league. The order can change, because teams can decline when their turn comes, and teams with new or renovated ballparks are immediately moved to the front of the line.
The Chiefs number came up for this year (2015), and they accepted the league’s invitation to host.
When Peoria accepted to host the Midwest League All-Star invitation, Vonachen said,
“It’s a great way to showcase the Peoria Chiefs, Dozer Park and Peoria. We’ll draw people to this game from all over the Midwest.”
Peoria has hosted the Midwest League All-Star Game in 2005, at Dozer Park (formerly O’Brien Field), and in 1992, at Meinen Field at Pete Vonachern Stadium.
In the 1992 game, the North Division beat the South Division, 7-5, in front of 3,755.
In the 2005 Midwest League All-Star Game, the Eastern Division won, 4-2, over the Western Division in front of 5,707.
Get more information on the 51st Annual Midwest League All-Star Game by logging online to www.peoriachiefs.com.
