photo: Dakota Hudson (Memphis Redbirds)
Memphis Redbirds press release
Memphis Redbirds pitcher Dakota Hudson, infielder Patrick Wisdom, and pitcher Daniel Poncedeleon have been named to the 2018 Pacific Coast League All-Star Team, with the game against the stars of the International League set for Wednesday, July 11 in Columbus, Ohio televised on MLB Network.
Hudson was the top vote-getter among all pitchers and earns the prestigious starting nod. He is the fifth Redbird to start an All-Star Game on the mound, joining Chris Gissell (2005), Dan Haren (2004), Bud Smith (2001), and Larry Luebbers (1999).
Entering his start tonight at Colorado Springs, Hudson leads the PCL in wins (10), ERA (2.04), and innings pitched (88.1). In nine starts since the beginning of May, he has four outings without allowing an earned run and four others allowing just one earned run. He is 7-2 with a 1.19 ERA during that span, and opponents are hitting just .216. This month, Hudson is 4-0 with a 0.64 ERA (2er/28.0ip) and has given up just 22 hits in June.
Hudson was also an All-Star last season with Double-A Springfield in the Texas League.
Wisdom’s All-Star Team selection continues a streak of awards for the infielder, after he was named to the 2017 PCL Postseason All-Star Team and was then named the Most Valuable Player of the 2017 PCL Playoffs. This season, Wisdom is hitting .300 with 12 home runs and 48 RBI in 73 games, and his on-base percentage of .375 is 65 points higher than it finished last season. His batting average this season is 57 points higher than the .243 it finished at the end of last year.
The selection is Wisdom’s first All-Star nod since his rookie season of 2012 in the New York-Penn League with Batavia.
Poncedeleon is 6-3 with a 2.75 ERA in 14 starts and one relief appearance for Memphis this season, and he has struck out 83 in 72.0 innings. The 83 strikeouts are fifth-most in the PCL, and his 2.75 ERA ranks third in the league. He is limiting the opposition to a .225 batting average, which is third-lowest in the PCL, and he leads all league starting pitchers with a 10.52 K/9 IP ratio. Earlier this season, Poncedeleon was promoted to St. Louis for his Major League debut, but he did not pitch.
Poncedeleon was an All-Star both in 2016 with Double-A Springfield and 2015 with Single-A Peoria in the Midwest League.
Brian Walton’s take
Three All-Stars for Memphis is a big deal, as there is just one all-star roster encompassing the entire 16-team PCL. As noted above, this team will take on the International League’s best on July 11.
Here is the link to the full roster.
I should add to the above that not only was Hudson both a mid- and post-season Texas League All-Star in 2017, he was also the Double-A league’s Pitcher of the Year.
In the June update of The Cardinal Nation’s top 50 prospect list, Hudson is ranked third and Poncedeleon comes in at no. 21.
Last year, three Redbirds were also named to the team – starter Luke Weaver, reliever Ryan Sherriff and catcher Carson Kelly. Also, as mentioned above, Wisdom was a 2017 PCL post-season All-Star selection – the only Memphis player chosen.
Wisdom was also The Cardinal Nation’s choice as the system-wide Player of the Month in May coming off our selection of the third baseman as Memphis’ 2017 Player of the Year. Yet due to roster limitations, his chances of reaching St. Louis prior to impending free agency this fall remain cloudy. Because of this and his age (he turns 27 in August), we no longer rank Wisdom among our top prospects in the Cardinals organization.
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Brian Walton can be reached via email at brian@thecardinalnation.com. Follow Brian on Twitter.
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