Eastern League news and notes
Left fielder Wilkin Ramirez is the eighth Erie SeaWolves player to earn selection to the Futures All-Star game since Erie became the Detroit Tigers’ Double-A affiliate in 2001.
Former SeaWolves who have played in the Futures Game includes catcher Mike Rivera (World Team) in 2001, pitcher Preston Larrison (U.S.) in 2003, pitcher Wilfredo Ledezma (World) in 2004, pitchers Justin Verlander (U.S.) and Joel Zumaya (U.S.) in 2005, pitcher Humberto Sanchez (World) in 2006 and outfielder Cameron Maybin (U.S.)
The game is Sunday at 12:30 p.m. at Yankee Stadium in New York City. ESPN2 will televise the game live.
The Akron Aeros went 6-1 on a seven-game road trip last week and have won 20 of their last 24 road games, including a franchise-record 11 straight. Akron hasn’t lost a road series since they were swept in three games by the Bowie Baysox May 2-4.
Akron catcher Wyatt Toregas was named the Eastern League player of the week on Monday after belting five homers and driving in 13 runs in six games last week. Toregas hit three homers in a game against the Erie SeaWolves, the first multiple-homer game in his four-year professional career.
Aeros outfielder Trevor Crowe is the Eastern League’s player of the month for June. Crowe, 24, hit .400 (42-for-105) with four homers, 24 RBIs, 32 runs scored, 16 walks, 10 doubles and five steals in 25 games.
Crowe was the EL player of the week for the final two weeks in June, becoming the first EL player to win the award in back-to-back weeks since Harrisburg’s Dee Haynes in 2005.
Binghamton Mets right-hander Salvador Aguilar won his league-leading 10th game last week in a road start against Altoona. Aguilar is the third pitcher in franchise history to win 10 games before the All-Star Break. Juan Castillo and Bill Pulsipher both won 10 games before the break in 1994.
Connecticut Defenders right-hander Nate Bump earned EL pitcher-of-the-week honors after allowed just five hits in 12 1/3 innings. He struck out nine and posted a 0.00 ERA.
The New Hampshire Fisher Cats, who will host the Eastern League All-Star Game next week, broke a nine-game losing streak on Sunday with a 6-1 win over Trenton. Seven of the losses were by one run.
Trenton Thunder left-hander Phil Coke is 3-0 with a 21 strikeouts in his last three starts. He has allowed just two earned runs in his last 20 innings.