Three Chihuahuas players and one coach named Triple-A All-Stars
EL PASO, Texas – June 30, 2016 – The El Paso Chihuahuas will be well represented at the 2016 Sonic Automotive Triple-A All-Star Game on Wednesday, July 13 in Charlotte, N.C. Today the Pacific Coast League announced Carlos Asuaje, Casey McElroy and Hunter Renfroe will suit up for the Pacific Coast League team against the International League All-Stars at BB&T Ballpark in Charlotte, home of the Charlotte Knights, the Chicago White Sox Triple-A affiliate.
Carlos Asuaje – The 24-year-old infielder will attend his third consecutive all-star game at the third different level after being named a Pacific Coast League All-Star. Asuaje participated in the 2014 Single-A South Atlantic League All-Star Game and the 2015 Double-A Eastern League All-Star Game. The Venezuelan-born infielder is tied for the Triple-A lead in triples with seven and is currently hitting .324 for the Chihuahuas. Asuaje will also play in the 2016 All-Star Futures Game at Petco Park in San Diego on Sunday, July 10 .
Casey McElroy – McElroy had an explosive start to the month of May and is putting together a strong second season in Triple-A. The 26-year-old infielder was PCL Player of the Week for May 2 -8 after going 14-for-28 (.500) at the plate with nine RBIs. He had a stretch of play in which he collected multiple hits in 12 out of 13 games and is currently hitting .306. This is McElroy’s second minor league all-star nomination after appearing in the 2014 Texas League All-Star Game for the Double-A San Antonio Missions.
Hunter Renfroe – Renfroe leads all Triple-A players in home runs (18), hits (104), extra-base hits (47) and is tied with teammate Manuel Margot in runs scored (59). Renfroe was PCL Player of the Week for April 18 -24, 2016 after homering in four consecutive games. The 24-year-old outfielder from Mississippi will play in his third minor league all-star game after previously participating in the California/Carolina League All-Star Game for High-A Lake Elsinore in 2014 as well as the Northwest/Pioneer League All-Star Game in 2013 for Short-Season Eugene.
Renfroe will also play in the 2016 Futures Game at Petco Park on Sunday, July 10 .
These players will join infielders Jonathan Galvez and Cody Decker as Chihuahuas to play in a Triple-A All-Star Game. In 2015 at Omaha’s Werner Park, Decker became the first Chihuahua to start a Triple-A All-Star Game.
As previously announced, Chihuahuas pitching coach Bronswell Patrick, a native of North Carolina, will serve as the pitching coach for the Pacific Coast League.
The stakes of the Triple-A All-Star Game are similar to those of the MLB All-Star Game. The winning league will be rewarded as the home team for the 2016 Gildan Triple-A National Championship Game at AutoZone Park in Memphis, Tennessee, home of the PCL’s Memphis Redbirds.
The 2016 Sonic Automotive Triple-A All-Star Game will be televised live on MLB Network at 5:00 p.m. Mountain Time on July 13 and the radio broadcast can be heard live on the El Paso Chihuahuas flagship station, 600 ESPN El Paso.
The Chihuahuas open a four-game homestand against the Reno Aces tonight . Tickets are still available for the series, including GECU’s Independence Day celebration games, with post-game fireworks shows on July 2 and July 3 . Fans can purchase tickets at 915-533-BASE or www.epchihuahuas.com .
