Four Chiefs Named to Midwest League All-Star Team

PEORIA  – The Peoria Chiefs have landed four players on the 2015 Western Division squad for the 51st Midwest League All-Star Classic as the rosters were announced by the MWL Thursday.

The game will be played in Peoria at Dozer Park on Tuesday, June 23 at 7:00 p.m.
The Chiefs placed three pitchers on the All-Star staff, including three starters. Daniel Poncedeleon, Luis Perdomo and Austin Gomber will be joined by starting shortstop Oscar Mercado on the West team selected by the 16 MWL managers. As the host team for the All-Star Classic, the entire Chiefs coaching staff will also represent the Chiefs at the game with Manager Joe Kruzel leading the way. Pitching coach Dernier Orozco, hitting coach Jobel Jimenez, coach Brian Pruitt, athletic trainer Brent Neuharth and strength & conditioning coach Kevin Schmalzried round out the staff.
Poncedeleon, 23, is tied for second in the MWL with six wins and has posted a 6-0 record with a 1.51 ERA in nine starts this season. He has struck out 45 and walked just 13 in 53 2/3 innings and his ERA is ranked fourth in the MWL.
Perdomo, 22, was named the MWL Pitcher of the Week on June 1 and is 2-4 with a 1.48 ERA on the season in eight starts. He has struck out 52 batters over 48 2/3 innings on the season and is ranked third in the MWL in ERA.
Gomber, 21, is the only lefty in the Chiefs All-Star selections and is 4-3 on the season. In nine starts, Gomber has an ERA of 3.29 and is tied for the team lead with 52 strikeouts. On May 18, Gomber threw a complete game shutout against Cedar Rapids.
Mercado, 20, is batting .246 with eight doubles, one triple, one homer, 13 RBI and 28 runs scored in 47 games. He leads the Chiefs and is tied for second in the MWL with 22 stolen bases. Mercado also leads the Chiefs with four sacrifice flies and four sacrifice hits.
The 51st Midwest League All-Star Classic will be played at Peoria’s Dozer Park at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, June 23. Tickets are available online at www.peoriachiefs.com, at the Dozer Park Box Office or by calling 1-866-MYTICKET. Gates will open at 5:00 p.m. and the Home Run Derby begins at 5:30 p.m. and is included in the ticket for the game.

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