Press release from the TinCaps:
Fort Wayne’s Parkview Field to Host 2010 Midwest League All-Star Game and Home Run Derby
The Fort Wayne TinCaps announced today details of the 2010 Midwest League All-Star Game festivities that will take place in Fort Wayne, Indiana this coming June 21st and 22nd. The Midwest League All-Star Game is a showcase for the top prospects in the league. Both the East and West divisions will field a team of 35 players for a total of 70 top prospects from the sixteen teams that make up the Midwest League.
The Midwest League consists of two eight-team divisions. The East will be the home team for the game and will be managed by Fort Wayne’s coaching staff (the host city) – led by manager Jose Flores. The Eastern division is comprised of the Dayton Dragons, Great Lakes Loons, Lansing Lugnuts, West Michigan Whitecaps, South Bend Silver Hawks, and Fort Wayne TinCaps. The two final teams that comprise the Eastern division are new comers to the league the Lake County Captains and Bowling Green Hot Rods. Lake County and Bowling Green formerly competed in the South Atlantic League.
The Western Division will be managed by Burlington’s coaching staff (runner-up in the 2009 Midwest League Championship series) – led by manager Jim Gabella. The Western division teams are the Burlington Bees, Clinton Lumberkings, Cedar Rapids Kernels, Quad Cities River Bandits, Peoria Chiefs, Beloit Snappers, Wisconsin Timber Rattlers, and Kane County Cougars.
The Midwest League All-Star Game, which rotates between the sixteen member teams, returns to Fort Wayne for the first time since Memorial Stadium played host to the game in 1994. Four players are still currently active in the Major Leagues that were named to the 1994 Midwest League All-Star roster. Billy Wagner, Raul Ibanez, Mike Sweeney, and Alex Rodriguez are currently playing in the Major Leagues. (Rodriguez was named to the 1994 roster, but was promoted prior to the game being played.)
The Midwest League continues to be a showcase for future Major League talent. Albert Pujols, Prince Fielder, Justin Morneau, Johan Santana, Jake Peavy, Joe Mauer, Dan Haren, and Miguel Cabrera are just a few of the names that filled the rosters of Midwest League All-Star teams in the past. The 2010 All-Star Game will be yet another showcase for the future stars of the Major Leagues.
The 2010 Midwest All-Star Game festivities extend beyond just the game itself on the evening of Tuesday, June 22nd. The night before on Monday, June 21st the talent and power of the Midwest League will be on display in a Skills Competition and Home Run Derby. The 2010 Midwest League Home Run Derby will consist of four players from each division as well as a local participant, Fort Wayne’s Hometown Hitter.
Fort Wayne’s Hometown Hitter will be a high school baseball player determined through a series of preliminary contests, culminating in a single player qualifying to compete against the best power hitters in the Midwest League. Schools in the SAC, NHC, ACAC, and Independent high schools Blackhawk Christian and Canterbury, were invited to nominate one player each to compete in preliminary events taking place after each Sunday game in May. The top power hitters will advance to the finals to determine Fort Wayne’s Hometown Hitter. The Hometown Hitter will be allowed to compete with a regulation IHSAA aluminum bat.
The evening of the Home Run Derby will be preceded by an autograph session by All-Star Game participants as well as an exhibition home run derby featuring members from area Little Leagues. Participants in the Little League Home Run Derby will be 12 years of age or younger and special fencing will be erected for this portion of the event. The evening’s events will culminate in a spectacular fireworks display.
Tuesday afternoon will feature an All-Star Game Fan Fest, free to the public, at the Grand Wayne Center starting at noon and lasting until 3:00pm. The Fan Fest will provide attendees with access to players from both the Eastern and Western divisions for autographs. The Fan Fest will also include interactive games, inflatables, and kids activities.
Not only will the players on the field be the best that the Midwest League has to offer, the entertainment between innings will also be second to none. Fort Wayne has combined the best entertainment in Minor League Baseball to entertain those in attendance during the 2010 All-Star Game. The ZOOperstars, BirdZerk, Myron Noodleman, and Breakin’ BBoy McCoy will entertain Parkview Field throughout the June 22nd star-studded event. Fireworks will also conclude the night’s festivities.
Tickets are still available for both the Home Run Derby on Monday, June 21st and the Midwest League
All-Star Game taking place on Tuesday, June 22nd. Tickets can be purchased by logging on to TinCaps.com, calling (260) 482-6400, or by visiting the Parkview Field Ticket Office. Group rates, discounts, and group areas are also available by contacting the TinCaps Administrative Office.
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