Baltimore Orioles: Recapping The Triple-A and Double-A All-Star Games

The International League (AAA) and the Eastern League (AA) held their All-Star games on Wednesday evening.  A total of six prospects from the Baltimore Orioles organization participated in those games and represented themselves well.

While John Means participated in the MLB All-Star game Tuesday several Baltimore Orioles prospect played in a pair of minor league all-star games Wednesday evening.

In the first of two games Pacific Coast League (AAA) played host to the International League in the 2019 Triple-A All-Star Game on Wednesday at Southwest University Park in El Paso Texas.

The PCL prevailed by a score of 9 to 3 with 3B Ty France of the El Paso Chihuahuas (San Diego affiliate) named the BUSH’s Baked Beans Top Star of the PCL, and catcher Eric Haase of the Columbus Clippers (Cleveland Indians affiliate) was named the Top Star of the IL.

The Baltimore Orioles were represented in the game by left-handed pitcher Keegan Akin and first basemen Ryan Mountcastle of the Norfolk Tides.

Akin started the game and lasted 1.2 innings.  In the first inning he induced a pop out and struck out two; he did surrender a two-out double to Kyle Tucker of the Round Rock Express (Houston affiliate) but left him stranded there.

The second inning started with a lead-off single followed by a strikeout and a pop out.  Akin then allowed an RBI-double and an RBI-single before being removed from the mound.  He took the loss and finished with a line of 1.2 innings pitched, four hits, three runs, no walks, and three strikeouts.

Mountcastle entered the game as a defensive replacement at first base in the bottom of the fifth inning.  He flew out to right field twice to finish 0-2 in the contest.

The Richmond Flying Squirrels (San Francisco Giants affiliate) hosted the EL All-Star Game at their home ballpark, The Diamond.   The West All-Stars shut out the East by a score of 5-0 with Richmond’s Jacob Heyward earning the game’s MVP award.

Four Bowie Baysox players, second basemen Rylan Bannon, pitcher Zac Lowther, shortstop Mason McCoy and pitcher Alex Wells, participated in the game.

McCoy started at shortstop for the West team and hit a lead-off double to center field and eventually scored on a fielder’s choice.  He finished the game 1-2 with a run scored.

Wells pitched the second inning and gave up a walk and struck out one; he ended the inning by picking Binghamton’s Braxton Lee off of first. He was credited with a hold for his inning of work.

Lowther pitched the fourth inning and likewise walked 1 and struck out 1.  He also was credited with a hold.

The final Baysox player to enter the game was Bannon as a defensive replacement in the fifth inning.  After popping out in his first at-bat, Bannon stretched a hit to center field into a double, sliding into second head-first.  He finished the game 1 for 2.

All in all, it was a good night for Orioles prospects.  They put their skills on display, represented the Baltimore organization well, and have provided hope for the future in Baltimore.