Lancaster JetHawks sending 5 players to All-Star Game

The Lancaster JetHawks, Houston’s High-A affiliate in the California League, will be well represented at this year’s All-Star Game. Five members of  the division leading squad managed by Rodney Linares have been named to the team.

Tony Kemp, Teoscar Hernandez, Carlos Correa, Josh Hader, and Roberto Pena will represent the JetHawks and the Cal. League  against a team of Carolina League All-Stars on June 17 in Wilmington, Delaware. Kemp and Hernandez were named as starters.

At 5′ 6″ and 165 pounds, 22-year old Tony Kemp is the High-A equivalent of Jose Altuve. Lancaster’s 2B and leadoff hitter currently leads the minor leagues in hits and runs scored. In 58 games, Kemp, a left-handed hitter, is slashing .339/.430/.470 with 21 stolen bases. A product of Vanderbilt University, taken in the fifth round of last year’s draft, Kemp has acclimated quickly to pro ball. The All-Star Game falls on the 1-year anniversary his professional debut.

Hernandez, 21, is currently slashing .291/.370/.559 with ten homers, 46 RBIs, and 16 steals. The JetHawks centerfielder and #2 hitter is having a nice year and is deserving of the honor.

Carlos Correa will be available off the bench for the Cal. Leaguers. The 19-year old human highlight reel currently sports a .328/.399/.495 line. In 50 games he has driven in 49 runs  and stolen 15 bases.

Roberto Pena made the team mostly due to his defensive ability behind the plate. This season, Pena has thrown out 57.4% of  runners attempting to steal. His four homers and 23 RBIs also helped Roberto land a spot on the team.

Josh Hader, who is slated to follow Chris Devinski to the mound tonight in Lancaster, has a 5-0 record, 2.44 ERA, 0.99 WHIP, and 11.2 K/9 IP. The 20-year old was acquired in the Bud Norris trade and is quickly becoming the Astros top left-handed pitching prospect (at least until a few minutes after 6:00 p.m. on Thursday).