THREE VALLEY NATIVES ARE MAJOR LEAGUE ALL-STARS

Aaron Hill, Brian Fuentes (pictured) and Ted Lilly will all play in the 80th Midsummer Classic next Tuesday in St. Louis.

By George Takata
VSP Senior Writer:

Merced, Visalia and Oakhurst will all have all-star game fever next Tuesday, July 14th, as three valley natives will be in the spotlight at next Tuesday’s All-Star game in St. Louis. Angels closer Brian Fuentes of Merced, Blue Jays second baseman and Redwood High School alum Aaron Hill (Visalia) and Cubs pitcher and Yosemite High and Fresno City College product Ted Lilly (Oakhurst) were named All-Star selections Sunday. Fuentes and Hill will play for the American League, while Lilly will take the mound for the National League.

Entering Monday, July 6th, the 33 year-old Fuentes leads the major leagues in saves with 24. Fuentes is 0-2 with a 3.38 earned run average for Los Angeles, the leaders in the American League West. This is his fourth all-star appearance, representing the Colorado Rockies three times before signing with the Angels before the start of this season.

“Brian has done a tremendous job,” Angels manager Mike Scioscia told mlb.com. “He’s a total professional in the way he goes about his work. We’re fortunate to have replaced one great closer with another.”

Fuentes replaced Francisco Rodriguez as the Angels’ closer.

“It’s always an honor to go, especially after not going last year,” Fuentes told mlb.com. “I wouldn’t say it was disappointing, but you realize how special it is. It’s not something that’s automatic so to be able to have the opportunity to go again is nice.”

The 27 year-old Hill missed most of last season with a concussion, but has turned it around to give opposing pitchers headaches in 2009. Entering Monday’s games, Hill is batting .299 with 20 home runs and 59 RBI. The home runs are a new franchise record for home runs by a second baseman in a season, breaking Roberto Alomar’s record with 17 in 1993. He was voted in by the players. This will be Hill’s first All-Star game appearance.

“It’s extra special — it definitely is,” Hill told mlb.com. “They (the players) appreciate what you do on the field, and that’s saying that they like the way you play the game. That’s all I can ask for is just that they appreciate the way I play the game, and I look forward to talking to the guys when I get there.”

Among all Major League second basemen, Hill ranks first in homers, hits (107), RBIs (59) and total bases (180). Entering Sunday, Hill ranked second to only Ichiro Suzuki in hits, and his total bases was the second-highest figure in the AL. This is his fifth season in the majors.

“Sometimes people don’t come back from concussions,” Blue Jays manager Cito Gaston told mlb.com. “That certainly was a worry on our part — his, too. He’s bounced back and had a good enough first half to make the All-Star team. I’m really happy and proud of him.”

The 33 year-old Lilly will be the Cubs’ lone representative at the Midsummer Classic. He was named to the National League All-Star team by Philadelphia manager Charlie Manuel. He’ll be one of two lefties on the NL roster, joining New York’s Johan Santana. As of Monday, Lilly is 8-6 with a 3.32 earned run average. This is his second All-Star appearance, having represented the Blue Jays in 2004.

“I’m excited and looking forward to it, and I hope I get an opportunity to pitch in it — that’d be fun, too,” Lilly told mlb.com. “Maybe we’ll win so the Cubs can get some home-field advantage in the World Series.”

“He deserved it,” Cubs first baseman Derrek Lee told mlb.com. “He’s had a great first half and kept us in every game he’s started. He should be an All-Star.”

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