Four Yankees Named to Double-A’s Eastern League All Star Team

Four Players Named To Eastern League All-Star Team

The Eastern League announced Wednesday that four players, RHP Yefry Ramirez, LHP Justus Sheffield, INF Thairo Estrada and 1B Mike Ford have been named to the Eastern League All-Star Game, taking place on Wednesday July 13 at Northeast Delta Dental Stadium in Manchester, New Hampshire.

2017 marks the second mid-summer classic for Ramirez, in 2015 with the Missoula Osprey (Rookie, Pioneer League) he was named a mid-season All-Star. In his first season at Double-A, Ramirez has gone 7-3 with a 3.48 ERA with 66 strikeouts in 64.2 innings pitched. Ramirez was named the Eastern League Player of the Week for the week ending May 21 and enters play on June 28 ranked tenth in the league in ERA (3.48), tied for second in wins (7), fourth in batting average against (.232), and first in strikeouts per nine innings (9.19) among starting pitchers.

Sheffield earns the honor in his first full season as a member of the Yankees organization. In 14 starts for the Thunder he's compiled a 6-5 record with a 3.28 ERA. Sheffield has twice been named Eastern League Player of the Week and on Sunday, June 18 against the Erie SeaWolves, Sheffield threw his first career shutout. Entering play on June 28, Sheffield's 3.28 ERA ranks seventh in the League and his 69 strikeouts are third highest in the league. 2017 marks the third straight mid-season All-Star award for the left-hander from Tullahoma, Tennessee.

Thairo Estrada has been a staple atop the Thunder lineup and will play in his second All Star game as a professional in July. Estrada's .324 batting average entering play on June 28 ranks him fourth in the Eastern League. In addition to the high batting average, Estrada has been an on-base machine, reaching in 62-of-68 games played this season, in those 62 games he's reached 119 total times (89 hits, 23 walks, 7 hit by pitches).

Ford has been named a mid-season All-Star for the third time in his career following appearances with Charleston in 2014 and with Tampa in 2015. Ford enters play on Wednesday as the Eastern League leader in on-base percentage (.404), and walks (47). In 64 games played with the Thunder, Ford has hit eight home runs and driven in 40 runs with a .277 batting average.

The Thunder continue their series with the Richmond Flying Squirrels tonight at ARM & HAMMER Park at 7pm. For tickets and the latest information on Thunder baseball visit www.TrentonThunder.com.

--THUNDER--