New Britain's Tosoni back for more

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New Britain's Tosoni back for more
07/14/2009 1:32 AM ET
By Kira Jones and John Torenli / Special to MLB.com

Fresh off his MVP performance in Sunday's XM All-Star Futures Game in St. Louis, Twins outfield prospect Rene Tosoni will represent the Northern Division in Wednesday's Eastern League All-Star Game at Waterfront Park in Trenton, N.J.
Tosoni, who is batting .278 with 10 homers and 51 RBIs in 82 games for the New Britain Rock Cats, highlighted a four-run seventh inning with a pinch-hit RBI double Sunday as the World team rallied for a 7-5 win over the U.S. squad in the 11th annual showcase of the game's top young players.
"It was really special," said Tosoni, who is one of five Rock Cats on the Northern roster. "I was hoping we would tie it up. I got an at-bat, and I wanted to make it special."
Closer Anthony Slama (19 saves), right-handed starter Matt Fox (6-4, 3.54 ERA), first baseman Whitney Robbins (.289, 7 HRs, 37 RBIs) and second baseman Brian Dinkleman (.299, 4 HRs, 43 RBIs) will also represent the Rock Cats.
Connecticut's Brock Bond and New Hampshire's Brian Dopirak should provide plenty of punch for the Northern Division's lineup.
Bond leads the league with a .432 on-base percentage and ranks second in batting average (.342) and runs scored (59). Dopirak paces the circuit with 19 homers, 68 RBIs, 20 doubles, 49 extra-base hits and a .576 slugging percentage.
The North also boasts a strong pitching staff, anchored by Trenton's Zach McAllister, who is 5-4 with a league-best 2.25 ERA.
The Thunder will be sending a league-high seven representatives to Trenton, five of whom were on the original roster and two more added to replace injured Binghamton catcher Josh Thole and New Hampshire right-hander Reidier Gonzalez.
All seven, including Futures Game selection Jesus Montero, are expected to play in front of the home crowd as Trenton hosts its first All-Star Game since 1996.
The Akron Aeros had six players picked to represent the Southern Division, but right-handed reliever Vinny Pestano (2-3, 2.86 ERA and league-leading 24 saves) will sit out with an injury.
Akron sluggers Nick Weglarz (.247, 13 HRs, 59 RBIs) and Carlos Santana (.266, 14, 58) will be active and Akron ace Jeanmar Gomez (6-3, 3.21) returns to the site of the perfect game he tossed against the Thunder on May 21.
The Reading Phillies will be making a strong showing with five All-Stars, including a pair of outfielders who rank among the top offensive players in the league.
Quintin Berry paces the circuit in stolen bases (32) and runs scored (60), while Michael Taylor (.335, 15 HRs, 65 RBIs) is among the leaders in nearly every offensive category, including batting average, home runs, RBIs, stolen bases (17), on-base percentage (.411), slugging percentage (.572) and runs scored (58).
Reading southpaw Joe Savery (12-1, 3.48) leads the league in wins and right-hander Vance Worley (6-6, 4.33) has thrown a league-high 106 innings.
The gates at Waterfront Park open at 2:05 p.m., as fans get the opportunity to watch batting practice followed by an autograph session from 3:15-4:30.
The Home Run Derby features six sluggers from the Eastern League, as well as Trenton Thunder hitting coach and Major League veteran Frank Menechino and two New Jersey high school students.
There will also be face painters, balloon artists and magicians to keep kids entertained throughout the afternoon.
This story was not subject to the approval of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues or its clubs.