Austin Barnes, Darnell Sweeney, Corey Seager, Ryan Buchter named PCL All-Stars

A quartet of players from Triple-A Oklahoma City made the Pacific Coast League All-Star team, the league announced on Wednesday. Catcher Austin Barnes and second baseman Darnell Sweeney were elected as starters, while shortstop Corey Seager and relief pitcher Ryan Buchter were named as reserves.

Nine starters, including a designated hitter, two starting pitchers and two relievers were elected by a combination of balloting from league managers and general managers, media members and fans. The remaining 17 players were selected by the league office.

The Triple-A All-Star Game will feature the PCL playing against the International League at Werner Park in Omaha on Wednesday, July 15. The game will be televised live by MLB Network.

Barnes, who made his major league debut on May 24, is hitting .302/.382/.458 with 11 doubles and five home runs in 51 games with OKC this season, with as many walks (22) as strikeouts (22). Barnes has played 150 minor league games at second base, and played 15 more at third base in 2014, but this season has played exclusively behind the plate, save for two games as designated hitter.

Sweeney, 24, is hitting .284/.341/.419 with 20 doubles and five home runs in 72 games, with 25 stolen bases in 35 attempts. Sweeney has started 32 games at second base this season, 23 games in center field and 11 games in left field.

Seager is probably the top prospect in baseball who is still in the minors, and has been in Triple-A for only two months. The 21-year-old is hitting .290/.344/.454 with 14 doubles and six home runs in 52 games with Oklahoma City this season, and is currently on a seven-game hitting streak.

Buchter, 28, signed a minor league deal with the Dodgers on Dec. 22. The left-hander has a 0.63 ERA and two saves in 23 appearances, with 35 strikeouts and 14 walks in 28⅔ innings. Buchter has allowed two runs all season, both coming in his appearance on May 12. Since then he has 16 scoreless innings, with 17 strikeouts and four walks.

Left-handers this season are just 6-for-35 (.171) with a double against Buchter, with 16 strikeouts and two walks.

Oklahoma City hitting coach Franklin Stubbs will be a coach on the PCL staff for the game.

In addition, left-hander David Huff was named to Team USA for the Pan-American Games in Toronto. The U.S. opens play on July 11 against Puerto Rico.