June 7, 2015 | Daytona Tortugas Communications | Tyler Murray | [email protected] | 774.266.0482

Four Tortugas Named to 2015 All-Star Team SS , LF , C Joe Hudson, RHP Nick Travieso and the Tortugas coaching staff will represent Daytona during the 54th Florida State League All-Star Game at Tradition Field in St. Lucie.

Daytona Beach, FL - The Florida State League has named its 2015 All-Stars for the North and South Division, and four Tortugas have been selected to represent Daytona on June 20th in St. Lucie.

SS Alex Blandino, LF Phillip Ervin, C Joe Hudson and RHP Nick Travieso were voted All-Stars by the FSL’s managers, coaches, players, beat reporters, radio broadcasters and official scorers. Voters were not permitted to nominate players from their own team.

With Daytona’s 2014 Florida State League North Division Championship and appearance in the 2014 FSL Championship Series, the Tortugas coaching staff will lead the North Division All-Stars at Tradition Field. That staff includes Manager Eli Marrero, Pitching Coach Tony Fossas, Hitting Coach Kevin Mahar, Athletic Trainer Kyle Utne and Strength and Conditioning Coach Morgan Gregory.

SS Alex Blandino, the 29th overall pick in last season’s MLB draft, has excelled in his first full professional season. His .397 on-base percentage is good for second-best in the league, his .312 batting average ranks fourth, and he’s drawn the sixth-most walks in the league with 26. The 22-year-old Stanford product heads toward All- Star Weekend on a tear. After hitting .330 in May, Blandino has now produced six multi-hit games in his last 11 outings. Daytona’s everyday shortstop has committed just one error during that same stretch. Blandino, a native of San Jose, CA, was ranked No. 11 among Reds prospects by America entering the 2015 season.

LF Phillip Ervin, Cincinnati’s first round pick in 2013, outperformed nearly every hitter in the league during the month of April, batting .346 with a .429 OBP and a 1.121 OPS. He launched seven home runs in the opening month, while producing 16 RBIs and stealing five bases. As of June 7, Ervin leads the league with nine homers and 41 runs scored, and ranks third with 33 RBIs. The 22-year-old from Mobile, AL hits atop Daytona’s batting order, and has six leadoff home runs in 2015. Ervin attended Samford College in Birmingham, AL, where he was named Southern Conference Player of the Year in 2013. ranked Ervin No. 14 among Reds prospects entering the 2015 season.

C Joe Hudson, drafted in the sixth round out of Notre Dame in 2012, has steadily improved his offensive production throughout the season, and consistently showcased a deadly arm behind home plate. He’s thrown out 15-of-25 would-be base stealers, a league-best 60% success rate. Charlotte’s Armando Araiza ranks second at 42.9%. At the plate, Hudson boosted his batting average 29 points from April to May, and has started June with five hits in his first 15 at bats to raise his overall average to .265. The Odessa, FL native enters the week of June 7 on a seven-game hitting streak and a 13-game on-base streak.

RHP Nick Travieso, the 2014 Minor League of the Year, has headlined a starting rotation loaded with top prospects. Through his first 11 starts, he’s posted a 3.18 ERA with 49 strikeouts against 17 walks in 56.2 innings. Cincinnati’s first round pick in 2012 started the season with three impressive outings, recording two wins and surrendering just three runs in his first 18.1 innings (1.47 ERA). Baseball America ranked Travieso No. 8 among Reds prospects entering this season. Travieso was drafted 14th overall in the 2012 draft out of Archbishop McCarthy High School in Fort Lauderdale, FL.

The Tortugas hold a four-game lead in the Florida State League North Division with 11 games remaining in the first half. Daytona begins a seven-game homestand on Monday, June 8, featuring four matchups with the St. Lucie Mets and three games against the Tampa Yankees. Fans can tune in to every game on AM1230 and AM1490 WSBB.

For photo/interview requests, contact Tyler Murray at [email protected] or 774-266-0482.

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