Three Bluefield Blue Jays were named to the Appalachian League All-Star Team on Thursday August 25th. The trio honored is outfielders Kevin Pillar and Chris Hawkins and DH Art Charles.

Pillar has a .350 average with 7 HRs, 16 doubles, and three triples in Bluefield

Kevin Pillar, 22, is in his first year of professional baseball after spending three years at NCAA D2 Cal State Dominguez Hills. He was the 979th overall pick in the 2011 draft and started his career in Bluefield. Through 56 games, Pillar is hitting .350/.376/.545 with 7 HRs, 16 doubles, and three triples. The West Hills, CA native has also stolen 8 bases in 12 attempts and has been particularly hot during the past 10 games, putting up a .806 SLG and 1.356 OPS.

 

This year in Bluefield, Hawkins has 5 HRs, 15 doubles, 6 triples and 14 stolen bases.

Outfielder Chris Hawkins has taken a slightly different path to his first All-Star nomination. Drafted in the 3rd round of the 2010 First Year Player Draft out of North Gwinnett High School in Georgia, the athletic left hander get his first taste of pro ball in the GCL last season. However, his 2011 campaign has backed up the glowing scouting report of his athleticism and top level bat.

In 230 at-bats, the 19 year-old has shown a power and speed combination that can make scouts and fans drool. He has 5 HRs, 15 doubles, and 6 triples and has shown his good speed with 14 SBs in 18 tries. Just like his outfield mate Pillar, Hawkins has been scorching the past 10 games supporting a 1.141 OPS and 6 BBs with only 5 Ks. Hawkins has only begun to tap his potential during his Appy League All-Star campaign and could easily follow fellow OF prospect Jake Marisnick with a break out campaign in Lansing in 2012.

Charles has 11 homeruns this season - 5th most in the Appy League.

The large human being that is Art Charles brought the power for the first place Blue Jays, currently with 11 HRs, 5th most in the Appy League. Along with his home run power, Charles has hit 17 doubles and 3 triples. The 6’6 Charles was drafted in 2010 out of Bakersfield (CA) Junior College and started his career with Hawkins in the GCL. There, Charles flashed his power potential with 4 HRs in 123 at-bats, or 1 HR every 31 at-bats. He has picked up the pace with 1 HR/21 ABs in Bluefield and looks to continue adding to his All-Star totals as the season winds down.

Leading the Bluefield Blue Jays to a playoff berth in their first year as an affiliate is Appalachian League Manager of the Year Dennis Holmberg. Holmberg spent the last nine seasons at the helm at short-season Auburn, leading them to the league championship in 2007. This is Holmberg’s 33rd season in the Jays system and has no shortage of playoff experience as 2011 will be his 10th playoff appearance as a manager.

Bluefield’s regular season comes to an end at Danville on August 30th and the playoff dates have not been set.