Hens’ Hessman, Carrera, Clay graduate Achter named all-stars

7/3/2014

Two Mud Hens — third baseman Mike Hessman and outfielder Ezequiel Carrera — and Clay High School graduate A.J. Achter were all named to the International League All-Star team, the league announced Wednesday.

Hessman was elected to start at third base for the IL All-Stars, while Carrera was one of three outfielders elected to the starting lineup.

The game will be played at Durham Bulls Athletic Park in Durham, N.C., on Wednesday, July 16.

Hessman is tied for second in the IL with 15 home runs and is hitting .258 with 33 RBIs. His selection marks his fourth Triple-A All-Star game, following appearances with the Hens in 2007 and 2008, and Oklahoma City in 2012.

“I'm honored, obviously, to get chosen for this,” he said. “I know a lot of guys that are on the team, so it will be fun to head down there and hang out for the weekend.”

Carrera ranks tenth in the league with a .307 batting average and has four homers and 27 RBIs as well as a IL-leading 33 stolen bases.

“He just creates so many ways for us to score without actually banging the ball,” Hens manager Larry Parrish said. “And he’s played good defense and hit .300 basically all year. He’s definitely earned the right.”

Achter, a reliever for Minnesota’s Triple-A team in Rochester, was one of two relief pitchers elected to the team. He is 2-2 with four saves and a 1.60 ERA in 22 appearances this season.

Achter learned of his selection in Pawtucket, R.I., where his team arrived at 2 a.m. Wednesday morning.

"Since we got to Pawtucket so late, I slept in this morning," he said. "I got the news when I woke up, and waking up to that was pretty cool."

It is the third straight year Achter will be recognized as an all-star. He was named to the 2012 Midwest League All-Star Game and the 2013 Eastern League All-Star Game, though he did not play in last year’s showcase because he was promoted to Rochester just before the game was held.

"To know that managers and media respected me enough to choose me for the all-star team was pretty fulfilling," Achter said. "To know that a guy who was chosen in the 46th round of the draft was recognized as an all-star in the highest minor league was pretty special."

— John Wagner and David Briggs