Jonathan Papelbon continues to play at an All-Star level after switching from the AL to anchor the Phillies' bullpen in the NFL.

He earned it.

Former Loranger and SLU star Wade Miley is a Major League All-Star, selected by National League Manager Tony LaRussa for the All-Star Game to be played in Kansas City on July 16.

Miley is 9-4 with an impressive 2.87 ERA in 13 starts and 16 total appearances for Arizona. He has allowed just 81 hits in 94 innings and has a WHIP of 1.06. For good measure, Miley has been one of the best hitting pitchers in baseball, hitting .345 (10-for-29) with two doubles and an RBI, a real asset in Interleague games for the D-Backs.

Speaking of the Diamondbacks and good hitters, former LSU star Aaron Hill is one of the Final Five in the vote for the final All-Star spot on the National League All-Star team. Hill is deserving of the honor. He is hitting .300 with 18 doubles, five triples, 11 home runs and 38 RBI with seven stolen bases. Hill has a four-game hit streak (7-for-17/.412) and as Tommy Krysan mentioned in his blog, hit for the cycle FOR THE SECOND TIME THIS SEASON on June 29. In doing so, Hill became the first player since Babe Herman of the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1931 to do so.

Baton Rouge native Jonathan Papelbon has made the transition to the National League in solid fashion. Papelbon is 2-2 with a 3.03 ERA and 18 saves to earn an All-Star roster spot.

New Orleans Zephyrs pitcher Wade LeBlanc of Barbe was recalled by the Miami Marlins. LeBlanc pitched previously in the majors for San Diego. With the Zephyrs, LeBlanc was 5-5 with a 3.74 ERA in 16 starts. With the Marlins, he is off to a good start, picking up a win in relief in two appearances.

Though he did not get the call, former LSU star Charlie Furbush is deserving of All-Star consideration. Furbush has now pieced together 16 consecutive scoreless outings for the Seattle Mariners. He is 4-1 with a 1.82 ERA with 45 strikeouts in 34 2/3 innings, allowing just 16 hits. He has an impressive 0.69 WHIP.

The seemingly weekly trip from Tampa Bay to Durham continues for former Tulane star Brandon Gomes, who was once again optioned from Tampa Bay back to Durham this past week. Gomes is 2-2 with a 6.94 ERA for the Rays.

Speaking of Triple A, former UNO star Joey Butler is a Pacific Coast League All-Star again. Butler is hitting .281 with 18 doubles, 12 home runs and 42 RBI for Round Rock (Texas Rangers) though he has slumped a bit of late (5-for-30/167) in his last 10 games. He will play for the PCL All-Stars in the Triple-A All-Star game on July 11 in Buffalo.

Former ULL star Chad Beck is getting the Toronto Blue Jays attention. Beck, who pitched in three games for Toronto earlier this season, is making his case at Las Vegas. He is 1-0 with a brilliant 0.94 ERA and nine saves. Beck has allowed just 20 hits in 28.2 innings and has a 1.05 WHIP. Beck will play for the Pacific Coast League All-Stars in the Triple-A All-Star game as well.

Former Tulane star Brad Emaus, who battled injuries early in the season, is showing signs of life at Buffalo (New York Mets). Emaus is 5-for-8 (.625) in his last two games and had three doubles and five RBI this past week.

Emaus' former Tulane teammate, Mark Hamilton, was also injured early in the season but he is now showing signs of life. Hamilton has a three-game hit streak (5-for-11/.455) with three home runs in his last six games for Memphis (St. Louis Cardinals).

Former Southern University star Fred Lewis is trying to play his way back to the big leagues. Lewis is up to .301 with 15 doubles, six triples, four home runs, 22 RBI and 15 stolen bases for Buffalo (New York Mets). He is hitting .371 (13-for-35) in his last 10 games. Lewis is 10th in the International League in batting average.

Former Slidell and Rummel star Xavier Paul is trying to play his way back to the majors as well. Paul has a five-game hit streak (9-for-20/.240) with a pair of home runs and six RBI in the five games for Syracuse (Washington Nationals). Paul leads the International League in batting average.

Former Tulane star Preston Claiborne earned a promotion from Double-A Trenton to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre (New York Yankees). Claiborne was 2-2 with a 2.22 ERA and had not allowed an earned run since May 22, a span of 15 appearances for Trenton. He won his first game in relief on June 30 at Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.

Former Jesuit star Jimmy Cesario has gone from Triple A Colorado Springs to Double A Tulsa (Colorado Rockies) for the second time this year, assigned on July 2. At Triple A, Cesario was batting .247 with three doubles, a home run and 10 RBI. At Tulsa, Cesario is hitting. 258 with a double and two RBI in 14 games.

At Single A, former Barbe star Garin Cecchini is in the midst of a 11-game hitting streak (19-for-339/.442). Cecchini has raised his average to .308 with 20 doubles, 28 stolen bases and 41 RBI for Greenville (Boston Red Sox).

Former ULL star T.J. Geith has produced five straight scoreless outings for Charlotte (Tampa Bay Rays) to lower his ERA to 3.82. He is 0-1 in 13 appearances with 22 strikeouts in 20 2/3 innings.

It has not taken any time for former LSU closer Nick Goody to make his mark. After three straight scoreless outings for Staten Island of the New York/Penn League, Goody has been promoted to Charleston of the South Atlantic League after pitching 3 1/3 scoreless innings with five strikeouts and one save for Staten Island (New York Yankees). In his first outing for the RiverDogs, Goody pitched two scoreless innings in relief, allowing two hits, walking two and fanning three.

Former Central High and Southern University star Cody Hall continues to shine for Augusta (San Francisco Giants). Hall is 3-0 with a 1.59 ERA with 13 saves for the GreenJackets. He has fanned 44 hitters in just 28 1/3 innings and has nine consecutive scoreless outings with 17 strikeouts in 10 innings pitched over that stretch.

Former Baker and LSU star Leon Landry continues to tear it up for Rancho Cucamonga (Los Angeles Dodgers) in the California League. Landry has a five-game hitting streak (12-for-25/.480) with nine RBI in his last four games. Landry is hitting .336 with 19 doubles, eight triples, five home runs, 35 RBI and 15 stolen bases. Landry is 7th in the California League in hitting, 10th in doubles, 2nd in triples, 9th in slugging percentage and 10th in On-Base Plus Slugging percentage. A promotion may be in the offing soon.

Former St. Paul and LSU star Ryan Schimpf continues to shine in the Florida State League for Dunedin (Toronto). Schimpf is among the league leaders in several categories. He leads the FSL in doubles with 24, ranks 7th in runs scored with 45, ranks 6th in home runs with 10, is 9th in RBI with 46, ranks 3rd in total bases with 134, is No. 10 in walks with 36, is 6th in slugging percentage at .491 and is 6th in OPS at .852.

Former LSU star Tyler Hanover earned a promotion from the Rookie League Gulf Coast Tigers to Class A Connecticut of the New York-Penn League. In the GCL, Hanover was 4-for-11 (.364). At Connecticut, Hanover has hit in his first four games (8-for-18/.444) with three doubles.

In the Appalachian Rookie League, former McNeese State star Zach Butler has five scoreless outings with four saves, allowing just one hit and two walks with 10 strikeouts in six innings pitched.

Former Central Catholic and LSU-Eunice star Brennan Flick is 4-0 with a 1.61 ERA in 17 relief appearances for Florence of the Independent Frontier League. Flick has allowed just 13 hits in 22 1/3 innings pitched.

Our HOMETOWN HEROES include all players from Louisiana who are in the major leagues and all players from the Greater New Orleans area high schools and from LSU, Tulane, Nicholls State, Southeastern Louisiana , Delgado and other Louisiana colleges. Any Louisiana native or player who played high school or college baseball in Louisiana and is playing for New Orleans Zephyrs has been added as well by popular demand.

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MAJOR LEAGUES

SCOTT BAKER--Minnesota Twins (Captain Shreve) **DL—Elbow surgery. Out for yr.

BRIAN BOGUSEVIC—Houston Astros (Tulane) .217, 7-2B, 2-3B, 6 HR, 20 RBI, 7 SB

CLAY BUCCHOLZ--Boston Red Sox (McNeese State) 8-2, 5.53 ERA, 14 starts (D.L.)

STEVE CLEVENGER—Chicago Cubs (SLU) .280, 9 doubles, 1 HR, 13 RBI

MIKE FONTENOT—Philadelphia Phillies (Salmen, LSU) .329, 1-2B, 1 HR, 5 RBI

CHARLIE FURBUSH—Seattle Mariners (LSU) 4-1, 1.82 ERA, 16 hits, 45 K's, 34.2 inn.

CHAD GAUDIN—Miami Marlins (Crescent City) 1-1, 4.89 ERA, 19 games

BRANDON GOMES—Tampa Bay Rays (Tulane) 2-2, 5.87 ERA, 7 games

AARON HILL—Arizona Diamondbacks (LSU) .294, 10 HR, 15-2B, 4-3B, 35 RBI

WADE LEBLANC--Miami Marlins (Barbe)  1-0, 0.00 ERA, 2 games

JONATHAN LUCROY--Milwaukee Brewers (ULL) .345, 10-2B, 4-3B, 5 HR, 30 RBI (D.L.)

WADE MILEY—Arizona Diamondbacks (Loranger/SLU) 9-4, 2.87 ERA, 94 inn., 81 hits

JIM MILLER—Oakland A's (ULM) 2-1, 1.80 ERA, 18 games, 20 hits in 25 innings

LOGAN MORRISON—Miami Marlins (Northshore) .235, 8 HR, 13-2B, 28 RBI

MICAH OWINGS—San Diego Padres (Tulane) 0-2, 2.79 ERA, 6 appearances (D.L.)

JONATHAN PAPELBON—Philadelphia Phillies (B.R.) 2-2, 3.03 ERA, 18 SV., 37 K's, 29.2 inn.

ANDY PETTITE—New York Yankees (Baton Rouge) 3-3, 3.29 ERA, 52 K's, 54.2 inn.

JUAN PIERRE—Philadelphia Phillies (Alexandria) .318, 19 SB, 5-2B, 4-3B, 1 HR, 16 RBI

ALEX PRESLEY--Pittsburgh Pirates (Neville) .242, 9 doubles, 6 home runs, 18 RBI (D.L.)

RYAN THERIOT—San Francisco Giants (Broadmoor, LSU) .272, 7 doubles, 16 RBI

RICKIE WEEKS--Milwaukee Brewers (Southern) .187, 13-2B, 6 HR, 23 RBI

BRIAN WILSON--San Francisco Giants (LSU) 0-0, 9.00 ERA, 2 games—DL (Elbow)

AAA

RYAN ADAMS—Norfolk (Jesuit) .210, 10 doubles, 2 HR, 10 RBI (D.L.)

CHAD BECK—Las Vegas (ULL) 1-0, 0.94 ERA, 9 saves, 28.2 inn., 20 hits

REID BRIGNAC—Durham (St. Amant) .221, 8 doubles, 5 HR, 24 RBI

JOEY BUTLER—Round Rock (UNO) .281, 18-2B, 12 HR, 42 RBI

PRESTON CLAIBORNE—Scranton/Wilkes-Barre (Tulane) 1-0, 15.00 ERA (2 games)

MATT CLARK--Tucson (LSU) .300, 20 doubles, 12 HR, 42 RBI

BRAD EMAUS—Buffalo (Tulane) .242, 4 doubles, 4 HR, 14 RBI

JOHNNY GIAVOTELLA—Omaha (Jesuit, UNO) .303, 9-2B, 5 HR, 28 RBI

BRANDON GOMES—Durham (Tulane) 4-1, 1.09 ERA, 6 saves, 37 K's, 24.2 innings

MARK HAMILTON—Memphis (Tulane) .232, 8-2B, 11 HR, 31 RBI

BEAU JONES—New Orleans (Destrehan) 2-1, 7.54 ERA, 22 games

CHASE LAMBIN—New Orleans (ULL) .250, 4-2B, 4 HR, 11 RBI

**WADE LEBLANC—New Orleans (Barbe) 5-5, 3.74 ERA (Promoted to San Diego)

FRED LEWIS—Buffalo (Southern) .301, 15-2B, 6-3B, 4 HR, 22 RBI, 15 SB

TODD LINDEN—Fresno (LSU) .282, 13-2B, 4-3B, 7 HR, 41 RBI

LUKE MONTZ—New Orleans (Acadiana) .242, 9-2B, 14 HR, 36 RBI **Tied 6th in PCL in HR

XAVIER PAUL—Syracuse (Slidell, Rummel) .318, 16-2B, 8 HR, 44 RBI **Leads IL in Avg.

GREG SMITH—Salt Lake (Alexandria, LSU) 3-5, 3.52 ERA, 10 games, 9 starts

**BRIAN TALLET—Tucson (LSU) 0-2, 8.44 ERA, 11 games (Released)

RYAN VERDUGO—Omaha (LSU) 5-2, 3.89 ERA, 16 app., 81 inn., 64 hits

AA

JIMMY CESARIO—Tulsa (Jesuit) .258, 1 doule, 2 RBI in 31 at-bats

**PRESTON CLAIBORNE—Trenton (Tulane) 2-2, 2.22 ERA, 5 SV. (Promoted to AAA)

MILES DURHAM—Altoona (Northwestern State) ,267, 11-2B, 2-3B, 2 HR, 14 RBI

DANNY FARQUHAR—Trenton (ULL) 1-0, 0.00 ERA, 1 game (2 innings, 0 hits, 3 K's)

BRAD HAWPE—Frisco (LSU) .260, 6-2B, 3 HR, 12 RBI (D.L.)

WILL HARRIS—Tulsa (Slidell, LSU) 1-1, 2.64 ERA, 1 Save, 42 K's, 30.2 inn.

LEE HAYDEL--Huntsville (Riverside, Delgado) .290, 3-2B, 2-3B, 1 HR, 11 RBI

TOMMY MANZELLA—Huntsville (Hannan, Tulane) .286, 7-2B, 1 HR, 23 RBI

BLAKE MARTIN—New Britain (LSU) 2-3, 3.31 ERA, 25 games, 29 K's, 32.2 innings

JARED MITCHELL--Birmingham (Westgate/LSU) .255, 12-2B ,10-3B, 6 HR, 15 SB, 44 RBI

AARON LOUP—New Hampshire (Hahnville, Tulane) 0-3, 3.05 ERA, 34 games, 3 saves

SEAN OCHINKO—New Hampshire (LSU) .307, 7-2B, 4 HR, 17 RBI in 30 games

ZACH OSBORNE—Frisco (ULL) 0-0, 16.20 ERA, 6 Games

JOSH PRINCE—Huntsville (Tulane) .264, 12-2B, 5 HR, 33 RBI, 26 SB (3rd Southern League)

EDGAR RAMIREZ—Binghamton (LSU) 1-1, 4.23 ERA, 18 games

ANTHONY RANAUDO—Portland (LSU) 1-2, 6.23 ERA (8 starts)

**WES THIGPEN--Erie (Hahnville) **Just recalled from Connecticut

CRAIG WESTCOTT—Richmond (Hannan, Delgado) 6-6, 3.91 ERA, 16 starts

JOSH ZEID—Corpus Christi (Tulane) 2-0, 5.79 ERA in 28 games, 32.2 inn., 37 K's

A

BEN ALSUP—Asheville (LSU) 8-4, 4.75 ERA, 15 starts **Tied 3rd in SALLY League in wins

GARIN CECCHINI—Greenville (Barbe) .308, 20-2B, 3-3B, 4 HR, 41 RBI, 28 SB

BRAD DELATTE—Vancouver (St. Amant, Nicholls St.) 0-0, 27.00 ERA, 1 Game

CLINT DEMPSTER—Beloit (Thibodaux, Nicholls State) 2-3, 2.73 ERA, 23 Games

DALE DICKERSON—Carolina (West Ouachita, Nicholls State) 5-2, 4.04 ERA,1 save

JOHNNY DISHON—Brevard County (LSU) .214, (3-for-14), 1 double, 1 RBI in 5 games

ALEX FUSELIER—State College (Teurlings Catholic, ULL) .238 (5-for-21), 6 games

T.J. GEITH—Charlotte (ULL) 0-1, 3.92 ERA, 22 K's, 20.2 innings

MICAH GIBBS—Daytona (LSU) .211, 4-2B, 1-3B, 4 HR, 12 RBI

NICK GOODY—Charleston (LSU) 0-0, 0.00 ERA, in 1 game. 3 K's, 2 innings

DREW GRANIER—Burlington (Thibodaux, ULM) 9-4, 3.62 ERA **Leads Midwest League in wins

CODY HALL—Augusta (Central, Southern) 3-0, 1.59 ERA, 13 saves **Leads SAL in saves

FRAZIER HALL—Cedar Rapids (Christian Life, Southern) .274, 14-2B, 9 HR, 30 RBI

TYLER HANOVER—Connecticut (LSU) .444 (8-for-18), 3 doubles, 4-game hit streak

**SAM HONECK--Savannah (Tulane) .133 (2-of-15), 1 double—RETIRED

JAMES JONES—Fort Wayne (ULM) 1-1, 1.65 ERA, 7 games

RO JONES—State College (St. John, UNO, Southern) .103, (3-for-29), 1-2B, 3 RBI

TYLER JONES—Beloit (LSU) 1-2, 2.63 ERA, 6 games, 36 K's in 27 1/3 innings

LEON LANDRY—Rancho Cucamonga (Baker/LSU) .336, 19-2B, 8-3B, 5 HR, 35 RBI, 15 SB

CHANDLER LAURENT—Asheville (Fontainebleau, Delgado).190, 2-2B, 1 HR, 3 RBI

LUCAS LEBLANC--Salem (Central Lafourche, Delgado) .238, 1 RBI in 8 games

STEFAN LOPEZ—Staten Island (New Iberia, SLU) 0-0, 1.69 EA, 5.1 inn, 5 hits

MIKIE MAHTOOK—Charlotte (St. Thomas More, LSU).287, 3 HR, 13-2B, 33 RBI, 16 SB

DAYTON MARZE—Dunedin (Teurlings Catholic, ULL) 2-4, 3.14 ERA, 33 games

AARON MUNOZ—Lansing (Northwestern State) .286 (6-for-21), 2 doubles, 3RBI, 4G

CHRIS MURRILL—Charlotte (Nicholls State) .333, 4 RBI (10-for-30), 8 games

AUSTIN NOLA—Jamestown (Catholic, LSU) .176 (9-for-51) 2 RBI in 14 games

LEE ORR—Fort Wayne (McNeese State) .214, 7-2B, 2-3B, 8 HR, 22 RBI (D.L.)

JACE PETERSON—Fort Wayne (Hamilton Christian, McNeese State).286, 16-2B, 1 HR, 22 RBI

RYAN O' SHEA—Frederick (Mandeville, UNO) DISABLED LIST—OUT FOR YEAR

MATTY OTT—Greenville (Holy Cross, LSU) 4-3, 3.56 ERA, 3 saves, 23 games

TAYLOR ROGERS—San Jose (Tulane) 6-6, 4.25 ERA, 16 starts

AUSTIN ROSS--Brevard (Captain Shreve, LSU) 0-0, 1.54 ERA in 3 starts—D.L.

RYAN SCHIMPF--Dunedin (St. Paul, LSU) .278, 24-2B, 10 HR, 46 RBI **Leads FSL in 2B, 7th in runs, 6th HR, 9th RBI, 3rd Total Bases, 10th walks, 6th Slugging %, 6th OPS

ROB SEGEDIN--Tampa (Tulane) .297, 21-2B, 7 HR, 41 RBI **10th in FSL in avg., 7th hits

JEB STEFAN—Williamsport (Acadiana, La. Tech) 0-1, 5.79 ERA, 5 games, 7 K's, 4.2 inn.

ZACK VON ROSENBERG—West Virginia (Zachary) 1-2, 5.18 ERA, 5 games

**WES THIGPEN--Connecticut (Hahnville) .231 (3-for-13), 1 RBI

GREG WILBORN—Rancho Cucamonga (ULL) 1-1, 9.18 ERA, 13 games—D.L.

ROOKIE LEAGUE

JUSTIN BOUDREAUX—Ogden (Dutchtown, SLU) .204, 2-2B, 1-3B, 11 RBI in 12 games

WIL BROWNING—Gulf Coast Blue Jays (ULM) 0-0, 4.50 ERA, 2 games

ZACH BUTLER—Princeton (McNeese State) 0-0, 0.00 ERA, 5 games, 6 inn, 10 K's

GAVIN CECCHINI—Kingsport (Barbe) .255, 1-2B, 1-3B, 6 RBI in 12 games (12-for-479)

KOLBY COPELAND—Gulf Coast League Marlins (Parkway) .233, 2-3B, 6 RBI in 12 games

TYLER HANOVER—Gulf Coast League Tigers (LSU) .143 (1-for-7), 1 RBI in 3 games

JORDAN HARRISON—Gulf Coast Rays (ULL) 0-1, 0.00 ERA, 3 games, 5 K's in 3.2 inn.

BROCK HEBERT—Pulaski (South Terrebonne, SLU) .327 (17-for-59), 3-2B, 1 HR, 10 RBI

HAYDEN JENNINGS—Gulf Coast Nationals (Evangel) .133 (4-for-30), 1 double, 9 games

MASON MELOTAKIS—Elizabethton (N.W. St.) 1-1, 2.45 ERA, 4 games, 5 K's, 3.2 inn.

PEDRO PIZARRO—AZL Angels (Byrd) .200 (1-for-5) in 2 games

COLIN RODGERS—Burlington (Parkview Baptist) 0-0, 2.08 ERA, 3 games

JEREMY SCHAFFER—Johnson City (Tulane) .184 (9-for-49), 5-2B, 1 HR, 6 RBI in 12 games

STRYKER TRAHAN—AZL Diamondbacks (Acadiana) .273 (9-for-33), 1-2B, 2 HR, 6 RBI

GREG WILBORN—Arizona League Dodgers (ULL) 0-0, 0.00 ERA, 1 game, 2 inn.

ALEX WILLIAMS—Bristol (Menard, Louisiana Tech) .271, 3-2B, 1 HR, 7 RBI in 13 games

CHRIS WOLFE—AZL Athletics (Grambling) .167, 1-for-6 in 3 games played

INDEPENDENT LEAGUES

BUBBA BELL—Sugar Land (Nicholls State) .284, 20-2B, 3-3B, 1 HR, 21 RBI

DEREK BLACKSHER—Wichita (McNeese State) 4-1, 4.24 ERA, 10 games

BRENNAN FLICK—Florence (Central Catholic, LSU-Eunice) 4-0, 1.61 ERA, 17 games

GREG FONTENOT—Evansville (Acadiana, ULL) .232, 7-2B, 2 HR, 14 RBI in 29 games

TAYLOR FREEMAN—Wichita (McNeese State) .256, 7 doubles, 2 HR, 12 RBI

ROY MERRITT—Somerset (Southern) 5-1, 3.02 ERA, 12 games

D.J PONDER—Evansville (Catholic, Tulane) 1-0, 5.40 ERA, 5 games

ANTHONY SCELFO—Laredo (Jesuit, Tulane) .291, 12-2B, 3 HR, 18 RBI

NICK SCHWANER—Evansville (Slidell, UNO) .292, 8-2B, 6 HR, 24 RBI

BARON SHORT—McAllen (Southern) 0-4, 8.84 ERA, 6 games

MICHAEL THOMAS—Rockford (Southern) .263, 4-2B, 1 HR, 11 RBI

TYLER WATKINS—Schaumburg (SLU) 2-4, 3.60 ERA, 50 innings, 47 hits