MODESTO, Calif. – Two of Duke’s 2010 draft picks were named Class-A All-Stars last week, and both contributed in their respective league showcases on Tuesday, June 21.
Former Duke shortstop Jake Lemmerman represented his High-A Rancho Cucamonga Quakes in the California League All-Star Game and went 1-for-3 with a double, run and an RBI. Former Blue Devil teammate Christopher Manno, a left-handed closer with the Class-A Hagerstown Suns, also pitched a hitless inning in the South Atlantic League All-Star game.
Lemmerman was named MVP of the Rookie Pioneer League in his first professional season in 2010 and has carried that momentum into his second season. A fifth round draft pick by the Los Angeles Dodgers, Lemmerman owns a .285 batting average, 18 doubles, one triple and six home runs for the Quakes. He has three doubles and two homers in his past three games.
Manno had been dominant out of the Hagerstown bullpen, posting a 1.09 ERA with 51 strikeouts in just 33 innings of work. He leads the team with nine saves, is holding opponents to a .149 batting average and has walked just 13 batters. Behind Manno’s arm and the bat of 2010’s first overall pick Bryce Harper, the Suns went 40-30 in the first half of the South Atlantic League season.
Lemmerman and Manno are two of 14 Duke players currently rostered by professional organizations. They are also two of the 14 players mentored by Duke head coach Sean McNally that have gone on to play professionally.
-d-u-k-e-
