Bulls Land Four Players on All-Star Team

The Durham Bulls have four players on the IL All-Star Team: (l to r) Jeremy Cummings, Dale Thayer, Reid Brignac & Chris Richard.

The International League recently announced four players from the Durham Bulls will join the IL All-Stars as they take on the Pacific Coast League in the 21st annual Triple-A All-Star Game, slated for July 16, 2008, in Louisville, Kentucky. Pitchers Jeremy Cummings & Dale Thayer, and infielders Reid Brignac and Chris Richard will represent the Bulls, the largest group of all-stars Durham has produced since joining the International League in 1998.

Cummings is 7-2 with a 2.72 ERA in 10 starts with the Bulls since joining the team as a free agent on May 13th. If he had enough starts to qualify for the league leaders, he’d rank third behind Charlie Morton of Richmond (2.05) and Charlie Zink from Pawtucket (2.63).

Thayer is in his second season with the Bulls and is tied for sixth in the league with nine saves. He also boasts a 1-0 record with a 1.48 ERA, allowing only 36 hits in 42.2 innings and striking out 53 against 14 walks.

Brignac is widely considered the best defensive shortstop in the International League, committing only two errors at home and eight overall this season. He is leading all shortstops in fielding percentage (.975), assists (202) and putouts (114) and is tied for the league lead in double plays (43).

Richard is also in his second season with the Bulls, batting .309 (3rd in IL) with 15 home runs (8th in IL) and 53 RBI (5th in IL). He is also tied for fifth in the league in on-base percentage (.395) and 7th in slugging percentage (.551).

Thanks to DBBC’s Matt DeMargel for this capcom story & photo.