Image credit:
Matt Bottcher (Photo courtesy of the Atlantic League)
Baseball America presents the 2024 Atlantic League Midseason All-Star team, as voted on by league managers. The team highlights the league’s top performers from the first half of the season. York outfielder Donovan Casey was the lone unanimous selection after hitting .361 with 10 homers through 60 games.
The Atlantic League is a MLB Partner League that has produced more than 125 players to the majors. You can find the league’s schedule here.
Here is the full roster:
C: Kole Cottam, Lexington — .313/.401/.625, 17 HR, 49 RBI
1B: David Washington, York — .298/.362/.693, 23 HR, 60 RBI
2B: Matt Bottcher, Lexington — .307/.382/.507, 8 HR, 29 RBI
SS: Matt McDermott, York — .320/.369/.509, 8 HR, 38 RBI
3B: Cristian Santana, Lancaster — .423/.472/.782, 13 HR, 47 RBI
OF: Donovan Casey, York — .361/.415/.574, 10 HR, 75 RBI
OF: Tyler Dearden, Long Island — .361/.410/.634, 12 HR, 46 RBI
OF: Josh Stowers, Gastonia — .313/.402/.558. 14 HR, 52 RBI
DH: Frank Schwindel, Long Island — .355/.434/.627, 11 HR, 38 RBI
SP: Aaron Leasher, Staten Island — 7-2, 2.21, 73.1 IP, 57 H, 23 BB, 67 K
RP: Phoenix Sanders, Gastonia — 3-0, 1.80, 25 IP, 16 H, 33 K, 6 BB
CP: Matt Seelinger, Long Island — 0-0, 0.44, 20.2 IP, 9 H, 31 K, 8 BB
You can find player-by-player breakdowns below.
Atlantic League All-Star Capsules
CATCHER
Kole Cottam has been a fixture in Lexington’s lineup throughout the season. At the midway point, he was hitting .313 while leading the Legends with 17 homers and 49 RBIs. He ranks third in the league in home runs, is fourth in slugging percentage (.625) and shares the league lead with two grand slams. Cottam was also named to the ALPB Postseason All-Star team in 2023.
FIRST BASE
York’s David Washington was the ALPB Player of the Month in June. He finished the first half with 23 home runs and 60 RBIs along with a .298 average. The first baseman was on pace to challenge the Atlantic League’s season home run record of 48 until his contract was purchased by Saltillo in the Mexican Baseball League. Washington led the league in the first half with 35 extra-base hits, 142 total bases and a .693 slugging percentage while placing second in RBIs.
SECOND BASE
Lexington’s Matt Bottcher hit .307 with eight home runs and 29 RBI through the first half of the year. He successfully stole 14 bases on 15 attempts over 54 first-half games while…