Former New York Mets, Brooklyn Cyclones to Play in 2018 Atlantic League All-Star Game

Jerry Del Priore

The independent Atlantic League of Professional Baseball announced on Tuesday the rosters for the 2018 AL All-Star Game, which will take place on Wednesday, July 11th at Bethpage Ballpark—the home of the Long Island Ducks.

One former New York Met and one ex-Brooklyn Cyclone will be representing the Freedom Division: right-handed pitcher Robert Carson (NYM, York Revolution) and outfielder Cory Vaughn (Cyclones, Southern Maryland Blue Crabs), while pitcher Jim Fuller (Cyclones. New Britain Bees) and infielder Jordany Valdespin (NYM, Ducks) will be playing for the Liberty Division.

The 29-year-old  Carson, who pitched parts of two seasons (2012, 2013) with New York, is tied for wins with the Revolution with five and sports a stellar 1.92 ERA over 42.0 innings with 36 strikeouts and only 13 walks and one home run allowed.

Vaughn, the son of former major leaguer Greg Vaughn, leads the Blue Crabs with 10 homeruns, ranking him third in the league. The 29-year-old Vaughn, who’s a Type I Diabetic, also ranks second on the team with 24 RBI, 27 runs scored, and six stolen bases.

The Green Bay, Wisconsin-born centerfielder had an impressive professional debut season with the Cyclones, rapping a .307 average with 14 dingers, 56 RBI, 14 doubles, five triples, and a .396 OBP in 264 at-bats in 72 games in 2010.

Fuller, 29, has appeared in 20 games for the Bees, posting a 1.90 ERA with 25 strikeouts over the course of 19.0 innings of work.

Selected in the 21st round of the 2008 amateur draft, Fuller amassed a 2-0 record with a 1.00 ERA in 18 innings of work that same year with the Cyclones, the short-season A affiliate of the New York Mets.

In 2009, the Southern Connecticut State University (New Haven, Ct) product was a mid-season All-Star with Brooklyn, registering 67 strikeouts in 63 innings by season’s end.

Valdespin, 30, has been one of the AL’s best hitters this year.

The ex-Met currently leads the league in six offensive categories: batting average (.354), hits (85), runs (50), triples (6), total bases (122) and at bats (240).

Additionally, he ranks second in slugging percentage (.508), third in extra-base hits (23) and fourth in on-base percentage (.414).

Plus, the four-year MLB veteran has totaled four home runs, 27 RBIs, 13 doubles and 13 stolen bases in his 58 games played. He currently has a 25-game on-base streak as well, the longest in the AL this season.

Valdespin, inked as an undrafted free agent by New York in 2007, played with the team for two seasons (2012-13) and two more with the Miami Marlins (2014-15).