All-star selections have practical side

What does an all-star appearance really mean to a minor leaguer?

Five RiverDogs players and Charleston manager Torre Tyson are headed to the South Atlantic League's midseason celebration, which will take place at 5:15 p.m. Tuesday in Greensboro.

Pitchers Jason Stephens and Jonathan Ortiz will join catcher Jesus Montero, second baseman Justin Snyder and outfielder Abraham Almonte on the Southern Division roster. Montero will be the starting catcher, while Almonte and Snyder were selected as reserves.

All-star selections are nice for an organization to be able to feel some pride that their best prospects are headed in the right direction, but for minor league players it holds more practical value than prestige.

"The year after, we get $100 extra per month from the club," Snyder said. "That means a lot when paying rent each month takes up a lot of our checks. We don't get paid a lot as minor leaguers, and that extra money can mean a lot."

Snyder also talked about his selection as a benchmark for his progress.

"It's a goal I set for this year — to stay healthy enough to make this one and the all-star team at the end of the year," he said.

For the most part, players have always been matter-of-fact about the situation. It's not that they're ungrateful. It's just that if given the option of playing in the all-star game or getting a promotion, they'll take the promotion. After all, minor league all-star games are not the ultimate goal — getting a major league contract is, and anything that pushes a player closer is a better reward.

Players just don't make a big deal about it.

"It's good," was Almonte's simple response to his feelings toward going to the game. To be fair, Almonte might have been a bit subdued because he was asked about his selection right after he had struck out three times in a 5-3 loss to Savannah on Friday. The potential fun of an all-star game loses its luster when in the middle of a slump and you're trying to prove you can play at a higher level.

Montero was more effusive. He's not only going to start the game, but he will be among seven participants in the home run derby.

"I'm really happy because I wanted to make it my first time," the Venezuelan native said. "All of my family made calls to say congratulations. I'm just trying to do everything right."

The more any of them keep doing things right, the better caliber of all-star game they'll eventually play.

June swoon and bloom

The month of June hasn't been kind to a few RiverDogs who were depended upon to lift the offense back to the potency of April.

Almonte and Brad Suttle came off the disabled list a few weeks ago and gave Charleston optimism that run production would begin exploding with the addition of their bats. Unfortunately, Almonte is hitting .204 and has struck out 21 times in 54 at-bats this month. Suttle, who was hitting over .300 before he was sidelined, has hit .170 and has watched his average plummet to .247.

The month has been kinder to Brandon Laird and Dave Williams, who have added some production to the back half of the lineup. Laird is hitting .386 with six doubles and a triple in his first 12 games this month, and Williams is batting .294.

Reach Bill Henley at 937-5595 or bhenley@postandcourier.com.