The red-hot Montgomery Biscuits have dominated the Southern League in the season's second-half, so it comes as no surprise that they also dominate the league's Postseason All-Star Team.
Five of the 15 players named to the SL's end-of-the-year All-Star squad are members of the Southern Division-leading Biscuits, including MVP Evan Longoria and Most Valuable Pitcher Chris Mason. The team was selected by a vote of the league's field managers, radio broadcasters and print media.
Longoria, the third overall selection in the 2006 Draft, hit .307 with 21 home runs, 78 runs scored and 76 RBIs before receiving a promotion to the Triple-A Durham Bulls. The 21-year-old third baseman was tied for the league lead in home runs at the time of his call-up and sat atop the circuit in both RBIs and runs scored. His 21 dingers for Montgomery established a new franchise record, as did his 37-game on-base streak (which took place between April 11 and May 20).
Mason -- a 23-year-old righty -- leads the league with 15 wins and a 2.53 ERA, while his 132 strikeouts rank fourth. The Devil Rays' second-round selection in the 2005 Draft, Mason has allowed three runs or less in 25 of his 27 starts this season. If he earns a victory in his final start of the regular season, then the North Carolina native will become the first 16-game winner in the SL since Dave Borkowski in 1998.
Longoria and Mason are joined by three teammates: catcher John Jaso, outfielder Fernando Perez and relief pitcher Dale Thayer. In addition to driving in 71 runs and scoring 58, Jaso ranks second in the league in batting (.320), third in on-base percentage (.409) and fifth in slugging percentage (.491). Perez, meanwhile, is hitting .304 with 80 runs scored, 29 stolen bases and nine triples. Thayer, a 26-year-old right-hander, went 9-0 with 21 saves and a 2.26 ERA before receiving a promotion to Durham.
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