Former ValleyCat Hunter Pence Named To NL All-Star Team

Former Tri-City ValleyCat Hunter Pence was selected as a reserve for the National League All-Star team on Sunday.  He'll be the lone representative for the Houston Astros.

This is the second All-Star Game selection for Pence since breaking into the big leagues in 2007.

He made the All-Star team in 2009 thanks to the players vote, but did not appear in the game. This year Pence was also selected by his fellow players.

Through 84 games this season, Pence is batting .322 with 10 home runs and 57 RBI. His 23 doubles is tied for the NL lead while he ranks third in the league in batting average and hits (105) and was tied for sixth in RBIs.

Pence was drafted by the Astros in the second round of the 2004 MLB draft and was assigned to the ValleyCats. That year, he hit .296 with eight home runs and 37 RBI. His .528 slugging percentage led Tri-City and ranked second in the New York-Penn League.

Pence earned the call to the Major Leagues in late April of 2007. The outfielder excelled in his first major league season, hitting .322 with 17 home runs and 69 RBI in 108 games with Houston. His .347 batting average led the National League at the All-Star Break. Pence also set Astros' rookie records for extra-base hits (56) and doubles (30) while leading all rookies in doubles, triples and total bases.

The 82nd annual Major League Baseball All-Star Game will be held on Tuesday, July 12 at Chase Field in Arizona.