Kyle Hendricks named North Division starting pitcher

By: Nick Roark

Tennessee Smokies starter Kyle Hendricks was announced as the North Division starting pitcher Monday afternoon for the Southern League All-Star Game on July 17^th in Jacksonville. Hendricks is 8-3 on the season with a 2.13 ERA

This is the first Southern League selection for Hendricks after the right-hander spent the first two seasons of his professional career in the Texas Rangers organization.

“It’s a great honor to be able to start the All-Star game,” Hendricks said Monday evening. “It’s not really a goal you had in mind but just making the All-Star team is great and, on top of that, being able to start is a huge honor.”

Monday’s announcement is the latest honor for Hendricks, who was named the Cubs Minor League Pitcher of the Month in May and Southern League Pitcher of the Week for the week of June 10^th.

This year marks the second career All-Star selection for Hendricks, who was named a 2012 Carolina League Mid-Season All-Star while with Class-A Myrtle Beach. The righty did not start the game but pitched the seventh inning and allow no hits while striking out Cincinnati Reds prospect Billy Hamilton.

“It’s definitely a step up getting the start [this year],” Hendricks said. “It’s a testament to our whole team though. I mean you’ve got to have guys behind you making plays and you’ve got to have runs scored to get the win so it’s pretty much a team effort to get me there.”

Hendricks, who came to the Cubs organization in the Ryan Dempster deal, is 7-2 in his last 12 starts with a 1.80 ERA.

Hendricks will be opposed by South Division starter and Mobile’s David Holmberg. Holmberg is 5-4 on the season with a 2.41 ERA in 18 starts. Jacksonville has not hosted the Southern League All-Star Game since the 2003 season a decade ago.

To stay current with all the latest news, follow Smokies on Radio on Twitter and like the Smokies on Radio Facebook page.  Nick Roark is a Broadcast & Media Assistant for the Smokies Radio Network.  You can follow him on Twitter here: NickRoark4.