2011 Smokies lefty Jeff Beliveau delivers a pitch for the Tampa Bay Rays. Photo Credit: Peter G. Aiken-USA TODAY Sports
Major League Baseball announced their finalized roster for the Japan All-Star Series, which will take place in Japan starting next week. Three former Smokies made the cut, including pitchers Jeff Beliveau (2011), Jerry Blevins (2007) and Jose Veras (2014).
Beliveau made 41 appearances with the Smokies during the 2011 campaign, posting 6-1 record and 1.89 ERA (12 ER in 57.0 IP), adding three saves and 69 strikeouts. He would go on to make his Major League debut with the Cubs in 2012, before being designated for assignment and claimed by the Texas Rangers, who eventually dealt the southpaw to the Tampa Bay Rays. This past year the 27-year-old compild no record and a 2.63 ERA (7 ER in 24.0 IP) in 30 appearances with the Rays, which included one save.
Blevins pitched in relief on 23 occasions with the Smokies in 2007, recording a 2-2 mark and 1.53 ERA (5 ER in 29.1 IP) with three saves. It would be during his time in Tennessee Blevins would be acquired by the Oakland Athletics from the Cubs in a trade that sent Jason Kendall to Chicago. He then went on to make his Major League debut later that season as a September call-up. After joining the Washington Nationals prior to this season, the lefty accumulated a 2-3 record and 4.87 ERA (31 ER in 57.1 IP) in 64 appearances with the Nationals.
Veras pitched with Tennessee as part of a Major League rehab assignment during the 2014 campaign, recording a 2-0 clip and 0.00 ERA (0 ER in 4.2 IP) in four appearances (one start). Veras would later be designated for assignment by the Cubs, and then claimed by the Houston Astros. Combined between Chicago and Houston in 2014, the righty compiled a 4-1 record and 4.50 ERA (23 ER in 46.0 IP) in 46 appearances.
The MLB All-Stars Team will play their first exhibition contest in Japan on Tuesday, November 11 before playing a five-game series in three cities, including Osaka, Toyko and Sapporo. They will finish off their trip with an exhibition contest against Team Japan in Okinawa. All games will be broadcast, and then re-aired on MLB Network.
The entire roster can be view here:
The entire broadcast schedule can also be view here:
James Rowe
smokiesradio
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