Zebulon, NC - Six Carolina Mudcats were named to the Southern League's Eastern Division All-Star team, the league announced Tuesday.

The Mudcats, which finished in third place in the East's first half race, landed more all-stars than any other divisional rival.

Shortstop Josh Wilson, first baseman Jason Stokes, centerfielder Eric Reed, catcher Josh Willingham and pitchers Bill Murphy and Randy Messenger were selected for the All-Star Game in Chattanooga, TN at Bell South Park on July 13th.

Wilson, who entered the season as the Florida Marlins' 21st ranked prospect and two-year member of the 40-man roster, is hitting .316 through the season's first 77 games.  Wilson has 10 homers after just three in 2003 in 118 games.  He's ranked fifth in hitting, and has hit .355 in the month of June.

Stokes began his first Double-A season as one of the preeminent power hitters in the minors, did nothing to diminsh that label.  Stokes hit .271 in the first half with 16 homers and 59 RBI.  A left wrist injury has sidelined Stokes since June 13th, but the possibility exists that Stokes could return to appear in Chattanooga.  Through mid-June, Stokes had already moved to within seven homers of the Mudcats single-season record of 23.  Additionally, pre-injury, Stokes was the league's home run and RBI leader, however missing 13 games has permitted Mobile's Greg Sain to pass him.  Stokes started the season as Florida's # 2 prospect.  Stokes could return to the Mudcats as early as the second week of July.

Willingham is enjoying his best power season of his five-year career despite being saddled with catching nearly every day.  Wililingham a converted third and first baseman, began to catch regularly at the start of 2003 before a knee injury quashed Willingham's progress.  Willingham is hitting .272 with 16 homers and 47 RBI.  Willingham is the Marlins' top-rated catching prospect, despite catching only around 90 games in his professional career.  Willingham is a member of the Marlins' 40-man roster.  In an injury-plagued 83 game season in 2003, Willingham hit a career-high 18 homers.

Reed was establishing himself as one of the best defensive centerfielders in Double-A, and fastest player in the game before a broken wrist abruptly halted Reed's season.  Reed was batting over .340 as late as May 11th before sliding back to .306 at the time of the injury.  Reed's 24 stolen bases still rank second in the league.  Reed's wrist will preclude him from appearing in the game.  Reed may miss the rest of the regular season. 

Messenger continued his renaissance season by prying closer duties away for the Mudcats, and has responded with the best half of his six-year career.  Messenger is 6-1 with an ERA of 3.46, saving six of eight opportunities.  Messenger was installed as the club's stopper in mid-May.  Messenger has 47 strikeouts in 39 innings of work.  Messenger was 5-7 with a 5.46 ERA as a starter for the Mudcats in 2003.

Murphy, who was named to the Futures Game All-Star team last week, was announced to the Eastern Division's pitching staff.  Murphy leads the league with 100 strikeouts in 85 2/3 innings, and is tied with Messenger for the staff lead in victories with six.  Murphy has made a team-high16 starts and holds an ERA of 3.47.  Murphy is also leading the league in walks with 49.  Murphy began his first Double-A season with the Florida Marlins after being acquired in a December trade with the Oakland Athletics.