Friday, 24, 2005

Hermida Selected for the XM Satellite All-Star Futures Game

Zebulon, NC --- Carolina Mudcats OF Jeremy Hermida has been selected to the seventh annual XM Satellite Radio All-Star Futures Game to be held July 10th at Comerica Park in Detroit, Michigan.

Hermida, 21, is currently tied for second in the Southern League with a career-high 13 homers, while leading the league in on-base percentage (.449) and walks (61).  Hermida is batting .303 over 71 games with 39 RBI. 

Hermida, entering the season as Florida's # 1 prospect as gauged by Baseball America, was the 11th overall pick in the 2002 amateur draft from Wheeler High School in Georgia.  He is a career .286 hitter during his four-year career.

Hermida is one of nine Southern League players heading to the game, while former Mudcat Josh Willingham, 26, is scheduled to be Hermida's teammate on the USA squad, selected as the oldest player at the event.  However, Willingham, playing for Triple-A Albuquerque, was called to the major leagues Thursday night, and his capacity in the Futures Game is uncertain.

Last season, former Mudcat LHP Bill Murphy pitched for Team USA at the Futures Game held at Minute Maid Park in Houston, Texas.  Murphy was subsequently traded to the Arizona Diamondbacks.

The game will be broadcast on ESPN and MLB Radio beginning at 4:00 ET.