Accolades are beginning to roll out with the Minor League seasons drawing to an end, and that equated to five Rancho Cucamonga Quakes being named post-season All-Stars. One of them, Josh Sborz, was also named California League Pitcher of the Year for 2016.
Along with Sborz, Quakes who earned All-Star recognition were third baseman Matt Beaty, shortstop Erick Mejia, designated hitter Johan Mieses and right-handed pitcher Andrew Sopko. Sborz owned the lowest ERA and WHIP in the Cal League.
He went 8-4 with a 2.66 ERA, 1.03 WHIP and .207 opponents’ batting average over 20 games (19 starts) with the Quakes. Sborz collected 108 strikeouts to 30 walks in 108.1 innings pitched.
The 22-year-old earned a promotion to Double-A Tulsa in early August. Sborz has struggled a bit in nine games (five starts) the Drillers, going 0-1 with a 4.30 ERA and 1.36 WHIP.
Beaty has been a force at the plate over 120 games this season, batting .293/.349/.420 with 27 doubles, 11 home runs and 85 RBIs. He ranks third in RBIs among all players in the California League.
This is Beaty’s first season with the Quakes. That also holds true for the 21-year-old Mejia. He’s demonstrated his speed this season, collecting 24 stolen bases to lead the Quakes. Mejia’s 12 triples lead the California League.
Overall, he’s batting .289/.344/.396 with 12 doubles, four home runs, 47 RBIs and 41 walks. Mieses’ nomination capped off an incredible August in which he slugged nine home runs over 20 games.
After finishing the 2015 season with the Quakes, Mieses has been in High-A for all of 2016. He’s batting .251/.315/.519 with 30 doubles, three triples, 28 home runs and 76 RBIs in 118 games. Mieses leads the league in home runs, ranks third in total bases (232) and fifth in slugging percentage.
Sopko followed in the footsteps of Sborz as he too joined the Drillers in August. Sopko went 11-2 with a 3.26 ERA over 18 games (17 starts) with the Quakes. His 11 wins are tied for the league lead. Since joining Tulsa, the right-hander is 2-2 with a 4.94 ERA in six starts.
The Los Angeles Dodgers announced last month their affiliation with the Quakes was extended through the 2018 season.
