The Akron RubberDucks and the Eastern League of Professional Baseball announced on Sunday the addition of Grant Sides to the Western Division roster.
Sides, 27, a right-handed reliever with the ‘Ducks, will replace Bowie left-hander Jayson Aquino, a former member of the Indians farm system who spent the final month of last season with Cleveland’s High-A affiliate at Lynchburg. Aquino was unable to participate in the contest after his start on Saturday was pushed back until Sunday.
Sides is in his sixth season in the Indians organization after being drafted in the 12th round of the 2011 draft out of Samford. The Northport, Alabama, native has appeared in 27 games this season, posting a 1-0 record with a 3.00 ERA and 1.05 WHIP and has limited opposing hitters to a .188 average this season. In 42 innings of work, he has struck out 38 and walked 17. He is a perfect 3-for-3 in save opportunities this season.
The Akron righty has worked eleven consecutive outings without being charged a run, a span dating back 17 innings to June 9. He has been virtually unhittable in those appearances, giving up two hits and a walk while striking out 14 batters.
This is the first All-Star selection for Sides in his six-year professional career.
He debuted with the Indians organization in 2011 with the short-season Mahoning Valley Scrappers before splitting the 2012 and 2013 seasons with Lake County and Carolina. He spent all but one game of the 2014 season at High-A Carolina before splitting last season between High-A Lynchburg and Akron. This season is his third pitching with the RubberDucks.
He is 13-10 in 201 games with a 3.22 ERA and 1.32 WHIP in his career.
Sides joins fellow pitchers J.P. Feyereisen and Louis Head, catcher Jeremy Lucas, first baseman Nellie Rodriguez, outfielders Clint Frazier and Bradley Zimmer, and the Akron coaching and field staff in the All-Star Game. Starting pitcher Shawn Morimando and reliever Perci Garner were also named to the Western Division roster prior to their promotions to Triple-A Columbus.
The 2016 Eastern League All-Star festivities begin on Tuesday, July 12, with the Celebrity Softball Game at 7:00 PM, to be followed by the Eastern League Home Run Derby at 8:05 PM. The All-Star Game will take place on Wednesday, July 13, at 7:05 PM from Canal Park in Akron.
Photo: Akron RubberDucks Twitter
