Pioneer League Announces 2023 Midseason All-Star Team

The Pioneer Baseball League (PBL) announced its 2023 Midseason All-Star Team, recognizing the players that have performed exceptionally well throughout the first half of the 2023 season. The roster includes all eight field positions plus a designated hitter, followed by two starting pitchers and two relief pitchers, and are as follows. The South Division First-Half champion Ogden Raptors lead the way with four representatives.

 

C: Logan Williams (Ogden Raptors)

1B: Joe Johnson (Grand Junction Jackalopes)

2B: Jaylen Hubbard (Grand Junction Jackalopes)

3B: Dusty Stroup (Rocky Mountain Vibes)

SS: McClain O'Connor (Missoula PaddleHeads)

LF: Henry George (Northern Colorado Owlz)

CF: Reese Alexiades (Ogden Raptors)

RF: Ron Washington Jr. (Grand Junction Jackalopes)

DH: D.J. Poteet (Boise Hawks)

SP1: Zach Penrod (Missoula PaddleHeads)

SP2: Alfredo Villa (Missoula PaddleHeads)

RP1: Dan Kubiuk (Ogden Raptors)

RP2: Brandon McCabe (Ogden Raptors)

 

This season's all-stars are headlined by Grand Junction's Joe Johnson, Ogden centerfielder Reese Alexiades, Missoula's Zach Penrod and Alfredo Villa, and Ogden reliever Dan Kubiuk.

 

After finishing his five-year tenure at Vanguard University in 2022, Joe Johnson joined Grand Junction last season. He leads qualified hitters in batting average at a .411 mark through July 15th. The Medford, OR native finished the first half with a 1.160 OPS along with seven homers and 54 RBIs.

 

A former PBL Tryout standout, centerfielder Reese Alexiades is putting together the best season of his professional career. Alexiades finished the first half leading the league with 16 homers while nearing the top in stolen bases with 14 bags swiped and only getting caught once. He's been the best player on the South Division first half champion Ogden Raptors and has shown no signs of slowing down for the second half of the season.

 

After splitting time between the bullpen and as a starter in the 2022 PBL season for Grand Junction, Alfredo Villa has been a dominant force as the primary starter for Missoula. The Adams State University alum started nine games in the first half and finished with 53.0 innings, 18 walks, 66 Ks, a 3.57 ERA, and a perfect 6-0 record. The Tuscon, AZ native led the Missoula PaddleHeads to a league leading 35-13 record, and they will head back to the postseason for the third straight season.

 

Dan Kubiuk has been without a doubt the best reliever in the PBL in the 2023 season and through the first half held a 16 1/3 scoreless streak. Kubiuk is tied for first in the PBL with seven saves. The former Northwestern Wildcat has averaged 94 miles per hour on his fastball and has a strong 34.2% whiff rate on the year. The PBL's Midseason All-Stars, highlighting the best performing players in the league, were based on nominations from the ten member PBL general managers and managers, followed by a voting process to decide the roster.