TROY – In 13 years of minor-league baseball, Tri-City ValleyCats second baseman Cito Culver has never played in an All-Star Game.
He plans to change that next week.
Culver was selected on Monday to the East Division roster for the Frontier League All-Star Game, to be played July 12 at Ozinga Field in Crestwood, Ill., the home of the Windy City ThunderBolts.
Despite a sore right shoulder that prompted his move from shortstop to second, Culver said he plans on playing in the All-Star Game. The ValleyCats will fly Culver and closer Reymin Guduan, who also made the East roster, to Chicago.
“I’m looking forward to it,” Culver said before Tuesday’s Fourth of July game against the Empire State Greys before 5,512 fans at Bruno Stadium. Tri-City lost 7-2 after a 1 hour, 46 minute weather delay.
Culver, who turns 31 in August, was named as a Frontier League All-Star two seasons ago when he played for the Sussex County Miners. But there was no game because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Yeah, I’m excited,” Culver said. “It’s a testament to my hard work that I’ve put in in the offseason and the consistency part, which is always something I strive for, is trying to be as consistent as I can. I feel like that’s what happens when players are consistent. They get rewarded, so I was super happy about it.”
Culver entered Tuesday’s contest batting .294 with six homers and 27 RBIs for the ValleyCats, who fell to 27-19 with the loss to Empire State that snapped a four-game losing streak. Culver went 1 for 4.
Guduan has five saves and a 2.38 earned-run average.
“Well deserved,” Tri-City manager Pete Incaviglia said. “Cito’s been great all year, very steady for us all year. He’s played great. He’s playing through injuries. He’s had a little bit of a shoulder issue. He’s battled through that. Cito’s one of our leaders in that clubhouse and well-deserved. And what can I…
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