MLB All-Stars with Appleton roots

The 2010 Major League All-Star Rosters have been announced.

There are three players on the American League side who played minor league ball in Appleton.

First the regulars:
Alex Rodriguez (Foxes, '94) & David Ortiz ('96)

And making his first ever appearance in an MLB All-Star Game:

Matt Thornton ('99, '00):  Thornton shocked to get All-Star call

Matt Thornton's hotel telephone rang Sunday morning, and he immediately thought his wife and 11-month daughter could be in danger.

Instead, it was White Sox director of team travel Ed Cassin informing the hard-throwing left-handed reliever he had been selected to his first American League All-Star team by manager Joe Girardi.

"I'm kind of in shock that it happened," said Thornton, who was planning to take his family to the zoo and perhaps visit relatives in Michigan during the All-Star break.

Thornton, 33, was flattered he was the only pitcher selected to the AL team who wasn't a starter or closer. Thornton has struck out 47 and allowed one home run in 33 2/3 innings. He has also limited left-handed hitters to a .167 batting average with 29 strikeouts in 60 at-bats.

There were two ex-Rattlers that I thought had good chances to be selected, but they were not.

Shin-Soo Choo of Cleveland and Rafael Soriano of Tampa Bay....And If I could get on a newspaper website other than the Chicago Tribune and the Boston Globe from this hotel connection, I would have something other than my opinion to back up that, um, opinion...will update later.