4 Charlotte Knights to play in Triple-A All-Star Game

The International League All-Star team was announced Thursday morning, and four Charlotte Knights will play in the Triple-A All-Star Game on July 15 in Omaha, Neb.

Third baseman Matt Davidson, outfielder Trayce Thompson, starting pitcher Erik Johnson and reliever Zach Phillips will represent the Knights, who are one of two teams with four All-Stars, the other being the Norfolk Tides.

Davidson and Thompson were elected to start the game by being two of the 13 players who received the most votes from ballots submitted by each club’s field manager and general manager, fans and members of the media. Johnson and Phillips were among the 17 All-Stars selected by the IL office.

Phillips and Davidson were members of the Pacific Coast League All-Star team in 2013 while playing for the Reno Aces. Davidson, who was elected to this year’s All-Star team as a designated hitter, won the 2013 Triple-A Home Run Derby.

Davidson enters Thursday night’s game against the Gwinnett Braves in a three-way tie for the IL lead in home runs with 13. He’s second on the Knights with 41 RBIs, just behind outfielder Jason Coats’ 43.

Thompson is first in the IL in games played (79), fifth in slugging percentage (.452), third in total bases (133) and second in runs scored (43).

Johnson (7-5, 2.86) is first in the IL in strikeouts with 96, and his average of 10.21 strikeouts per nine innings also leads the IL. He’s allowed two earned runs over his past 32 innings.

In his past 10 appearances, Phillips (1-0, 2.14) has a 1.69 ERA, four saves and 12 strikeouts in 10.2 innings of relief.

The 2015 Triple-A All-Star Game will be broadcast from Werner Park, the home of the Omaha Storm Chasers, on MLB Network, American Forces Network, MiLB.TV and the Triple-A All-Star Game Radio Network starting at 9 p.m.

This story was originally published July 2, 2015 at 5:01 PM with the headline "4 Charlotte Knights to play in Triple-A All-Star Game."