Alexi Ogando fifth Ranger named to all-star team

Alexi Ogando has had a strong year as a starter and has been named as a replacement for CC Sabathia in this season's mid-summer classic.  Ogando joins other Rangers Josh Hamilton, CJ Wilson, Michael Young, and fellow Dominican Adrian Beltre on the American League all-star team.

In his first year as a starter, Ogando is 9-3 with a 2.92 ERA in 17 starts and will be making his first All-Star appearance.  This follows his first year in the big leagues in which he had a 1.30 ERA in 41 innings of releif.  Ogando was featured as the Dominican Baseball Guy player of the week for week two.

Ogando is from San Pedro de Macoris, DR.  Beltre is from Santo Domingo, DR.

Alexi Ogando, by Red3Biggs

Dominican Player of Week 2: Alexi Ogando

Alexi Ogando only pitched one time during week two, but combined with his week one performance he is worthy of the Dominican Baseball Guy's player of week 2.  Ogando started the season by shutting out the Mariners in six innings pitched, in his first career start.  He followed that up with seven innings and no runs against the Tigers.  In his first two starts of his career here is his line: 2-0, 0.00 ERA, 13 innings, 8 K.

Ogando has been featured in two recent posts from the Dominican Baseball Guy, so just check the tags at the bottom of this post to see those.  After going through a long legal process in which he was accused of visa fraud, Ogando debuted last year and was one of the best relievers in baseball.  He ended with a 1.30 ERA in 42 innings.  He was not scheduled to start for the Rangers this season, but moved into the rotation after some injuries.  It will be hard for Ron Washington to move him back to the bullpen if he keeps this pace up.  Ogando is from San Pedro de Macoris, DR.

Other Dominicans in week 2: Neftali Feliz (Azua, DR): 3.1 innings, 3 saves, 0.00 ERA, Vladimir Guerrero (Nizao, DR) 8-25, Manny Ramirez (Santo Domingo): retired from MLB

Alexi Ogando, by Red3Biggs

Dominican Player of Week 1: Starlin Castro

Starlin Castro shared NL Player of the Week honors with Cardinals starter Jaime Garcia, so this gets him the Dominican Baseball Guy's Dominican Player of the Week.

Castro is a young talent for the Cubs, as they signed him out of the Dominican Republic at the age of 16 in 2006, and he debuted last season playing in 125 games for the big league club.  He hit .300 last year which was good for 10th in the NL, and fielding short stop is one of his strengths.  So, he should only improve this year and after week one he was leading the majors with a .615 average.  A recent fantasy update predicted him as the 12th best option at short stop in the majors.  Castro is from Monte Cristi, DR.

Other Dominicans in week 1: Nelson Cruz (Monte Cristi, DR): 3 HR, 3 RBI, .364, Neftali Feliz (Azua, DR): 2 innings, 2 K, 0.00 ERA, David Ortiz (Santo Domingo): 2 HR, 4 RBI

Starlin Castro with the Cubs last year, by Gamefreak777