The River City Rascals are proud to announce that third baseman Josh Silver and catcher Mike
Jurgella have been named to the Frontier League All-Star Game that will take place at Joliet’s
Silver Cross Field on Wednesday, July 10.
Silver has been a difficult out all season and currently leads the Rascals with a .326 (56-172)
batting average and a .390 on base percentage through 45 games, all at third base. The third
year Rascal also leads the team in runs (31), hits (56) and is top five on the team in home runs
(5), RBI (26) and total bases (86).
“This honor shows that the hard work’s paid off through the first half of the season,” Silver said.
“It’s a big honor and I am excited for it and ready to have a good time.”
Some of his most notable games include May 14th where he tallied three doubles and June
22nd where he became one of just four Rascals this year with a four-hit game.
The former minor leaguer with the Chicago Cubs also notched a career high 22 game hitting
streak from May 28-June 22 hitting to a .396 mark. The streak still stands as the longest in the
Frontier League this year, four ahead of the next best streak.
Mike Jurgella has also been one of the hottest hitters for the Rascals and especially as of late,
batting .385 (15-39) with two home runs over his last ten games. Overall, Jurgella is hitting .290
(51-176) with eight doubles, six round trippers, 27 RBI, 23 runs scored and is a perfect 7-7 on
the basepaths.
The 25-year-old leads the team in three hit games with five and like Silver, is also one of four
Rascals to have a four hit game and it came back on June 11th in a series sweep over the
Windy City ThunderBolts.
The St. Cloud State product has been a standout defensively and leads all Frontier League
catchers with a 1.000 fielding percentage in 31 games behind the plate. He has also thrown out
10 of 38 baserunners and the backstop has helped anchor the Rascals pitching staff to a 4.39
ERA which is in the top half of the Frontier League.
“It’s an honor. There is a lot of talent in this league and to make the All-star team is something
special that I’m very grateful for. I’m also thankful for my teammates for their support and help
along the way,” Jurgella said.
This Frontier League honor adds to what has already been a great career for both of these
Rascals. Last season, Silver finished third in the Frontier League with a .352 batting average
and Jurgella was named a 2016 Postseason All-Star.
Prior to the All-Star game, the Rascals take on the Joliet Slammers for a three game series
beginning tonight and finish out the first half of the season at CarShield Field July 7-9 as the
Schaumburg Boomers come to town.
