Only 3 Illinois players make Area Code team
July 12, 2012
By Sean Duncan
The Chicago White Sox released its Area Code Team roster, and only three Illinois players made the cut. In past years, the White Sox’s Midwest-based team featured a healthy mix of Illinois prospects.
The three players who made the cut in Illinois were: Simeon OF Corey Ray, Simeon 2B Ronell Coleman and Barrington C Ryan Lidge. Ray, who’s one of the top outfielders in the Midwest, and Coleman have been part of the White Sox’s inner-city ACE program for years before they were shipped off to play for the Wisconsin-based Hitters program. Coleman has seen his stock skyrocket this summer, as he had an incredible showing at USA Baseball’s Tournament of Stars in June.
Lidge, a 6-foot-2 switch-hitting catcher, is another who has enjoyed a meteoric rise over the spring and summer. Lidge has consistently shown to have an accurate, strong arm behind the plate and, offensively, the potential to hit for power.
Led by LHP/OF Trey Ball, Indiana is well-represented – as it should be. Oklahoma also has several representatives for the August 5-10 event in Long Beach, Calif.
