Former Bulldog Papelbon Now A Five-Time All-Star

STARKVILLE, Miss. - For the fifth time in his eight-year Major League career former Mississippi State pitcher Jonathan Papelbon has been selected to play in the MLB All-Star Game. The Jacksonville, Fla., native was one of three Philadelphia Phillies players named Sunday to the July 10 game to be played at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City.

Papelbon, in his first season with Philadelphia, pitched for the Bulldogs from 2001 to 2003 before being drafted (fourth round) and signed by the Boston Red Sox following his junior campaign at Mississippi State. He is 2-2 with a 3.03 earned run average with the Phillies and has converted 18 of 19 save opportunities and a National League-leading 30 games. Papelbon has 237 saves and 25 wins in 426 career appearances with Boston and Philadelphia.

It's the fifth MLB All-Star designation for Papelbon, who was selected for the mid-summer classics in 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009 while with the Red Sox. Seven other former Mississippi State players have represented MSU in past All-Star events --- Jeff Brantley (1990), Will Clark (1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1994), Sammy Ellis (1965), David "Boo" Ferriss (1946), Buddy Myer (1935, 1937), Rafael Palmeiro (1988, 1991, 1998, 1999) and Bobby Thigpen (1990).

Catcher Carlos Ruiz and left-hander Cole Hamels are the other two Philadelphia players selected for the 83rd annual All-Star classic. The game will be televised nationally by FOX Sports.