Brown, Hembree named Topps’ Class-A All-Stars

HEATH PRETTY GOOD: Hembree struck out 78 batters in 53.1 innings this past season.

San Jose Giants outfielder Gary Brown and reliever Heath Hembree were named to the Topps Class-A All-Star Team, it was announced today by Minor League Baseball.

Brown, who also was awarded the George M. Trautman award by Topps for Player of the Year a couple of weeks ago, led the way for the Giants with a .336 batting average (good for third-best in the Cal League), 115 runs scored (2nd), 188 hits (1st) 13 triples (1st), 290 total bases (2nd) and 53 steals (2nd). He also smacked 14 home runs.

In a little over one full minor league season, Hembree owns an impressive 14.0 SO/9 rate and 41 saves. The 6-4, 200-pound righty was simply dominating at San Jose in 2011, where he struck out 44 batters in just 24.2 innings last year. After being promoted to Double-A Richmond, the strikeouts continued (34 in 28.2 innings).