July 7, 2008

MEMPHIS, Tenn. - For the second time in his young career, former University of Memphis--and now everyday second baseman for the Florida Marlins--Dan Uggla has been named to the National League roster for the 79th Major League Baseball All-Star Game to be held at Yankee Stadium on July 15, 2008.

A possible participant in the pre-game Home Run Derby festivities, Uggla earned his second All-Star honor after being voted to the team by the league's players and coaches. He finished second to Chase Utley in the voting for second basemen.

As a rookie in 2006, Uggla was selected to the All-Star Game by the league's players and coaches. Going in to the break, he was hitting .307 with a team-leading 13 homers and 44 RBI. He went on to finish second among N.L. rookies with 105 runs scored, 27 home runs (record for homers by a rookie second baseman) and 90 RBI. He tied for second with seven triples and finished third with 172 hits. His rookie production earned him recognition as the National League's Outstanding Rookie.

In a highlight-filled third season in Florida, the Marlins' standout middle infielder's current numbers at the midway point dwarf those of his rookie campaign. Uggla, who was a three-year letterman at Memphis, carries a .289 average, but has improved on his power numbers. He leads the Florida Marlins club with 23 home runs and 58 RBI. In addition, he leads all MLB second basemen with a .620 slugging percentage. The Columbia, Tenn., native led the majors in homers until suffering an ankle injury. He is now tied with Ryan Howard of the Philadelphia Phillies for second in the Major Leagues.

Uggla became the second Tiger ever to earn recognition as one of Major League Baseball's top performers when he was named as a reserve on the National League All-Star team in `06. The 2008 selection puts him in a class of his own as the only two-time All-Star in Memphis Tiger baseball history. The only other former Tiger to earn All-Star honors was Montreal Expos hurler Charlie Lea, who got the starting nod for the N.L. squad in the 1984 Midsummer Classic.

Uggla was drafted by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the 11th round of the 2001 draft and played five seasons in the Diamondbacks' farm system. He hit .297 with 21 homers and 87 RBI with the Diamondbacks AA-affiliate Tennessee Smokies in 2005, but opened eyes in the fall when he hit .304 with seven round-trippers and 22 RBI for the Peoria Saguaros in the Arizona Fall league. He made the jump from AA to the Majors when he was picked up by the Marlins in the Rule 5 Draft in the off-season.

A career .268 hitter, Uggla has not disappointed. In two-plus seasons he has smashed 81 home runs, driven in 236 runs and legged out 99 doubles.

Uggla donned the U of M uniform for three seasons (1999-2001). He played two years under Jeff Hopkins and one under Dave Anderson. While at Memphis, he hit .258 with just six homers and 35 RBI in his first two campaigns. But a breakout junior season in 2001 drew the attention of Major League teams. He earned TPX Louisville Slugger All-America honors as well as all-district recognition in 2001. Uggla hit a team-best .379 and set the program's single-season record with 28 doubles, while leading Anderson's Tigers to a 34-24 finish and the nation's top turnaround in Division I baseball. He was tabbed a First-Team Conference USA performer in '01 after scoring 72 runs, driving in 67 more and belting 18 homers. He slugged .790, recorded 169 total bases and drew 42 walks. He finished his career ranked in a tie for fifth on Memphis' all-time doubles list with 40. For his career at Memphis, Uggla hit .313, with 102 RBI and 24 homers.

Uggla's 2008 Season Highlights courtesy of presspass.mlb.com
• Left June 28 game with left ankle sprain. X-rays were negative and is listed as day-to-day.
• Second in Majors with 23 home runs and is tied for 12th with 58 RBI.
• Connected for fourth multi-HR game this season and ninth of career June 20 in Oakland.
• Hit first career walk-off HR June 11 vs. PHI (grand slam off Tom Gordon) and second career game-winning hit. Was second walk-off grand slam in club history (Bobby Bonilla, Sept. 16, 1997 vs. COL). Marked second career grand slam (both this year) and third by a Marlin in 2008.
• Had career-best 41-game errorless streak come to an end June 17 in Seattle. Had 194 successful chances during that streak. His last error had been April 30 vs. LAD.
• Hit two home runs May 3 in Atlanta. Since May 1, 34 of 55 hits have gone for extra bases, including 18 of last 31.
• Is 28 for his last 115 (.243) after posting .414 average (29x70) to start the month of May.
• Became the first Marlin in franchise history to hit 12 home runs in any month with May 25 HR (GM 1).
• Equaled career-best with 11-game hit streak, May 9-21 (8/3-14/06).
• Is hitting .412 (7x17), 4 HR, 8 RBI in 6th spot; .248 (26x105), 4 HR, 12 RBI in #2 spot; .305 (50x164) with 37 R, 15 HR, and 38 RBI in 5th spot.
• Hit first career Grand Slam, May 10 at WSH (Hanrahan). Currently 9th on Marlins' all-time HR list (81).