May 30, 2008

CLEARWATER, Fla. - The Florida State League (Class A) named former Northern Illinois pitcher Matt German to its 2008 All-Star team for the league's June 14 game. German is one of three players from the Clearwater Threshers (Philadelphia Phillies) selected.

German, an Aurora native, has been impressive in 14 appearances from the bullpen this season. He began the year with a seven-game scoreless streak and during that stretch, allowed just three hits while limiting opposing batters to a miniscule .094 batting average and striking out 13. In his last five outings, German has surrendered just two runs and has struck out nine. His season ERA is 2.45 in 22.0 innings pitched. German signed with the Phillies last year as a non-drafted free agent and posted a 1.54 ERA in his first professional season.

The lefthander concluded his Northern Illinois career as the school's all-time saves leader with 26, a total that ranked second in Mid-American Conference history. During his 2007 senior season, German earned All-American honors from the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) and PingBaseball.com. He also was one of five finalists for the NCBWA Stopper of the Year award and garnered his second-straight first team All-MAC and first team ABCA Mideast All-Region honors.

For more information on German's Minor League career, click here.

-NIU-