The week couldn’t have started much better for Slammers first baseman Marc Flores.
He was selected as the starting first baseman for the East Division in the July 13 All-Star Game and named player of the week in the 12-team Frontier League.
Not bad for a Monday.
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“I first found out about the All-Star team and I was super excited about that,” Flores said. “Then we were in the locker room at Schaumburg and ‘Ice’ (manager Jeff Isom) was asking, ‘Oh, who do you guys think got player of the week?’
“Everyone was saying ‘Flo.’ It’s my nickname. ‘Ice’ said, ‘Yep, Marc, you’re the player of the week.’ I was in shock. I didn’t know I was going to get that.”
The 24-year-old California native had 12 hits in 24 at-bats last week, going 6-for-12 in consecutive series against River City and Windy City.
“It’s going to be hard to top that week,” Flores said. “I had a lot of good things going for me, was seeing the ball well at the plate. This week is a fresh, new week. Hopefully, I can take last week’s performance and bring it into this week.”
Flores contributed two hits and an RBI in Monday’s 6-5 win over Schaumburg that lifted the East Division-leading Slammers 10 games above .500 for the first time since their championship season in 2011.
The 6-foot-5, 225-pound Flores was second in the league in RBIs (41) before Tuesday’s series opener against the Washington Wild Things at Silver Cross Field. He took a .298 average into Tuesday’s game and singled in his first two at-bats.
Flores particularly enjoyed earning half of his player of the week numbers against River City. He was released by the Rascals last season after just 13 games and a .231 average.
“It was really good,” he said of the payback. “I was like, ‘Well, you guys released me, so I have to show you guys what I’ve got, since you never gave me the opportunity.”’
Flores batted only .228 late last season with Joliet, but the Slammers didn’t give up on him.
“We saw him one game and I thought, ‘There’s something there, there’s some size,”’ Isom said. “We were in a situation last year we could pick up some guys late and see what they’re capable of doing.”
Flores has been making the most of his opportunity this season with the Slammers.
“I’m in the lineup every day,” he said. “I’ve always been a good hitter. I’ve always been able to hit the long ball. It’s just a matter of me getting to play and get my at-bats every day.”
Three teammates will join Flores on the All-Star team: second baseman Carter Bell, shortstop Alfredo Rodriguez and center fielder Charlie White. Bell, the starter at second, was hitting .349 going into Tuesday’s game with a league-best 43 RBIs.
“The guys that made it have been playing very well,” Isom said. “They’re well deserving, obviously a reason why we’re in the position we’re in in the standings. They’ve been a big part of it. It’s a reward for them.”
Isom will manage the East Division team and is expected to name two more Slammers, likely from the pitching staff.
Tim Tierney is a freelance writer for the Daily Southtown.
Up next: Wild Things (Chase Cunningham 2-4) at Slammers (Shane Bryant 2-1), 10:05 a.m. Wednesday.