ALVAREZ, MOLLEKEN SELECTED TO PLAY IN WORLD BASEBALL CUP

ALTOONA, Pa – Altoona Curve third baseman Pedro Alvarez and right-handed reliever Dustin Molleken have each been selected to participate in the upcoming World Baseball Cup.

Alvarez has been selected to play for Team USA while Molleken will represent his native Canada.

Both Alvarez and Molleken will appear in their final home games on Thursday at 6:35 p.m. when the Curve takes on the Trenton Thunder (AA – New York Yankees).

Through August 25, Alvarez has hit .325 with 10 home runs and 34 RBIs in just 54 games in an Altoona Curve uniform. Prior to his mid-season promotion, Alvarez belted 14 homers and knocked in 55 RBIs with the Hillcats.

Molleken has appeared in 16 games for the Curve since his promotion and has proceeded to go 1-1 with a 5.01 ERA. Molleken was 3-1 with a 3.48 ERA in 18 appearances.

Both were called up to the Double-A Altoona on June 23 after playing for the Lynchburg Hillcats (Advanced – A).

Once the team departs for their four-game road trip to take on Erie following their series with Trenton, both Alvarez and Molleken will depart for the remainder of their Altoona Curve season and travel to Raleigh, North Carolina where they will get acclimated before traveling overseas.

On September 7, Team USA will arrive in Germany where they will play Germany, Venezuela and China as their first round opponents with the top two teams advancing.

Team USA will play the next round in either the Netherlands or Italy (depending on where Team USA falls in the bracket if they advance). The finals will be held in Italy.