The Carolina Mudcats and Cleveland Indians will begin their relationship in opposite dugouts this April.

The Mudcats announced Wednesday that they will host the Indians on April 3 at Five County Stadium in what will be the Triangle area’s introduction to the team that will supply the Zebulon-based franchise with minor league talent. 

Carolina Mudcats broadcaster Patrick Kinas has been named 2011 Radio Broadcaster of the Year for the Southern League, as selected by other league broadcasters and the Southern League's league’s general managers.

Carolina Mudcats outfielder Denis Phipps has been named to the Southern League post-season All-Star team, as announced by the league office on Wednesday.
Phipps, who was batting just .197 at the end of May, hit .421 from June 1 until earning a promotion to Triple-A Louisville on July 23rd.  Phipps hit .328 in his 82 games with the Mudcats, adding seven home runs and 38 runs batted in.  Since his promotion, Phipps has continued to swing a hot bat, posting a .366 average with the Bats in 36 games.

Cary High graduate Cory Harrilchak will be returning to Wake County this weekend as the Mississippi Braves visit the Carolina Mudcats.

Minor League Baseball news around the Carolina Mudcats and updates on Johnston County natives Jerry Sands and Chris Archer.

The Carolina Mudcats will host rival Jacksonville for their upcoming annual Fourth of July game at Five County Stadium. The series with Jacksonville runs through July 7. The games scheduled for Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday have starting times of 7:15 p.m. The Thursday, July 7, game will begin at noon. Several promotions will take place throughout the upcoming home series, beginning with a special Independence Day celebration.

The Carolina Mudcats’ lone 2011 Southern League All-Star selection - reliever Brad Boxberger - has been promoted to Triple-A Louisville, while right-handed pitcher Brandon Hynick has been reassigned to the Mudcats.

Carolina pitcher finishes off Southern League All-Star Game win for North
Carolina Mudcats reliever Brad Boxberger finished off the Northern Division's winning effort Tuesday night in the Southern League All-Star Game in Jackson, Miss. The North took a 6-3 win with Boxberger recording the game's final three outs.
Boxberger faced three batters, striking out the first, walking one and getting a fly out to end the game.
Chattanooga's Scott Van Slyke was named the game's Top Star Award winner, going 2-for-4 with an RBI an stolen base and two runs scored.
Boxberger has posted a 1.48 ERA on the season for the Mudcats with three saves. He has struck out 50 batters in 30 1/3 innings of work.

The Reds have promoted their top 2010 draft pick, catcher Yasmani Grandal, to the Carolina Mudcats roster. The 6-foot-2, 205-pound Grandal moves up from High-A Bakersfield (Ca.) where he hit .296 with 14 doubles, 10 home runs and 40 RBis in 56 games with the Blaze.
The Cuban native who played at the University of Miami (Fla.) was signed to a four-year, $2.99 million major league contract last August.
In another roster move, Reds' pitcher Aroldis Chapman was promoted to Louisville from the Mudcats in another set on his rehab assignment.

The Cincinnati Reds have confirmed that left-handed Aroldis Chapman will be continuing his Major League rehabilitation assignment in Zebulon as the Mudcats host the Tennessee Smokies in a five-game series that runs from Thursday through Sunday.
Chapman allowed three runs in two-thirds of an inning in his first rehab outing for Carolina against Chattanooga last night. He threw 24 pitches, 12 of those for strikes.
Chapman, a 23-year-old originally from Cuba, is currently on the 15-day disabled list with left shoulder inflammation, and has been out since May 16.  Chapman has appeared in four games as part of his rehab assignment (three with Triple-A Louisville).
No announcement was made on when Chapman might pitch for Carolina.
Chapman is eligible to be activated from the disabled list, but is expected to be with the Mudcats until June 15. For the Reds this season, Chapman has appeared in 16 games with a 2-0 record over 13 innings, fanning 15 and walking 20 while compiling an ERA of 6.92.