Salt Lake Bees: Mark Trumbo to represent Bees at All-Star game

Mark Trumbo's professional baseball career began in 2005 with the Orem Owlz. His slow, steady climb through the minor leagues has him now just one small step from his dream of playing in "The Show" as the star first baseman for the Salt Lake Bees.

Tonight Trumbo will get to showcase his talents on national television (MLB Network) while representing the Bees at the Triple-A All-Star Game at Coca-Cola Park in Allentown, Penn.

"I'm very excited I made the All-Star team," said Trumbo. "There are a lot of great players in this league and a lot of really good first basemen in specific and to be among them — and to be starting — is a bigger bonus."

Trumbo's selection to the team was not unexpected. The 24-year-old from California has been among the best power hitters all season in the Pacific Coast League. He leads the PCL in runs batted in with 70 and is third in the league with 20 homers at the break.

Making All-Star teams is not new for him either. Trumbo was a California League All-Star after his 2008 season with the Rancho Cucamonga Shakes and was a Texas League All-Star last season while playing for the double-A Arkansas Travelers.

"It's an honor to be an All-Star," said Trumbo. "I'm going to try to give it the best I've got and try to win there too. It's going to be a great experience and it's going to be a lot of fun."

Trumbo will play on the PCL team, which will face the International League stars.

The Bees have had an up-and-down season so far. Just prior to the All-Star break was a down period for Salt Lake, which lost seven of its final eight games in falling eight games behind Tacoma in the division standings.

But Trumbo's play has been a bright spot. He's says he's not surprised by how well he's done during his first season at the triple-A level, but he knows he still needs to get better before becoming a full-time major leaguer.

"I have high expectations of myself," said Trumbo. "I've always driven in runs and it's something I take a lot of pride in. I focus on the things I need to get better at. I'm trying to close the holes that I have so that I'll be able to play in the big leagues at some point."