Published on September 16, 2026 under Midwest League (MWL)
Great Lakes Loons News Release
MIDLAND, Mich. – Great Lakes Loons outfielders Chuck Davalan and Eduardo Quintero, infielder Emil Morales, pitcher Zach Root and manager Jair Fernandez were selected to the 2026 Midwest League All-Star Team.
Four players are the most chosen to a single-year Midwest League all-star team in Loons’ franchise history.
Chuck Davalan was named the Midwest League’s Most Valuable Player. Davalan is the fourth Loon to win the honor. In 2009, Dee-Strange Gordon and Kyle Russell were named co-MVPs and Andy Pages won the MVP in 2021.
The 22-year-old played a team-leading 115 games, posting a .937 OPS. Davalan smashed 24 home runs and a league leading 29 doubles. The Waterloo, Ontario, Canada native set a Great Lakes franchise record with seven leadoff home runs. Davalan posted 235 total bases, pacing all of High-A.
The 41st overall pick in the 2025 Draft is the fifth Loon to have a positive walk to strikeout ratio (63 BB to 57 K) and play over 100 games. Kendall George in 2025, Jorbit Vivas in 2022, Tyler Ogle in 2013 and Erik Kanaby in 2008, are the other four Loons to achieve the feat.
Jair Fernandez in his third straight season as Loons manager, takes home his first Manager of the Year award. Great Lakes went 75-54 in the regular season.
Fernandez joined John Shoemaker and Juan Bustabad as 200+ game winners as skipper of the Loons. The 39-year-old has a 216-173 career record with Great Lakes. Shoemaker went 280-272 over four seasons and Bustabad’s three seasons saw a 225-193 record. Shoemaker won the award in 2019, Bustabad got it in 2010, and Austin Chubb earned the distinction in 2022.
Eduardo Quintero posted a 107 wRC, the best by a Loon in a single season. Quintero stole 44 bases and walked 88 times. The 20-year-old had 123 hits in 111 games with 28 doubles and 12 home runs.
The Loons accomplished a single-season franchise record demolishing 10 grand slams, Quintero hit three. Defensively, the Venezuelan born outfielder had 11 outfield assists.
Emil Morales currently leads MiLB in runs batted in with 119. Morales drove in 35 runs in 36 games with Low-A Ontario. He was called up to Great Lakes on May 19th and added 84 RBI in 81 games. The 19-year-old shortstop totaled 26 home runs, 20 with the Loons.
This is Morales’ third year earning a post-season all-star award. He earned a Dominican Summer League All-Star nod in 2024 and was selected as an Arizona Complex League All-Star in 2025.
Zach Root in his first season of pro ball was an ace with the Loons. He started 15 games permitting 16 runs. The left-hander struck out 79 in his 60 innings and only gave up 29 walks. Root posted a 2.40 ERA and featured three outings with at least nine strikeouts.
The 40th overall pick in the 2025 Draft notched a career-high 11 strikeouts against the Dayton Dragons at Dow Diamond on July 7th. Root earned a promotion to Double-A Tulsa on July 28th.
The 2027 season, the Great Lakes Loons 20th season, begins on Friday, April 2nd. Great Lakes will open the season in Dayton, Ohio facing the Dayton Dragons. The Loons first home game is Tuesday, April 6th. Get your tickets for 2027 by calling 989-837-BALL or going to Loons.com.
The Great Lakes Loons have been a partner of the Los Angeles Dodgers since the team’s inception in 2007. Dow Diamond serves as the team’s home and also houses the Michigan Baseball Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit public charity, and Sports Radio 100.9 The Mitt. For tickets or information about the Loons, call 989-837-BALL or visit Loons.com.
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.