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The International League announced on Thursday that Figueroa was selected to play in the Triple-A All-Star game that will take place on July 15 in Portland, OR.

“I’m very happy for him he’s very deserving,” Bisons skipper Ken Oberkfell said on behalf of Figueroa, who had already departed from Coca-Cola Field.

“He pitched well and is a deserving all-star he’s in the top 10 in ERA. He’s had all quality starts here. I’m happy for ‘Figgy’ and hopefully he’s happy to go.”

Fashioning a modest 3-4 record, Figueroa has been the model for hard luck starters as he has turned in quality starts nine out of his 12 starts but has been marred by a lack of offense running shotgun, getting just 2.5 runs of support and only 1.2 most of April and May.

Going 0-4 with three no-decisions in May fate began to turn in Figueroa’s favor when the calendar turned to June as he went 3-0 with two no-decisions and saw his ERA drop from 3.54 to its current 2.61 which ranks eighth in the IL.

“We’re finally starting to get him some offense, too. Which helps.” Said Oberkfell. “There was a lot of games where ‘Figgy’ pitched and it was 1-nothing, we didn’t score any runs for him. But he continued to go out he didn’t let it bother him. He just went out and pitched his game. He knew eventually we’d start hitting for him and we did and he’s maintained his level the whole time.”

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Thursday game against Rochester was postponed due to wet grounds and unplayable field conditions.

“It was real bad,” said Oberkfell. “It’s tough to see from the stands but when we walked out there earlier it was standing water and they had the blower out there trying to blow it (dry). We waited almost 45 minutes to go out there and look at it and it really hadn’t gotten any better. It’s definitely unplayable outfield, especially in left field and even parts of center field. It’s a safety issue also, it’s more than it’s just unplayable.”

It will be made up as part of a doubleheader on August 10 with a 5:35 p.m. start.

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LHP Oliver Perez (knee) is still scheduled to make his second start for Buffalo on Friday as part of his rehab stint.

It will be Perez fourth rehab appearance, last throwing on June 28 for low Class-A Brooklyn. Perez gave up just two hits and struck out six in his five innings of work with the Cyclones.

Perez went 4.1 innings in his first start with the Bisons back on May 26. He allowed one run on three hits in that outing.

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Five former Bisons - Wyatt Toregas, Andy Marte, J.D. Martin, Fernando Cabrera and Jordan Brown - were also selected to the IL team that will face the stars of the Pacific Coast League July 15. No former Bisons are on the PCL roster.

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There are about 3,000 seats remaining for the July 3 Independence Eve game that includes a post game performance by the BPO.

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For anyone who thinks it’s just the media taking shots at the Mets organization how about this assessment from former New York Met closer John Franco who was a guest on MLB Home Plate channel on SIRIUS XM Radio.

“I don’t know what it is the last couple of years. Watching them almost every day, there’s no leadership there. Nobody wants to step forward and be a leader. Something is missing and it’s hard to put your finger on it. They got some great, talented players- (Jose) Reyes, and (David) Wright and (Carlos) Beltran, now (Johan) Santana’s there-but I just can’t put my finger on it. It seems like, to me, they’re not having fun, even when they were winning.”