On
Aug. 1, 2008, top Perfect Game prospects Zack Wheeler and Scooter
Gennett walked out onto the field at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles as
teammates on the East Team at the 2008 PG/Aflac All-American Classic.
In the opposite dugout sat another outstanding prospect, Jonathan
Singleton, a member of the West Team at the Classic that year.
The
three promising players, all in the high school graduating class of
2009, were about to play their first game in a stadium that is the
home to a Major League Baseball club. If their progression continues
on the pace it is currently on, the trio could be playing in
big-league parks on a regular basis in the not too distant future.
Right-hander
Wheeler, second baseman Gennett and first baseman Singleton have been
named to the roster of the United States team for the 14th annual
Sirius XM All-Star Futures Game, scheduled for July 8 at Royals
Stadium in Kansas City, Mo., as part of MLB's 2012 All-Star Game
festivities.
The
game features 50 of the top-ranked minor league prospects from all 30
major league organizations - 25 on the U.S. roster and 25 more on the
World roster. There are 10 pitchers, two catchers, eight infielders
and five outfielders on each squad.
Wheeler,
Gennett and Singleton are three of 11 prospects selected for this
year's Futures Game that are alumni of a PG/Aflac All-American
Classic. The other All-American Classic alumni who will represent
their MLB organizations at the game and play on the U.S. squad are
right-handers Dylan Bundy (2010 Classic), Gerrit Cole (2007), Alex
Meyer (2007) and Jameson Taillon (2009); and outfielder Tyler Austin
(2009).
Catcher
Yasmani Grandal (2006 Classic), shortstop Francisco Lindor (2010) and
right-hander Jose Fernandez (2010) are on the World team roster.
Ten
of those 11 players also attended the Perfect Game National Showcase
between 2006 and 2010, with Bundy being the exception. Bundy did
attend the 2009 PG Junior National Showcase, however.
All
told, 29 of the 50 players, including 23 of the 25 on the United
States roster, participated in Perfect Game events while they were in
high school.
Wheeler
was a first round selection by the San Francisco Giants in the 2009
MLB amateur draft and was acquired by the New York Mets as part of
last summer's trade that sent Carlo Beltran from the Mets to the
Giants. He is now pitching extremely well for the Mets' Double-A
affiliate Binghamton in the Eastern League.
Singleton
(8th round) and Gennett (16th) were also drafted in 2009 by the
Phillies and Brewers, respectively. Singleton is now with the Houston
Astros organization and is at Corpus Christi in the Double-A Texas
League and Gennett is at Double-A Huntsville in the Southern League.
The
pitchers Bundy, Cole, Meyer and Taillon are progressing well through
their respective farm systems, even though this summer is the first
full season of minor league play for Bundy, Cole and Meyer.
Bundy,
a first round pick of the Baltimore Orioles in 2011, got off to an
especially amazing start in the low Class A South Atlantic League (no
earned runs with 40 strikeouts in 30 innings) and has since been
promoted to high Class A Frederick in the Carolina League.
What
follows is a list of the prospects that will be playing in the 2012
All-Star Futures Game who are Perfect Game alumni, with their current
minor league assignment.
UNITED
STATES TEAM:
Matt
Barnes, RHP, High Class A Salem (Red Sox), Carolina League
Trevor
Bauer, RHP, Triple-A Reno (Diamondbacks), Pacific Coast League
Dylan
Bundy, RHP, High Class A Frederick (Orioles), Carolina League
Gerrit
Cole, RHP, High Class A Bradenton (Pirates), Florida State League
Danny
Hultzen, LHP, Double-A Jackson (Mariners), Southern League
Alex
Meyer, RHP, Low Class A Hagerstown (Nationals), South Atlantic
League
Jake
Odorizzi, RHP, Triple-A Omaha (Royals), Pacific Coast League
Jameson
Taillon, RHP, High Class A Bradenton (Pirates), Florida State
League
Taijuan
Walker, RHP, Double-A Jackson (Mariners), Southern League
Travis
d'Arnaud, C, Triple-A Las Vegas (Blue Jays), Pacific Coast League
Tommy
Joseph, C, Double-A Richmond (Giants), Eastern League
Nolan
Arenado, 3B, Double-A Tulsa (Rockies), Texas League
Nick
Castellanos, 3B, Double-A Erie (Tigers), Eastern League
Scooter
Gennett, 2B, Double-A Huntsville (Brewers), Southern League
Billy
Hamilton, SS, High Class A Bakersfield (Reds), California League
Manny
Machado, SS, Double-A Bowie (Orioles), Eastern League
Jonathan
Singleton, 1B, Double-A Corpus Christi (Astros), Texas League
Kolten
Wong, 2B, Double-A Springfield (Cardinals), Texas League
Tyler
Austin, OF, Low Class A Charleston (Yankees), South Atlantic
League
Michael
Choice, OF, Double-A Midland (Athletics), Texas League
Anthony
Gose, OF, Triple-A Las Vegas (Blue Jays), Pacific Coast League
Wil
Myers, OF, Triple-A Omaha (Royals), Pacific Coast League
Christian
Yelich, OF, High Class A Jupiter, (Marlins), Florida State League
WORLD
TEAM:
Jose
Fernandez, RHP, Low Class A Greensboro (Marlins), South Atlantic
League
Kyle
Lotzkar, RHP, Double-A Pensacola (Reds), Southern League
Chris
Reed, LHP, Double-A Chattanooga (Dodgers), Southern League
Julio
Rodriguez, RHP, Double-A Reading (Phillies), Eastern League
Yasmani
Grandal, C, Triple-A Tucson (Padres), Pacific Coast League
Francisco
Lindor, SS, Low Class A Lake County (Indians), Midwest League