[Via email from the Montgomery Biscuits' broadcaster Jon Laaser.]Biscuits outfielder Desmond Jennings has been chosen to represent the Tampa Bay Rays in the prestigious XM All-Star Futures Game on Sunday, July 12th. Jennings, 22, was named to the roster of the U.S. team, which will face the World Team in the showcase event.
Jennings will take part in the game as part of Major League Baseball's All-Star Weekend in St. Louis at the New Busch Stadium. The 11th annual Futures Game is scheduled at 1 PM, and can be seen live on MLB.TV, ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD.
Now in its 11th season, the XM All-Star Futures Game has been an indicator of big league stardom for many prospects. 39 Major League All-Stars have appeared in the first 10 games, which have produced well over 200 eventual big leaguers.
Jennings is currently batting .318 on the season, sixth in the Southern League. He leads the league with six triples, and is currently tied for the circuit-lead in stolen bases with 26. He is also second in the league in total hits with 87, fourth in extra-base hits with 30 and also fourth in runs scored with 46.
He becomes the fourth Biscuit selected to participate in the Futures Game, joining Delmon Young (2005) and Evan Longoria (2007) who were selected to the U.S. team and current Biscuit Eddie Morlan who was chosen to the World team in 2008.
Outfielder Kyeong Kang, currently of the Low-A Bowling Green Hot Rods, will join Jennings in representing the Rays in St. Louis.
Major League Baseball, in conjunction with the Major League Baseball Scouting Bureau, MLB.com, Baseball America, USA Baseball and the 30 Major League Clubs, selected the 25-man rosters for both the U.S. and World teams. Players from all full-season Minor Leagues were eligible to participate.
Jennings will be joined in St. Louis by five other Southern League representatives. RHP Jarrod Parker (Mobile - Arizona), C Tyler Flowers (Birmingham - Chicago White Sox), OF Chris Heisey (Carolina - Cincinnati) and OF Mike Stanton (Jacksonville - Florida) join Jennings on the U.S. roster. 3B Dayan Viciedo (Birmingham - Chicago White Sox) was chosen for the World team.
A native of the Birmingham, AL, area, Jennings is currently rated as the #5 overall prospect in the Tampa Bay system by Baseball America. A 10th round selection of the Rays in the 2006 draft, he is currently in his fourth professional season.
No comments:
Post a Comment