Futures Game to highlight young talent

07/12/2008 8:57 PM ET
Futures Game to highlight young talent
Rising stars get final chance for spot on Olympic rosters
By Lisa Winston / MLB.com

NEW YORK -- There will be more than just bragging rights and national pride at stake when the U.S. and World teams take the field on Sunday for the 10th annual XM Satellite Radio All-Star Futures Game at Yankee Stadium.

Naturally, with the "big game" and its related festivities in New York City being held for the last time at Yankee Stadium, the excitement and anticipation surrounding all of the events is palpable.

And since its inception in 1999, the Futures Game has certainly become one of the highlights of those festivities, showcasing top prospects from all 30 organizations.

But this year brings even more intrigue to the formula because the 24 players who will be wearing the uniforms of the U.S. team are also on the short list for the upcoming 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China.

So the game, which has been expanded from its usual seven innings to nine this year (with an accompanying earlier start time of 12:30 p.m. ET), will serve as an opportunity for the participants to make a final good impression on the "decision makers," all of whom will be in attendance.

In fact, within hours, maybe even minutes, of the last out of the game, the folks from USA Baseball will convene to select the final team that will head to Beijing in August.

It doesn't mean that players not on this team will not be considered for the Olympic squad, which will be officially announced on July 16, the day after the Major League All-Star Game.

After all, the Olympic squad will be a mix of rising prospects and veteran Minor Leaguers, while the Futures Game is, as the name implies, all about the future stars of the game.

But the game certainly gives the players on hand an additional reason to want to shine in their time at the plate, on the mound and in the field.

Among the prospects who will be vying for invitations to what could be the last hurrah for baseball at the Olympic games are an assortment of multi-talented recent first-round picks.

The most familiar name to baseball fans right now would have to be newly minted Cleveland Indians outfield prospect Matt LaPorta, the marquee player acquired from Milwaukee in the deal for ace pitcher CC Sabathia.

LaPorta, who was drafted seventh overall in 2007 by the Brewers out of Florida, had been hitting .288 at Double-A Huntsville with 20 homers and 66 RBIs at the time of the deal. In his first four games at Double-A Akron post-trade he was hitting .375 with a home run and four RBIs. He will be starting at first base and batting sixth.

Pittsburgh Pirates center fielder Andrew McCutchen, a 21-year-old five-tool talent, will be the starting left fielder in the Futures Game and the afternoon's leadoff hitter. One of the highly touted crew of 2005 first-round high school outfielders (with Justin Upton, Cameron Maybin, Jay Bruce and Colby Rasmus), McCutchen is the lone member of that quintet playing in this game.

He's been hitting .282 with eight homers, 34 RBIs and 24 steals at Triple-A Indianapolis, where he strives for the consistency he knows he needs to exhibit in order to make that last step to the big leagues.

2004 first-rounder Greg Golson is one of three Phillies prospects on the Futures team (with catcher Lou Marson and shortstop Jason Donald) and four in the game itself (with World Team starting pitcher Carlos Carrasco). Recently returned from a month spent on the DL with a sore wrist, Golson was hitting .300 with eight home runs, 39 RBIs and 17 steals. He will come off the bench for the U.S. squad.

Vying for a spot in the Team USA bullpen is another 2007 first-round pick, Vanderbilt product Casey Weathers of the Colorado Rockies. Working in short relief as a setup man, though he profiles as a closer down the road, Weathers sported a 2.29 ERA in 35 games for the Double-A Tulsa Drillers and had fanned 40 in 35 1/3 innings while limiting Texas League batters to a .184 average.

That quartet is just a small sampling of the talent level that will be taking the field on Sunday to what is expected to be a sold-out crowd of fans at the House That Ruth Built.

Not surprisingly, the gentlemen who will be managing the U.S. and World squads are looking forward to the opportunity as well, namely U.S. team manager Davey Johnson and World manager Tino Martinez.

The Futures Game has traditionally featured former superstars at the helms of the teams, usually with some sort of ties to the location of the event, and this year is no different in that respect.

In the case of Johnson, though, his New York ties were simply a convenient coincidence since, as manager of the U.S. Olympic team, he would have been given this honor regardless.

However, Johnson has spent his share of time in New York. A four-time All-Star second baseman, Johnson spent 13 years in the Majors as a player with Baltimore, Atlanta, Philadelphia and the Chicago Cubs from 1965-1978. During that time he won three Gold Glove awards and a pair of World Series rings with the Orioles in 1966 and 1970.

Many current fans, however, remember him better for his time as a big league manager, including a stint with the New York Mets from 1984-1990 which included a World Series title in 1986, as well as with the Reds, Orioles and Dodgers. He was American League Manager of the Year in 1997 with Baltimore and has been associated with USA Baseball as coach and manager since 2005.

As such, he will have a strong say in the final makeup of the Olympic team and is looking forward to watching his Futures squad.

"Off the top of my head, I will say that probably half of them [the Futures team] will make the [Olympic] squad," Johnson said Saturday. "But a lot of the decisions have already been made so they're not really auditioning here."

Johnson's World Team counterpart, Martinez, spent a few years in the House That Ruth Built as well with four World Series rings in 1996, 1998, 1999 and 2000 to show for it. A two-time All-Star himself, he retired as a Yankee after the 2005 season and since then has been coaching at South Florida as well as doing some roving and Spring Training work with the Yankees system.

In fact, he has surprised himself with how much he has enjoyed that experience so far.

"I really enjoy teaching the players and working with the hitters," Martinez said. "I always thought I would be bored by it, but I love it."

And though it's just for a day, he's really looking forward to his Futures Game experience, but he doesn't plan on doing a lot of "hands-on managing," at least not for the first six or seven innings.

"This game is all about the players," he said. "It's their time to shine. I'm not going to take the bat out of anyone's hands."

And while the extended format allows the U.S. team members to get a few extra at-bats and innings, so too will a few Olympic hopefuls on the World Team.

Among the other seven countries which will be competing at the Olympics are Canada, the Netherlands and Taiwan. And while none of the members of Team Canada, announced this past week, will be participating in the Futures Game, spectators could see two other 2008 Olympians in the contest.

Washington Nationals pitcher Shairon Martis, a 21-year-old right-hander from Curacao, is on the short list to head to Beijing with the Dutch squad. Martis started the year at Double-A Harrisburg where he posted a 3.98 ERA in 14 starts before moving up to Triple-A Columbus where he had a 3.80 ERA in four starts, each successively better than the last.

Boston Red Sox outfield prospect Che-Hsuan Lin is expected to represent Taiwan. The 19-year-old center/right fielder was hitting .251 with five homers, 34 RBIs and 26 steals for Class A Greenville.

Fans can tune into the game action live on MLB.com and XM Satellite radio on Sunday at 12:30 p.m. ET, but will also have the opportunity to watch it taped on Monday evening following the big league Home Run Derby broadcast on ESPN2.

Lisa Winston is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

07/10/2008 9:00 AM ET
Meet the Future: World pitchers
Pimentel, Rondon headline impressive crop of rising stars
By Ari Wasserman / Special to MLB.com

While the World Team's pitchers for this year's 10th annual XM All-Star Futures Game can be spotted on various Minor League pitching mounds across the country, all 10 of them look to be positioning themselves properly for a successful Major League career, sooner or later.

The title of the game cleverly implies the truth, as all of the pitchers who fill out this year's World roster have bright futures. With both the American League and National League well-represented in terms of pitchers, the game may prove to be a fantastic glimpse into what's to come in the Major Leagues in both the near and distant future.

Following is the list of pitchers on this year's World squad, which will take on the U.S. in the Futures Game on July 13 at Yankee Stadium:

Phillippe Aumont, Wisconsin (Class A, Seattle)

The Seattle Mariners drafted Aumont, a Canadian native, with the 11th overall pick in 2007 as they were presumably impressed with his ability to throw in the mid-90s. The 6-foot-7 hurler is the first Quebec native to ever be taken in the first round of the Draft in Major League history.

Sidelined since June 9 due to elbow issues, Aumont has served as both a starter and reliever for Wisconsin this season and has found moderate success in each role. Thus far this season, he has posted a 4-4 record and converted two saves while boasting a 2.62 ERA.

He had six scoreless appearances before giving up the first earned run of his career, and he went at least three innings in all his outings except one.

Carlos Carrasco, Reading (Double-A, Philadelphia)

Carrasco replaced Reading teammate Antonio Bastardo, who will be unable to play in the Futures Game due to injury. A native of Venezuela, Carrasco has had a rather up-and-down season this year, as he sports a 5-7 record and 4.18 ERA.

Signed by Philadelphia as a free agent in 2003, he had a solid year in 2007, going 12-6 with a 3.68 ERA and two shutouts between Class A Advanced Clearwater and Reading. Before being called up to Reading on June 20 last year, Carrasco was named a Florida League All-Star.

Though the 21-year-old has had some rough starts this season, he's proven to be an exciting product in the Phillies organization with a bright future.

Jesus Delgado, Carolina (Double-A, Florida)

Delgado, the oldest pitcher on the World roster, had some early struggles with the Triple-A Albuquerque Isotopes and was sent down to the Mudcats after just six appearances in which he gave up 14 earned runs in just over 10 innings.

When Delgado got to the Mudcats, however, his season turned around for the better. As a reliever with Carolina, the Venezuela native is 5-1 with a 3.83 ERA in 26 games with 34 strikeouts.

He originally signed with the Red Sox as a free agent in 2001, but came over to Florida along with Hanley Ramirez and others in the trade for Josh Beckett and Mike Lowell.

Jamie Garcia, Memphis (Triple-A, St. Louis)

After spending the first month of the season with the Double-A Springfield Cardinals and posting stellar numbers, Garcia was called up to Memphis. With Springfield, he went 3-2 with a 2.06 ERA in six starts. The only Mexico native on the World roster, he didn't allow more than three runs in any of his Double-A appearances.

When called up to Memphis, Garcia cooled down a tad but still posted solid numbers for someone who'd become accustomed to Double-A talent. With the Redbirds, he is 4-4 with a 4.59 ERA and 57 strikeouts in 12 starts.

Garcia was selected by St. Louis in the 22nd round of the 2005 Draft and has been steadily climbing the ranks ever since.

Shairon Martis, Columbus (Triple-A, Washington)

Though only 21 years old, Martis already has a boatload of experience. The native of Willemstad, Curacao, pitched for the Netherlands in the World Baseball Classic in 2006, tossing a seven-inning no-hitter over Panama. The game was cut short due to enforcement of the mercy rule.

Martis spent the majority of the first half of this season with the Double-A Harrisburg Senators, where he went 4-4 with a 3.98 ERA. Since being called up to Columbus, he has had only had three starts and has gone 0-1 with a 4.86 ERA. The Giants originally signed the hurler as a free agent at the beginning of 2004.

Eddie Morlan, Montgomery (Double-A, Rays)

Morlan, a steady reliever for the Biscuits, is the only player representing Cuba on the World Team. Thus far this season, he has had 13 appearances and has yet to lose a game. On the season Morlan is 0-0 with a 4.32 ERA.

Originally drafted in the third round by Minnesota in 2004, Moran had 18 saves last year in his first full season as a reliever. He also struck out 12.79 batters per nine innings, which was 12th in the Minor Leagues.

Julio Pimentel, Northwest Arkansas (Double-A, Kansas City)

Though Pimentel originally signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers, the hurler from the Dominican Republic has done everything possible to make a name for himself with the Royals organization.

In 2007 with Class A Advanced Wilmington, he went 12-4 with a 2.65 ERA, but the success from a year ago has yet to carry over into this season. With Northwest Arkansas in 2008, Pimentel has posted a rather unimpressive 3-9 record with a 5.84 ERA.

The 6-foot-1, 190-pound hurler was traded from the Dodgers in 2006 as part of the Odalis Perez deal that sent both of them to Kansas City for Elmer Dessens and cash considerations. While Pimentel probably isn't having the season he had hoped for thus far, his potential is high.

Henry Rodriguez, Stockton (Class A Advanced, Oakland)

As each year passes in the Athletics organization, it seems as if Rodriguez is growing better and better. After going 6-8 with a 3.07 ERA in his first year in Class A ball with Kane County last season, Rodriguez got his chance to shine in Double-A this season for Midland in the Texas League.

Upon arriving to play for Midland, however, Rodriguez ran into some trouble and went 1-6 with an 8.82 ERA in nine starts, thus being sent back down to Class A Advanced Stockton. Rodriguez seems to be turning it around with the Ports; he is 2-2 with a 2.96 ERA and 70 strikeouts with his new squad.

The 21-year-old hurler from Venezuela is currently in his fourth season in the A's organization after signing a free-agent deal in 2003. He will most likely serve time in the World's bullpen and will hope to play the rest of his season for a second chance at Double-A.

Hector Rondon, Kinston (Class A Advanced, Cleveland)

As Rondon continues to tear through the Carolina League for the Kinston Indians, he is also turning heads in the process. The results? He is the only player in the Cleveland Indians farm system to be selected to participate in the Futures Game.

Rondon, another native of Venezuela, has been brutal for the opposition in the Carolina League, as he has posted a 7-3 record and 3.06 ERA so far this season. Rondon's seven wins and 97 strikeouts are both tied for second in the Carolina League.

Rondon has spent his entire professional career with the Indians after signing in 2004.

Polin Trinidad, Corpus Christi (Double-A, Houston)

After a solid start to the year in which he went 4-2 with a 2.32 ERA for Salem in the Carolina League, Trinidad was promoted to Double-A Corpus Christi.

Since being called up to the Hooks, Trinidad, a native of the Dominican Republic, has gone 2-2 with a 4.06 ERA in seven starts. He singed with the Astros organization in 2002 as an non-drafted free agent.

Ari Wasserman is a contributor to MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

07/11/2008 8:00 AM ET
Meet the Future: U.S. pitchers
A's, Rockies each have two hurlers on an impressive staff
By Kevin T. Czerwinski / MLB.com

There are two Athletics and there are two Rockies. There are also two Kevins and two left-handers among the pitchers on the United States roster for the XM All-Star Futures Game that will take place Sunday at Yankee Stadium.

While it all seems a bit symmetrical, there's nothing really consistent about the 10 pitchers who'll be charged with keeping the World Team off the basepaths, other than that they are, well, consistent. This grouping is a varied bunch to be sure with a few big names among them, none of which, however, is the big knockout name that accompanies a top pick in the draft.

Big name, little name, no name, it really doesn't matter at this point, though. This group has proven to be effective as individuals, and will now get the chance to prove how good they can be as a collective. Here's a closer look at all the parties involved.

Brett Anderson, Midland (Double-A Athletics)

Anderson, who is one of only two lefties on the U.S. squad, was originally drafted by the Diamondbacks in 2006 (second round) and had a big debut season for them last year at South Bend of the Midwest League and Visalia of the California League. His season nearly ended abruptly, though, after he was involved in a traffic accident at the end of July. He suffered a concussion and would pitch only four more innings.

The accident, however, didn't impact his marketability. He had already established his value, and as a result was sent to Oakland as part of the monster deal that sent Dan Haren to the Diamondbacks last winter.

If the deal or his new surroundings upset Anderson, it hasn't showed. He began the year by going 9-4 with a 4.14 ERA in 14 games (13 starts) for Stockton of the Cal League, before earning a bump up to Midland of the Texas League, where he won his first start.

Anderson has a nearly six-to-one strikeout-to-walk ratio in 200 career innings. He can hit the low 90s on the gun, but he changes speeds and controls the game more than blowing batters away. He has poise on the mound, enough that it may carry him to Sacramento this season.

Jake Arrieta, Frederick (Class A Advanced Orioles)

Arrieta was a fifth-round pick out of Texas Christian last year, but didn't sign early enough to get into any regular-season action. He looked good in the Arizona Fall League, though, impressing scouts while earning All-Prospect team laurels. The Orioles thought he was advanced enough to start him at Frederick this season and he hasn't disappointed.

He was 6-4 through his first 18 starts, while his 2.75 ERA was good enough for tops in the circuit and was one of only three sub-3.00 marks in the Carolina League. He allowed one earned run or fewer in seven of his first 10 starts. He recently endured a seven-start stretch in which he went 1-4 with a 5.45 ERA. He did strike out a season-high 10 against Winston-Salem July 4, earning his first victory in six weeks. He followed that up by allowing just one hit in seven shutout innings against the Warthogs on July 9, but received a no decision.

Trevor Cahill, Midland (Double-A Athletics)

Cahill is the second of two Oakland prospects on the staff, but no one will ever consider him anything less than a No. 1. The 2006 second-rounder is two years out of high school and dominating the Texas League to the tune of 3-0 with a 1.89 ERA through three starts. He began the season with Stockton of the California League, but it was clear that the Class A Advanced circuit couldn't hold him.

He was promoted to the Texas League shortly before the California-Carolina League All-Star Game, having gone 5-4 with a 2.78 ERA in 14 games (13 starts) with the Ports. He held the opposition to a .174 average in the Cal League, and has been even more dominant in Double-A, limiting Texas League hitters to a .131 average through 19 innings.

Cahill tossed eight innings of two-hit, shutout ball against Arkansas on July 4, once again proving that he pitches much older than he is. He turned 20 in March and displays a vast array of pitches, from a nice sinking fastball to a pretty nifty curve. If he continues to progress, don't be shocked if he celebrates his 21st year at some point with an arrival in Oakland.

Will Inman, San Antonio (Double-A Padres)

Well, there were some people in San Diego who weren't quite sold on Inman after he arrived from Milwaukee in the trade that sent Scott Linebrink to the Brewers last summer. He had a tough Double-A portion to the 2007 season (4-8 with a 4.80 ERA at Huntsville and San Antonio).

But Inman only turned 21 this spring. He has three Minor League seasons on his resume, and that experience has shown through this season at San Antonio, where he has gone 8-4 through his first 18 starts. He was tied for the league lead in victories and was second with a 3.05 ERA. He was also on top of the league with 100 strikeouts and tied for the top with a pair of complete games.

How he holds up in the second half of the season will be telling. He got tired in the second half of last year and struggled with fatigue at the end of the 2006 season. Still, Inman has proven the naysayers wrong with a big first half and will arrive at Yankee Stadium with thoughts of heading to Beijing and Portland on his mind after he leaves.

Kevin Jepsen, Salt Lake (Triple-A Angels)

It's taken a while for Jepsen to come into his own this season, splitting time between the Texas and Pacific Coast Leagues. Though he had two losses, he also had a pair of saves and a 2.93 ERA through his first nine Triple-A appearances. He had been 2-1 with a 1.42 ERA and 11 saves in 25 appearances at Arkansas of the Double-A Texas League.

Jepsen was a second-round pick in the 2002 Draft and was slow to develop, spending two-plus seasons at Rancho Cucamonga of the California League after moving to the bullpen. He has dealt with injury problems in the past, but appears to have put any of those concerns behind him. Jepsen has regained the velocity that made him attractive earlier in his career, and could play a role in the Angels' playoff push late this season.

Ryan Mattheus, Tulsa (Double-A Rockies)

Mattheus had been a starter throughout his career, and even earned a berth on the Texas League All-Star team last season. But his ERA was well over 5.00, and the inconsistencies he showed in the rotation hadn't dissipated in four professional seasons.

So, the Rockies sent him to the bullpen, putting him on the same path they had chosen for Juan Morillo and Steven Register. While Register has had more success than Morillo, they both are prime examples of what the Rockies hope will happen with Mattheus, who was 2-2 with a 3.03 ERA and 12 saves through 38 appearances with Double-A Tulsa.

Mattheus has had some success. At one point in May, June and July, he had a stretch where he didn't allow an earned run in 18 of 19 appearances. Whether he'll turn into Colorado's closer of the future remains to be seen, but he certainly seems to have found his niche in the bullpen.

Kevin Pucetas, San Jose (Class A Advanced Giants)

It's taken Pucetas awhile to get some respect, though it would seem that a 29-5 record and a 2.24 ERA through 56 career games would be enough to garner some attention. Yet, when discussing San Francisco pitching prospects, Pucetas' name hadn't been mentioned much, if at all, until recently.

But he's 7-0 with a 2.52 ERA in 15 starts at San Jose this season, and will, in all likelihood, be in Beijing when the USA contingent touches down in China in a few weeks. He's allowed only two homers through 78 2/3 innings this season and has a strikeout-to-walk ratio of better than three-to-one. It will be interesting to see when the Giants decide its time for the Limestone College product to move up to Double-A.

Clayton Richard, Charlotte (Triple-A White Sox)

The 6-foot-5 southpaw had a solid, yet undistinguished, career heading into this season but has blossomed this year, particularly since earning a promotion to the International League after going 6-6 with a 2.47 ERA in 13 starts for Double-A Birmingham.

Richard has been nothing short of spectacular since moving up to Charlotte, going 6-0 in his first six starts with a 2.37 ERA. He's got a complete game for the Knights and has walked only four batters in 38 innings.

He was an eighth-round pick in 2005 and had gone 9-15 with a 3.75 ERA in 32 appearances (31 starts) at Winston-Salem of the Carolina League prior to beginning this season with Birmingham. Richard finished second in the Carolina League in innings pitched last season, but had not been on the radar screen of most pundits prior to his recent effort.

Jess Todd, Springfield (Double-A Cardinals)

The Cards grabbed Todd in the second round of the 2007 Draft out of the University of Arkansas-Fayetteville, but he's pitched more like a first-rounder since. He's gone 5-3 this season with a 1.68 ERA while splitting 18 games (14 starts) between Palm Beach of the Florida State League and Springfield of the Texas League.

Though he's lost two of his last four Double-A starts, Todd still sports a 1.69 ERA in 69 1/3 innings since his promotion. He's been a little more susceptible to the home run ball in the Texas League (five allowed after not allowing any in 27 1/3 innings at Palm Beach). But he's held the opposition to a .190 batting average, and has struck out 52 while walking only 13.

Casey Weathers, Tulsa (Double-A Rockies)

The Rockies chose the former Vanderbilt star in the first round last season, and he has made the switch from Commodore to Colorado with relative ease. He's got a big-time arm with a big-time fastball, and has proven to be very effective this season with Double-A Tulsa.

Weathers is 2-0 with a 2.29 ERA and two saves through 35 appearances, striking out 40 in 35 1/3 innings. He's allowed only one homer and has held the opposition to a .189 batting average. The Rockies have been using him in measured bursts, so he'll probably be fresh through the end of the year, when there's a very good chance he'll be spending time in Denver.

Kevin Czerwinski is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

Mud Hens to Take Part in 2008 MLB Futures Game on July 13 at Yankee Stadium!

The Toledo Mud Hens will send two members of the organization to play and coach in the 2008 Futures Game. Toledo Manager Larry Parrish will join Detroit prospect Wilkin Ramirez (currently with Double-A Erie) on the World Team during the Major League Baseball All-Star festivities during a game to be played on July 13 at Yankee Stadium in New York.

The game features the brightest prospects in minor league baseball. Players are assigned to the United States team or the World Team consisting of players from 10 countries and territories from around the globe. These players not only represent their countries, but also the baseball organizations for which they play. All participants will wear the hat of their major league affiliate franchise with the official Futures Game jerseys.

Parrish is in his fifth season as Toledo’s manager. In his five seasons he has led the Mud Hens to back-to-back division and Governor’s Cup Championships in 2005-2006. He will join outfielder Wilkin Ramirez, who played with the Mud Hens earlier in the season from June 6-19. Ramirez, 22, is ranked as the 14th best prospect in the Detroit Tigers organization.

World Team Coaching Staff

Manager: Tino Martinez

Coaches:

Pat Listach
Manager, Iowa Cubs
Chicago Cubs
Pacific Coast League/AAA

Scott Little
Manager, Frisco Rough Riders
Texas Rangers
Texas League/AA

Larry Parrish
Manager, Toledo Mud Hens
Detroit Tigers
International League/AAA

John Stearns
Manager, Harrisburg Senators
Washington Nationals
Eastern League/AA

Carlos Subero
Manager, Birmingham Barons
Chicago White Sox
Southern League/AA

Rafael Chaves
Pitching Coach, Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees
New York Yankees
International League/AAA

07/13/2008 6:29 PM ET
Nerves not a problem in Futures Game
World Team wins in spite of Yankee Stadium excitement
By Jason Beck / MLB.com

NEW YORK -- So much for the pressure of a young kid pitching in Yankee Stadium.

Tino Martinez and his coaching staff for the XM All-Star Futures Game admittedly didn't know a whole lot about all their World Team pitchers, but they knew plenty about the nerves a young player can feel pitching for the first time in "The House that Ruth Built."

The kids threw them a curve. More accurately, they threw everything from knee-bending curves to changeups and even a few 100 mph fastballs. As a result, they threw a 3-0 shutout on a U.S. Team that was loaded with hitters that will likely be headed to the Olympics next month.

"They were aggressive," Martinez said. "Our guys had fun, and we just pitched a great ballgame. All of our pitchers pitched their one inning and they did the job."

One after another, they came in, got their outs, and came out, starting with Phillies Double-A prospect Carlos Carrasco's two-strikeout opening inning and continuing down the line.

Not until a fifth-inning, two-out walk to Taylor Teagarden (Rangers) and an ensuing single from Jason Donald (Phillies) did the U.S. Team put a runner into scoring position. The only hit up until then was a Matt LaPorta single that glanced off World Team third baseman Luke Hughes on its way into left field. Arguably, the best-hit ball for the U.S. Team for the first six innings was a deep drive from Pirates top prospect Andrew McCutchen, and that sailed foul.

More than a few of these players had never been to New York, let alone Yankee Stadium.

"That was the thing we worried about," said World Team coach Larry Parrish, who manages in Toledo. "We hadn't seen any of these guys in Triple-A. Some of the guys were A-ball guys. You don't know what you're going to get with some of these guys, so we tried to pitch them right in the middle.

"[Hector] Rondon, he hadn't pitched above Kinston in A-ball, and he comes in today throwing nice and easy about 95. And we're like, 'Whoaaah, we could've saved this guy for later.' That's a pretty good arm right there."

Rondon (Indians) pitched a perfect third inning. Rays Double-A right-hander Eduardo Morlan followed with a scoreless fourth, using a nasty slider to send down U.S. designated hitter Jamie D'Antona. Once Teagarden and Donald put together their rally off Royals Double-A prospect Julio Pimentel, the rest of the World Team bullpen clamped down.

Pimentel struck out McCutchen on a breaking ball to end the threat, starting a string of seven consecutive U.S. batters retired. Jesus Delgado (Marlins) retired the middle of the U.S. lineup in order in the sixth before Fernando Salas (Cardinals) sent down top prospects Nate Schierholtz (Giants), LaPorta and Dexter Fowler (Rockies) in the seventh.

"I was really happy with the team," Castro said. "We shut down the U.S. team. That's great. There's a lot of young guys here."

Henry Rodriguez (A's) broke the string with a leadoff walk in the eighth. All he did from there was unleash a series of 100 mph fastballs to strike out the next three batters. Rodriguez threw so violently that he fell over on the mound after delivering one of those fastballs.

The combined efforts allowed the World Team's early lead to stand up in what was a 1-0 game until the seventh. A first-inning throwing error from Donald provided the opening for the World Team to take an early lead. Rangers prospect Elvis Andrus ended up on second base with one out after the miscue, and promptly stole third to set up Pablo Sandoval (Giants) for the RBI on a fielder's-choice grounder.

It was a quiet offensive afternoon for a U.S. team playing its last tryout before USA Baseball officials decide the roster for next month's Olympic team, for which many of these players are candidates. Still, the Futures Game showed that the U.S. can rely on quality pitching and a solid defense, which threw out World Team baserunners for three consecutive outs. Reliever Brett Anderson (A's) caught back-to-back runners trying for second base in the third inning, while Teagarden celebrated his entrance into the game by throwing out Sandoval for the first out of the fourth.

The U.S. squad had no defense, however, for Che-Hsuan Lin's seventh-inning drive down the left-field line after Juan Francisco (Reds) singled to start the breakaway rally. Lin pounced on a first-pitch fastball from Ryan Mattheus (Rockies) and poked it just inside the foul pole for a two-run homer. Not only was it the first run-scoring hit of the game, it was the first extra-base hit from either side.

"At the beginning, I was a little nervous at Yankee Stadium, on a big-league field," said Lin, who took home MVP honors. "But on the home run at-bat, I was trying to get a good pitch to hit."

If they had nerves, it wasn't showing.

"It was a big day," Carrasco said of pitching at Yankee Stadium. "It was the biggest emotion in my life. I tried to enjoy the whole thing today."

Jason Beck is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.