Major League Baseball hosted some of its top minor league prospects on Sunday night for the annual SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game, held at Petco Park in San Diego.
Three Cleveland Indians prospects were selected to the competing teams, including Akron’s Clint Frazier for the U.S. Team and both Lynchburg’s Francisco Mejia and Columbus’ Yandy Diaz for the World Team.
Frazier batted third in the U.S. lineup and struck out in his first at bat of the game against Alex Reyes (Cardinals). He made up for it his next time up as he drove in the game’s first run in the third inning with a double to right-center off of Angel Perdomo (Blue Jays), knocking in Alex Bregman (Astros) from second after his one-out double. Frazier later singled, stole a base, and also scored a run before he was replaced in the lineup by Christin Stewart (Tigers).
Frazier’s efforts helped to get the U.S. team off to a 3-0 lead before the World lineup woke up and put up two runs in the sixth and two more in the eighth to take the lead before an explosive seven-run ninth inning blew the game open.
Diaz got the start at third base and hit sixth in the World lineup. He was 1-for-2 with a single before being replaced by Carlos Asuaje (Padres). He also hit into one of three double plays for the World team.
Mejia entered the game off of the bench, taking over for catcher Gary Sanchez (Yankees) while hitting seventh in the lineup. He got three at bats in the game, thanks to all of the late scoring by the World club. He had a single, one run scored, a double play ball, and a strikeout. He allowed a stolen base with Dovydas Neverauskas (Pirates) on the mound to Hunter Dozier (Royals).
The trio of potential future MLB stars will return to their respective home clubs, with Diaz’s Clippers and Frazier’s RubberDucks on their All-Star breaks.
Frazier will play in the Eastern League’s All-Star Game on Wednesday night from Canal Park, surrounded by a half dozen ‘Ducks teammates on the Western Division roster, coached by Akron’s own coaching staff. He is hitting .287 with a .369 on-base percentage this season with 24 doubles, a triple, eleven homers, and 43 RBI in his first season at Double-A.
Play resumes for Diaz on Thursday in Toledo where the Clippers take on the Mud Hens. Between his stops with Akron and Columbus this season, the 24-year-old Cuban third baseman/second baseman/corner outfielder is hitting .304 with a .408 on-base percentage with ten doubles, three triples, six homers, and 32 RBI.
Mejia’s Hillcats teammates are playing in Salem on Monday night before a day off on Tuesday. Lynchburg reports to Zebulon to play the Carolina Mudcats on Wednesday. The 20-year-old switch-hitting catcher is hitting a combined .342 with a .371 on-base percentage in 69 games between Lake County and Lynchburg this season. He also participated in the Midwest League’s All-Star Game in June.
Photo: AP Photo/Lenny Ignelzi
