- Joined
- May 8, 2002
- Posts
- 1,211,143
- Reaction score
- 59
All-Star festivities are officially underway in Philadelphia as the American League beat the National League 6-1 in the annual Futures Game on Sunday afternoon. The Boston Red Sox were well represented in Sunday’s exhibition, as their top two organizational prospects, shortstop Franklin Arias and pitcher Anthony Eyanson, saw action. Here’s what you need to know about their performances:
The All-Star Futures Game is an annual seven-inning exhibition played at the site of the All-Star Game. Like the Major League All-Star Game, each organization gets at least one representative.
Arias came into Sunday’s showcase as the top prospect in the Boston organization and Baseball America’s third overall prospect. As such, the 20-year-old got the start at second base for the American League squad, batting second.
Athletics top prospect Leo De Vries led off the first inning with a single off of Phillies top pitching prospect Gage Wood before stealing both second and third base, setting Arias up to cash in on the American League threat early. Down in the count 1-2, Arias chopped a 97 mph fastball from Wood to the top overall prospect in the sport, Brewers shortstop Jesus Made, who conceded the run, retiring Arias at first, giving the AL an early 1-0 lead.
Arias stepped to the plate for his second at-bat, this time against Cardinals No. 2 prospect, Liam Doyle, to lead off the top of the fourth inning. Arias worked a 2-2 count before chasing a good splitter that broke down and away from right-handed batters, just out of the zone, and went down swinging.
The strikeout marked the final plate appearance of Arias’ day, as he was replaced by Tigers fourth-overall prospect Max Anderson in the bottom of the fifth inning. Overall, Arias went 0-for-2 with an RBI.
Eyanson entered Sunday afternoon as one of the fastest-rising prospects in baseball, having begun the year unranked in Baseball America’s top 100 before rising to No. 33 in July’s update. The 21-year-old right-hander entered the game in the bottom of the fourth inning in relief of Royals top prospect Kendry Chourio, who recorded the first two outs of the inning while allowing a single.
Eyanson was uncharacteristically wild to his first batter, Padres top prospect catcher Ethan Salas, issuing a walk on six pitches to put men on first and second. Eyanson fell behind 3-0 to Brewers No. 2 prospect Luis Pena before regaining control, working the count full on a pair of foul balls. Eyanson escaped the jam, getting Pena to fly out to center field and end the inning.
The final out of the fourth is all Eyanson would get as he was lifted to begin the fifth inning by Mariners No. 2 prospect Ryan Sloan. Eyanson was, however, the pitcher of record, earning the win as the American League took down the National League.
Tampa Bay Rays second-ranked prospect Nathan Flewelling was named MVP of the game, going 1-for-1 with a two-run home run in the top of the sixth inning, which gave the AL a 4-1 lead.
Eyanson and Arias will head off on their All-Star breaks before returning to Portland for the start of the unofficial second half, which begins Friday night.
Remember to join our RED SOX on ROUNDTABLE community, which is FREE! You can post your own thoughts, in text or video form, and you can engage with our Roundtable staff, as well as other Red Sox fans. If prompted to download the Roundtable APP, that's free too!
Continue reading...
About the Futures Game
The All-Star Futures Game is an annual seven-inning exhibition played at the site of the All-Star Game. Like the Major League All-Star Game, each organization gets at least one representative.
How did the Red Sox representatives perform?
Arias came into Sunday’s showcase as the top prospect in the Boston organization and Baseball America’s third overall prospect. As such, the 20-year-old got the start at second base for the American League squad, batting second.
Athletics top prospect Leo De Vries led off the first inning with a single off of Phillies top pitching prospect Gage Wood before stealing both second and third base, setting Arias up to cash in on the American League threat early. Down in the count 1-2, Arias chopped a 97 mph fastball from Wood to the top overall prospect in the sport, Brewers shortstop Jesus Made, who conceded the run, retiring Arias at first, giving the AL an early 1-0 lead.
Arias stepped to the plate for his second at-bat, this time against Cardinals No. 2 prospect, Liam Doyle, to lead off the top of the fourth inning. Arias worked a 2-2 count before chasing a good splitter that broke down and away from right-handed batters, just out of the zone, and went down swinging.
The strikeout marked the final plate appearance of Arias’ day, as he was replaced by Tigers fourth-overall prospect Max Anderson in the bottom of the fifth inning. Overall, Arias went 0-for-2 with an RBI.
Eyanson entered Sunday afternoon as one of the fastest-rising prospects in baseball, having begun the year unranked in Baseball America’s top 100 before rising to No. 33 in July’s update. The 21-year-old right-hander entered the game in the bottom of the fourth inning in relief of Royals top prospect Kendry Chourio, who recorded the first two outs of the inning while allowing a single.
Eyanson was uncharacteristically wild to his first batter, Padres top prospect catcher Ethan Salas, issuing a walk on six pitches to put men on first and second. Eyanson fell behind 3-0 to Brewers No. 2 prospect Luis Pena before regaining control, working the count full on a pair of foul balls. Eyanson escaped the jam, getting Pena to fly out to center field and end the inning.
The final out of the fourth is all Eyanson would get as he was lifted to begin the fifth inning by Mariners No. 2 prospect Ryan Sloan. Eyanson was, however, the pitcher of record, earning the win as the American League took down the National League.
Tampa Bay Rays second-ranked prospect Nathan Flewelling was named MVP of the game, going 1-for-1 with a two-run home run in the top of the sixth inning, which gave the AL a 4-1 lead.
Eyanson and Arias will head off on their All-Star breaks before returning to Portland for the start of the unofficial second half, which begins Friday night.
JOIN THE CONVERSATION
Remember to join our RED SOX on ROUNDTABLE community, which is FREE! You can post your own thoughts, in text or video form, and you can engage with our Roundtable staff, as well as other Red Sox fans. If prompted to download the Roundtable APP, that's free too!
Continue reading...
