Updated rosters for SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game

Updated rosters for the 15th annual SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game, to be played on Sunday, July 14th at Citi Field, were announced today by Major League Baseball. Nine players from the originally announced rosters, including six for the U.S. Team and three for the World Team, have been replaced due to injury or promotion. 
 
The replaced players on the U.S. Team include right-handed pitchers Taylor Guerrieri (TB) and Taylor Jordan (WSH); infielders Joey Gallo (TEX), Brad Miller (SEA) and Joey Terdoslavich (ATL); and catcher Josh Phegley (CWS). They have been replaced by right-handed pitcher A.J. Cole (WSH); left-handed pitcher C.J. Riefenhauser (TB); infielders Garin Cecchini (BOS), Chris Owings (ARI) and Christian Walker (BAL); and catcher James McCann (DET).

For the World Team, the replaced players include catcher Jorge Alfaro (TEX) and outfielders Jorge Soler (CHI) and Oscar Taveras (STL). They have been replaced by infielder Ji-Man Choi (SEA) and outfielders Reymond Fuentes (SD) and Jesus Galindo (SF). In addition, right-handed pitcher C.C. Lee (CLE) will be unavailable to appear after being promoted to the Majors, and he will not be replaced on the roster.

The SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game, which is now in its 15th year, features the top Minor League prospects competing in a nine-inning contest as part of Taco Bell All-Star Sunday. The U.S. Team leads the all-time series, 8-6. The game will begin at 2:00 p.m. (EDT) and can be viewed live on ESPN2, ESPN2 HD and MLB.com.
  
SiriusXM, the Official Satellite Radio Partner of Major League Baseball, will provide live play-by-play coverage of the SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game on MLB Network Radio (XM channel 89; Sirius channel 209) in addition to SiriusXM's other comprehensive live coverage from New York. The game will also be available to SiriusXM subscribers on the SiriusXM Internet Radio App for smart phones and mobile devices and online at SiriusXM.com. Taco Bell All-Star Sunday is the first of three days of All-Star events at Citi Field, culminating with the 84th All-Star Game on Tuesday, July 16th.

The teams now feature 13 former first round draft picks (U.S. - 10; World - 3), seven players picked in Compensation Round A (all U.S.) and four second round picks (all U.S.). Among the 13 first round picks, six were selected in the 2011 Draft, three in the 2010 Draft, three in the 2012 Draft and one in the 2009 Draft. The World Team now features players from 10 different countries and territories outside the 50 United States. The Dominican Republic is represented by 12 players, followed by Puerto Rico (4) and Venezuela (2). Aruba, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Cuba, Panama and South Korea are each represented by one player on the World Team.

During the first half of the 2013 Regular Season, the Baseball Tomorrow Fund and the New York Mets Foundation awarded more than $283,000 in grants to organizations directly affected by Superstorm Sandy to re-establish youth baseball and softball programs and facilities. Through this joint initiative, 14 organizations were supported, benefitting more than 6,300 children. Prior to the 2013 SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game at Citi Field, children representing nine of the Sandy Relief Grant recipients will take the field during the pre-ceremony to be joined by the U.S. Team players. In addition to the Sandy Relief Grants awarded in conjunction with the New York Mets Foundation, the Baseball Tomorrow Fund has awarded $310,000 to Sandy-affected organizations to date. Participating in the pre-game ceremony are the following: John Camera (Gil Hodges Little League, Brooklyn, NY); John Coker (Bayshore Little league, Union Beach, NJ); Kevin Lopez (Elizabethport Little League, Elizabeth, NJ); Hallie Neufeld (Oceanside Girls' Softball League, Oceanside, NY); Brandon Rojas (Kings Bay Youth Organization, Brooklyn, NY); Robbie Rose (Rockaway Little League, Breezy Point, NY); Allan Santana (Youth Service League, Brooklyn, NY); Matthew Silva (Sandy Hook Little League, Atlantic Highlands, NJ); and Justin Velez (Newark RBI, Newark, NJ). 

Tickets are still available for purchase for the Taco Bell All-Star Sunday by visiting www.allstargame.com, calling 1-888-326-3378 or visiting the Mets box office at Citi Field.

The 2013 All-Star Game will be played at Citi Field on Tuesday, July 16th. The 84th All-Star Game will be televised nationally by FOX Sports; in Canada by Rogers Sportsnet and RDS; and worldwide by partners in more than 200 countries via MLB International's independent feed. Pregame ceremonies will begin at 7:30 p.m. (EDT). ESPN Radio and ESPN Radio Deportes will provide exclusive national radio coverage of the All-Star Game. MLB Network, MLB.com and SiriusXM also will provide comprehensive All-Star Week coverage. For more information, please visit allstargame.com or mets.com/asg.