LOS ANGELES -- Pitcher Yadier Alvarez and outfielder Alex Verdugo, the top-ranked prospects in the Dodgers organization, on Thursday were named to the World Team for the 2017 SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game, which will be played at 1 p.m. PT July 9 at Marlins Park in Miami.
The SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game, which is now in its 19th year, features the top Minor League prospects competing in a nine-inning contest as part of All-Star Sunday. The U.S. Team leads the all-time series, 11-7. Last year in San Diego, the World Team defeated the U.S., 11-3, snapping a six-game U.S. winning streak.
Major League Baseball, in conjunction with MLB.com, Baseball America and the 30 Major League Clubs, selected the 25 players currently on each team. Each Major League organization is represented and players from all full-season Minor Leagues were eligible to be selected.
:: 2017 Futures Game coverage ::
As part of its live All-Star Week programming, MLB Network will exclusively televise and MLB.com will live stream the SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game, with Matt Vasgersian, Mike Lowell, Heidi Watney and MLB.com prospect expert Jonathan Mayo on the call.
The 21-year-old Alvarez, who signed out of Cuba for a $16 million bonus in 2015 and debuted in the United States last year, is ranked by MLBPipeline.com as the No. 1 prospect in the organization and No. 40 overall. The lanky right-hander is 2-4 with a 5.05 ERA at Class A Advanced Rancho Cucamonga.
The 21-year-old Verdugo, drafted in the second round in 2014, is ranked by MLBPipleline.com as the No. 2 prospect in the organization and No. 51 overall. A left-handed hitter and thrower with a rocket right-field arm, he is batting .344 with an .873 OPS at Triple-A Oklahoma City. Although a native of Tucson, Ariz., he played for Team Mexico in the World Baseball Classic and will represent that country on the World Team.
The Dodgers will also be represented on the World Team coaching staff by Luis Matos, their first-base coach at Triple-A Oklahoma City.