Kelly, Blyleven to manage Futures Game
Former Twins skipper, Hall of Fame pitcher to take part in prospect showcase
Two Minnesota icons will be part of the festivities at the 2014 Futures Game.
Major League Baseball announced Wednesday that former Twins manager Tom Kelly and Hall of Fame pitcher Bert Blyleven will square off against each other in the Futures Game. Kelly will manage the U.S. Team, and Blyleven, born in the Netherlands, will manage the World Team on July 13 at Target Field.
The Futures Game, which is now in its 16th year of existence, annually pits some of the best prospects in the game against each other in a midseason exhibition game. The U.S. Team holds a 9-6 all-time edge over the World Team, and the game will be available live on MLB Network and MLB.com.
Kelly led the Twins to World Series titles in 1987 and '91, and he ranks first in club history with 1,140 victories and 2,385 games as manager. Kelly was named American League Manager of the Year in 1991, and the Twins retired his number -- No. 10 -- on Sept. 8, 2012.
Blyleven, a 2011 inductee to the Hall of Fame, pitched 22 seasons in the big leagues and was named the AL Rookie Pitcher of the Year in 1970 with the Twins. Blyleven won 287 games in his career and set a Twins record with 2,035 strikeouts. He also pitched for the Rangers, Pirates, Indians and Angels. Blyleven has worked as a broadcaster with the Twins since 1996, and his No. 28 was retired by the team in 2011.
Kelly and Blyleven's rosters and coaches won't be announced until later in the summer, but the Futures Game will be aired on Sunday, July 13 as part of All-Star Weekend. The All-Star Game will be played two days later at Target Field and will be televised in more than 200 countries around the world.