Charles Johnson and Edgar Renteria, two key contributors to the Marlins' 1997 World Series-winning squad, will return to the dugouts in Miami to lead the U.S. Team and the World Team, respectively, during the SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game on Sunday, July 9th at Marlins Park, it was announced earlier today on MLB Network.
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.
Johnson, who was drafted by the Marlins from the University of Miami with the 28th overall selection in the 1992 Draft, played 12 seasons as a catcher in the Majors, which included two stints with the Marlins (1994-98, 2001-02). The Florida native also played for the Los Angeles Dodgers (1998), Baltimore Orioles (1999-2000), Chicago White Sox (2000), Colorado Rockies (2003-04) and Tampa Bay Devil Rays (2005). In 1,188 career games, Johnson batted .245 with 940 hits, 211 doubles, 167 home runs and 570 RBI. The two-time National League All-Star (1997, 2001) hit .357 (10-for-28) with a home run, three RBI and four runs scored over seven games during the memorable 1997 World Series. A four-time Gold Glove Award winner, Johnson amassed a career .993 fielding percentage and was on the receiving end of three no-hitters during his career, which is tied for third-most all-time, trailing only Jason Varitek and Carlos Ruiz (four each). Johnson, who led NL catchers in fielding percentage twice (1996-97), finished first among NL backstops with 63 assists in 1995 and 56 runners caught stealing in 1997. Johnson's 582 games caught in a Marlins uniform rank first in franchise history ahead of Mike Redmond (446), current Marlins catcher J.T. Realmuto (290) and Miguel Olivo (264).
Renteria, who was originally signed by the Marlins as a free agent in January 1992, played 16 seasons as a shortstop in the Majors for the Marlins (1996-98), St. Louis Cardinals (1999-2004), Boston Red Sox (2005), Atlanta Braves (2006-07), Detroit Tigers (2008), San Francisco Giants (2009-10) and Cincinnati Reds (2011). The Barranquilla, Colombia native played in 2,152 career games, hitting .286 with 2,327 hits, 1,200 runs scored, 294 stolen bases, 436 doubles, 140 home runs and 923 RBI. At 21 years of age, Renteria authored the most memorable moment in Marlins history with his walk-off single in the bottom of the 11th inning of Game 7 of the 1997 World Series. The five-time All-Star (1998, 2000, 2003-04, 2006) also played a significant role in helping the Giants win the 2010 World Series, the first for the historic franchise since moving to San Francisco in 1958. Renteria provided game-winning home runs in Games 2 and 5 en route to being named MVP of the Fall Classic, and he joined Hall of Famers Yogi Berra, Lou Gehrig and Joe DiMaggio as the only players to ever have two game-winning hits in a single World Series. The two-time Gold Glove Award winner (2002-03) hit .333 (21-for-63) with two home runs, 10 RBI, five doubles and 11 runs scored in 16 career World Series contests.
Johnson's staff on the U.S. Team will include former Marlins stars and MLB network analysts Cliff Floyd (hitting coach) and Al Leiter (pitching coach), as well as former Marlins coach Jerry Manuel (bench coach), while Renteria's staff on the World Team will include former Marlins second baseman Luis Castillo (bench coach). The remainder of the coaching staffs, as well as rosters and umpires for the 2017 SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game will be announced in the coming weeks.
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 at 4:00 p.m. (ET), with Matt Vasgersian, Mike Lowell, Heidi Watney and MLB.com prospect expert Jonathan Mayo on the call live from Marlins Park.
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 Miami. 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. Tickets are available for purchase for the SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game and the All-Star Legends and Celebrity Softball Game by visiting www.allstargame.com or visiting the box office at Marlins Park.
MLB All-Star Week includes the MLB All-Star Game presented by Mastercard at Marlins Park (July 11th), Gatorade All-Star Workout Day featuring the T-Mobile Home Run Derby (July 10th), All-Star Sunday featuring the SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game and All-Star Legends & Celebrity Softball Game (July 9th), All-Star FanFest at the Miami Beach Convention Center (July 7th-11th), plus a lineup of additional events taking place around the city. The 88th Midsummer Classic will be televised nationally by FOX Sports; in Canada by Rogers Sportsnet and RDS; and worldwide by partners in more than 180 countries. FOX Deportes will provide Spanish language coverage in the United States, while ESPN Radio and ESPN Radio Deportes will provide exclusive national radio coverage of the All-Star Game. MLB Network, MLB.com and Sirius XM also will provide comprehensive All-Star Week coverage. For more information about MLB All-Star Week and to purchase tickets, please visit www.allstargame.com and follow @AllStarGame on social media.