Friars sending two representatives to Futures Game
Catching prospect Hedges on U.S. Team; outfielder Asencio chosen for World squad
The Padres had a catching prospect in last year's Futures Game, when Yasmani Grandal was a part of the World Team.
Grandal was playing for Triple-A Tucson at the time, but he then made his way to the Majors last season and is currently the Padres' starting catcher.
That scenario is unlikely for 20-year-old Austin Hedges, who is still likely years away from the Majors, but he could give fans a taste of the future when he plays for the U.S. Team in this year's All-Star Futures Game on July 14.
The 15th annual SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game takes place at 11 a.m. PT on All-Star Sunday at Citi Field in New York and can be seen live on MLB.com, ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD and followed live on MLB.com's Gameday. In addition, XM Radio will broadcast play-by-play coverage of the event live on MLB Network Radio XM 89. MLB.com will also provide complete coverage before, during and after the game. Fans can stay updated by following @MLBFutures on Twitter and can send/receive tweets to/from the U.S. and World Team dugouts during the game by tagging tweets with the hashtags #USDugout and #WorldDugout.
Also, for the first time, fans will determine the final player on the U.S. and World Team rosters by casting their votes in the All-Star Sunday Futures Finalists ballot. There are five candidates for each team, and voting ends on Sunday at 8:59 p.m.
Hedges and outfielder Yeison Asencio are the two prospects from the Padres' organization set to play in the Futures Game.
Hedges is the No. 4 prospect in the Padres' organization as ranked by MLB.com. He has the tools to develop into an everyday catcher, with great hands and a plus arm aided by quick release and accuracy.
He is hitting .271 with an on-base percentage of .349 for Class A Lake Elsinore of the California League as he continues to develop his swing.
Asencio, 23, is from the Dominican Republic and will be playing on the World Team. He was known as Yoan Alcantara when he signed in July 2009, using a false identity that became public in '11.
Asencio has been impressive when he has been on the field, showing above-average power and arm strength. This season with Lake Elsinore and Double-A San Antonio in the Texas League, Asencio is hitting .293 with six homers and 54 RBIs through 74 games.
In 2011, he was named the No. 1 prospect in the Arizona Rookie League after hitting .348 with seven homers and 46 RBIs while scoring 50 runs.