SEATTLE -- Hard-throwing reliever Thyago Vieira, who opened eyes in Mariners camp this spring with his 100-mph fastball, will get a chance now to show his stuff at the 2017 SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game in Miami on July 9.
The 23-year-old from Brazil was the lone Mariners prospect selected for the 19th annual contest. He will play on the World Team against the U.S. squad in the 1 p.m. PT game at Marlins Park as part of the All-Star week festivities.
:: 2017 Futures Game coverage ::
Vieira, the Mariners' No. 10 prospect per MLBPipeline.com, is 2-2 with two saves and a 3.56 ERA in 24 appearances for Double-A Arkansas this season. He has 29 strikeouts and 13 walks in 30 1/3 innings, with opponents batting .198 against him.
"He's done great," said Andy McKay, the Mariners' director of player development. "He's really progressed. Obviously the fastball command is always going to be his thing and when it's right, he's very good. He's been on a really good stretch here for 4-5 weeks."
Vieira struggled with his command and wasn't regarded as a very high prospect in his first few years in the low Minors after signing with Seattle in 2010 out of Brazil, but made a big breakthrough last year when he posted a 2.84 ERA with 53 strikeouts and 18 walks ins in 44 1/3 innings for Class A Advanced Bakersfield.
After wowing the Mariners with his high heat early in his first Major League camp this spring, Vieira got hit hard in several Cactus League games. But McKay said he's regrouped in Arkansas and is again showing why he's an up-and-coming prospect.
"The big league camp was kind of a shock to his system and he's responded very well," McKay said. "His secondary pitch was not great in that period of time. A lot of bad counts with one pitch for many of those outings facing the best hitters in world, it's a bad combo. But all those things he's worked on and done very well.
"To be chosen for this game shows you the progress he's making. Where he's come from since the time I got here [in 2016] is pretty amazing."
The game will be televised by MLB Network and streamed live on MLB.com.