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Aeros players honored to be Indians chosen for XM Futures Game
By Stephanie Storm
Beacon Journal sports writer
Published on Saturday, Jun 27, 2009
In its first decade, the Futures Game has produced 39 major-league League All-Stars and more than 200 big-leaguers.
Aeros outfielder Nick Weglarz and catcher Carlos Santana hope to add to that impressive list after being chosen to participate in the XM All-Star Futures Game July 12 at St. Louis.
Both will suit up for the World Team and represent the third time in the past four years that the two Indians players named to the Futures Game have come from the Aeros' roster.
In 2006, pitchers Sean Smith and Adam Miller made the trip, pitcher Chuck Lofgren went in 2007 and third baseman Wes Hodges and outfielder Matt La
Porta represented the Aeros last season.
''It's a very prestigious honor,'' said Weglarz, a Canadian native who has homered in his past three games to tie Santana for the team lead with 11 home runs. ''It's awesome.''
Unlike some other baseball showcases, what makes the Futures Game so unique is that it pits the best of the minor leagues against each other and all but guarantees baseball fans will see them again at the next level.
Indians fans might remember Grady Sizemore's performance in the 2003 Futures Game in Chicago, when he went 2-for-3 with a home run to claim the game's Most Valuable Player honor.
Who among this year's 50 players on the Futures rosters will be the next major-league stars?
Surely there's no shortage of talent for U.S. manager Ozzie Smith and World manager Jose Oquendo to choose from when they fill out their respective lineup cards.
''Everyone in baseball knows what a big deal the Futures Game is,'' Aeros manager Mike Sarbaugh said. ''In the past, there's been some big-time stars to come out of that game. It's a high-profile event.''
Weglarz, who has also played in the Olympics and the World Baseball Classic, earned his Futures Game nod in the midst of a stellar showing in the Aeros' recent series win over the visiting Trenton Thunder.
He went 7-for-10 with three home runs, four walks and eight RBI in the Aeros' sixth consecutive series win. The Aeros (48-23) are tied with the Double-A Birmingham Barons of the Southern League for the best record in all of professional baseball.
''The first month I was trying too hard,'' Weglarz said. ''My first year in Double-A, I was trying to do too much.''
Weglarz is batting .264 with 13 doubles, 11 home runs, 51 RBI and a .898 OPS in 67 games.
Santana, who is from the Dominican Republic, is hitting .263 with a league-high 46 runs scored, 16 doubles, 11 home runs and 46 RBI in 66 games.
''I'm very happy,'' Santana said with a wide grin. ''It's a big honor for me.''
Another Indians connection in this year's Futures Game will be former Aeros manager and current Triple-A Columbus manager Torey Lovullo, who will serve as a U.S. coach.
Lovullo managed his 1,000th regular-season game in April and owns a .541 winning percentage in regular-season games (572-486). In the International League, Lovullo is 248-252 and has gone 15-12 (.556) in the postseason with Kinston (2003-2004) and the Aeros (2005).
Stephanie Storm can be reached at sstorm@thebeaconjournal.com. Read the Indians and Aeros blog at http://www.ohio.com/tribematters.
In its first decade, the Futures Game has produced 39 major-league League All-Stars and more than 200 big-leaguers.
Get the full article here.
Comments
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Canton, OH
Posted 08:10 AM, 06/27/2009
Maybe Carlos will sing and play guitar for the anthem, too. . I have his Greatest Hits CD. . .
Naples, FL
Posted 08:46 AM, 06/27/2009
Hope he brings his "Black Magic Woman" with him when he gets to Cleveland. They need something to over-ride the "Curse of Rocky Colavito"
