2014 MLB All Star Game: Gallo Does it for Team USA
Yesterday at Target Field, the 2014 Sirius XM Future’s Game was the highlight of the day. With prospects spanning from Single-A all the way up to near ready Triple-A players, a show was sure to be put on. With three prospects from the Minnesota Twins organization (Jose Berrios, Alex Meyer, and Kennys Vargas), the hometown crowd had plenty to cheer for as well.
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With Berrios getting the start from World manager, Bert Blyleven, the Twins faithful wouldn’t have to wait long to see him pitch.
In a game that was completely pitcher dominated, featuring 18 strikeouts and only two walks by both teams combined, there were a few fireworks throughout.
In the third inning, the USA team broke open the scoring. Up against Domingo German for the World team, USA player Kevin Plawecki scored Jesse Winker from third on a fielder’s choice. German then gave up a line drive single to Michael Taylor, as well as hitting Corey Seager before getting Kris Bryant to fly out to end the inning.
Kennys Vargas rewarded the Twins Territory fans with a scorching double off the right field wall to open the fourth inning. Unfortunately, the World team was able to do anything and Vargas was left stranded.
After coming in at shortstop in the bottom of the fifth inning, fans watched as Cubs prospect Javier Baez put his stamp on the game in the top of the sixth. On an outside pitch, Baez went deep off of USA pitcher Lucas Giolito.
Baez has seen his average drop due to strikeouts and lack of a command of the zone, but his power is well recorded. With the home run, the World team was on top 2-1 for their first lead of the contest.
The lead however, didn’t last long. Facing Michael Feliz in the bottom of the sixth inning, slugger Joey Gallo hit a shot that may well have been in the Home Run Derby. Blasting a ball deep over the right field wall, and taking out the window of a Chevy Silverado truck parked as a giveaway, Gallo gave the USA team the lead once again.
Gallo’s home run plated J.P. Crawford as well, and the score now read 3-2 in favor of the USA team
3-2 is where the game would end, and the home USA team would end up taking the victory. Joey Gallo was named the Sirius XM Future’s Game MVP, in thanks to his late inning blast that catapulted his team to the top.
Notably from the Future’s Game, Cubs uber prospect, Kris Bryant, showed much of the reason why he may not yet be ready for the big leagues. Working two different 3-1 counts, he found himself striking out twice.
Jesse Winker’s double in the game was an absolute rope, and for the World team, Dalton Pompey put some good wood on a few balls as well.
With many of these prospects looking to escalate through their respective teams farm system quickly, it will be interesting to see where their careers go from here. As far as the Twins are concerned, Alex Meyer should be pitching in Target Field by the end of 2014, with Vargas being a potential option early next year, and Berrios being likely at least a year away.