BOSTON – Miguel Sano will find out Sunday whether he will be elected to start the actual All-Star Game on July 11, and whether any other Twins will be headed to Miami with him. But the Twins learned that one member of their organization will definitely be there.
Nick Gordon, rated the top prospect in the Twins farm system before the season, has been selected to the Futures Game, which takes place on July 9 in Marlins Park. The 21-year-old shortstop, chosen fifth overall in the 2014 draft, is enjoying a stellar season for Class AA Chattanooga, racking up 21 doubles, a league-leading six triples and six home runs as well. With a .310 batting average, he ranks among the top five hitters in the Southern League, and his 33 extra-base hits have led all AA leagues much of the season.
The Futures Game annually pits the top American prospects against a team comprised of the best prospects born outside the United States. Dee Gordon, Nick's older brother, represented the Dodgers organization at the 2010 game, a season in which he was also the shortstop for Chattanooga. The brothers are the sons of longtime major league pitcher Tom Gordon.
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• Righthander Felix Jorge didn't make his scheduled start for Chattanooga on Thursday because, Molitor said, "he's up for consideration" to start one of the Twins' two games Saturday at Kansas City. The 23-year-old Dominican is on the Twins' 40-man roster.
• Twins lefthander Buddy Boshers was a teammate of Red Sox closer Craig Kimbrel at Lee High School in Huntsville, Ala.; their families even held a barbecue on draft day in 2008 with each other, waiting to see if they would be chosen. Their high school coach, Butch Weaver, was in Fenway Park on Thursday to watch them pitch.
• With the Twins expected to arrive at their hotels sometime after 2 a.m. Friday following a cross-country flight, Friday starter Ervin Santana was sent to Kansas City a day early.
