J.O. Berrios may be only 20 and one of the youngest players in next month's Futures Game at Target Field, but he doesn't figure to be overwhelmed by the chance to represent his franchise in a big-league setting. After all, he's already represented his homeland in the World Baseball Classic.
Berrios, who has posted a 2.05 ERA in 14 starts this season for Class A Fort Myers, is one of two members of the Twins organization to be selected for the July 13 Futures Game, which pits the best American prospects against a team of international prospects. New Britain first baseman Kennys Vargas, like Berrios a Puerto Rican, will be Berrios' teammate on the international team. Vargas is hitting .318 with 14 home runs and 57 RBIs for the Class AA Rock Cats this season.
Berrios, a righthanded pitcher from Puerto Rico selected with the 32nd pick in the 2012 draft, has climbed quickly through the Twins' system. He struck out 100 batters in just 103 innings at Cedar Rapids last summer, and has 98 already this year at Fort Myers, in 83 1/3 innings. He also pitched twice for the Puerto Rican team in the 2013 WBC, allowing four runs over two innings.
No Twins prospect was selected for the USA team. Last season, the Twins were represented by third baseman Miguel Sano and outfielder Byron Buxton at the Futures Game at Citi Field in New York. Both players have been injured all season this year, however.
Though Sano and Buxton have not been to the major leagues yet, 22 participants in the 2013 Future Game, won by Team USA 4-2, have. Team USA has a 9-6 record in the Futures Game, and has won the last four in a row.
Here is the complete Team USA roster for the 2014 Futures Game:
RHP Christian Binford, KC
RHP Lucas Giolito, Wash
