Futures minor league All-Star game to feature 8 Dominican players

The Futures All-Star game rosters were release Thursday, and both the rosters of the United States and the World All-Stars are packed with future stars.  The United States of course has a whole squad of American players, but on the World side, Dominican players lead the way with eight selections.

The World team has players from eleven different countries.  Dominican players to be featured in the game are the Diamondbacks Alfredo Marte (Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic), the Rockies Edwar Cabrera (Bani), the Royals Yordano Ventura (Samana), the Angels Jean Segura (San Juan), the Phillies Lisalverto Bonilla (Samana), the Padres Rymer Liriano (Santo Domingo), the Cardinals Oscar Taveras (Puerto Plata), and the Rays Enny Romero (Santo Domingo).

Jean Segura is perhaps the most highly touted of these Dominican prospects.  He was the highest ranked Dominican player on Baseball America's top 100 prospects of 2012, appearing at number 55 on the list.  Segura has been threatening to crack the Angels roster and should make it up this year or next.  For that matter all these prospects should be in the big leagues within the next few years.

This is the 14th annual Futures Game.  The game will take place All-Star weekend on July 8th at 5 p.m. E.T.

Dominican Republic baseball player of the week: Ervin Santana

Ervin Santana of the Angels is this weeks Dominican Republic Baseball Player of the Week.  Interestingly, this is the first time that Santana has appeared on the Dominican Baseball Guy blog.  The Dominican Baseball Guy was thinking that this may be due to the fact that he is new to the big leagues, but he has actually been a pretty successful major leaguer for eight seasons.

He has been in the top ten in the American League in wins three times, and has consistently eaten up innings for the Angels.  He made one All-Star team back in 2008.  Overall, the Dominican Baseball Guy assesses Santana as a very good middle of the rotation to end of the rotation starter.  I liken him to another Dominican pitcher, Wandy Rodriguez of the Astros, as far as overall skill as a starting pitcher.

Santana is having not the best year.  Through Monday, he had a 5.16 ERA and was 4-7.  He is still a middle of the rotation workhorse in any case, having pitched 89 innings in 14 starts.

With this said, he wins the Dominican Republic baseball player of the week this week due to his one-hitter against the Diamondbacks.  He pitched 6 and 2/3 innings of perfect baseball, and got the shutout victory for the ultra-hot Angels.

Santana also threw a no-hitter last season.  He is from San Cristobal, Dominican Republic.

Dominican Republic baseball player of the week Ervin Santana,
photo by Keith Allison on Flickr

Dominican closer Jose Valverde on long saves streak, Lanzador Dominicano Jose Valverde jugando bueno

Jose Valverde is known for his crazy antics on the mound.  A converted save opportunity is usually followed by wild legs kicks, squats, and yelling at the sky.  His nickname is "Papa Grande" and Valverde has converted 51 strait save chances over the last two years.  The record is 84 strait saves, set by Eric Gagne.

The Dominican Baseball Guy has been following Valverde since he first broke into the big leagues with the Diamondbacks.  He has saved over 40 games with the Diamondbacks, the Astros, and now the Tigers.

Valverde's crazy personality on the mound is genuine.  His friends say he likes things loud and fast, whether on the field or off the field.  He drives fast cars and listens to the music loud.

Jose says it is a long way to get to the save streak record, but he is going to try.  Jose is from the great baseball city of San Pedro de Macoris, Republica Dominicana.

Dominican baseball player Jose Valverde at Spring Training 2011,
by Tom Hagerty for LakelandLocal.com