Edwin Diaz to Pitch in Futures Game
Birmingham, Ala. - The Jackson Generals got some good news before the start of the Second Half on Thursday, as it was announced that right-handed pitcher Edwin Diaz will be a part of the MLB All-Star Futures Game July 12 at the Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati. Diaz will be joined by 2014 Generals infielder Ketel Marte on the World Team as part of Major League Baseball's All-Star Break.
Edwin Diaz put up impressive numbers in his last three starts, giving up just four earned runs in 20.1 innings (1.77 ERA). Over that span, opponents hit just .188 against the Puerto Rico native. The run started with the second-longest start of his career June 6 against the First Half Champion Chattanooga Lookouts. He went 7.2 innings, giving up just two runs on seven hits in a losing effort.
The lanky right-hander picked up his first Double-A win in his next start, allowing just one run on three hits over seven innings against Mobile June 12. He retired 15 in a row at one point as Jackson went on to take down the BayBears 4-3. He followed htat up with another victory in his last start before the All-Star Break, pitching 5.2 innings of one-run baseball against Birmingham on June 18.
The 21-year-old Diaz was promoted to Jackson in the middle of May, becoming the youngest player on the Generals' roster at the time. He started the season in Class A Advanced Bakersfield, posting a 2-0 record and a 1.70 ERA before making his way up to the Southern League.
Joining Diaz on the World Team will be shortstop Ketel Marte, who is hitting .343 with Triple-A Tacoma this season. In 2014, Marte was a Postseason All-Star in the Southern League after hitting .302 with 27 doubles, 46 RBIs and 23 steals with Jackson.
The rosters for the contest are selected by Major League Baseball in conjunction with the Major League Baseball Scouting Bureau, MLB.com, Baseball America and the 30 MLB clubs. The 17th edition of the game will take place at 3 pm ET on July 12, and it can be seen live on MLB Network and MLB.com. In addition, SiriusXM Radio will broadcast play-by-play coverage of the event live on MLB Network Radio.
Jackson begins the Second Half of the 2015 campaign Thursday night in Birmingham, and Diaz is scheduled to start for the Generals at Regions Field at 7:05 pm CT. The Generals return home against Mobile Wednesday, July 1 for a three-game set headlined by an Independence Day celebration with postgame Fireworks July 3! Tickets are still available by calling the team at (731) 988.5299, stopping by the park or going online to jacksongeneralsbaseball.com.