O'Neill, Unsworth Picked for Futures Game
Jackson, Tenn. - Tyler O'Neill and Dylan Unsworth were both selected to represent Team World in the 2016 SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game, Major League Baseball announced Tuesday. The Futures Game features the best prospects in all of baseball competing on Sunday, July 10 at Petco Park in San Diego to kick off Major League Baseball's All-Star Festivities.
The 18th annual Futures Game features 50 prospects from all 30 MLB clubs divided into World and United States teams. The game will start at 3 pm CT on July 10 and be broadcast on MLB Network and MLB.com as well as SiriusXM on XM channel 89 and Sirius channel 209.
O'Neill just turned 21, but has hit like an experienced veteran in his first Double-A campaign. As of the announcement, O'Neill hit .310 with 13 home runs and 59 RBI through 73 games. He either leads or is tied for the Southern League lead with 88 hits, 35 extra-base hits and 151 total bases as well.
The Maple Ridge, British Columbia native was one of eight Generals picked to represent the North Division in the 2016 Southern League All-Star Game. He was named the league's Player of the Month in May, making him the first General to win the award since Nick Franklin in 2012. O'Neill was ranked the fourth-best prospect in Seattle's system by Baseball America coming into 2016.
Unsworth has dominated in nine starts for the Generals this season, going 3-1 with a 1.16 ERA over 46.2 innings of work. The right-hander was named Southern League Pitcher of the Week in May after taking a no-hitter into the seventh inning against Jacksonville in a victory. Two starts later, he allowed just two hits in a seven-inning complete game shutout against Mobile.
The righty is no stranger to representing his country, as he has pitched for South Africa in a pair of World Baseball Classic Qualifiers. In February, he threw eight scoreless frames in a start against New Zealand. He is originally from Durban, South Africa and now lives in Cape Town.
Unsworth's last start for the Generals came on June 7. He has been on the seven-day disabled list since, and is not expected to participate in the contest.
Since becoming a Mariners affiliate in 2007, a total of 13 Generals players have participated in the Futures Game. Edwin Diaz and Ketel Marte, both of whom are in Seattle, played for the World Team last year in Cincinnati.