Whittleman Headed to All-Star Futures Game

Clinton, IA - Clinton LumberKings' third-baseman and Texas Rangers' top prospect John Whittleman is headed to AT&T Park in San Francisco to join 24 others named to the U.S. roster for the 2007 XM Satellite Radio All-Star Futures Game. The game is a showcase of minor league stars, pitting U.S. born players against those from the rest of the world, televised live on ESPN2.

Whittleman is one of just three current Midwest Leaguers selected by Major League Baseball and Baseball America to participate in the game. He joins left-handed pitcher Clayton Kershaw of Los Angeles (Great Lakes Loons) on the U.S. roster, and Gorkys Hernandez of Detroit (West Michigan Whitecaps), who will play for the World team.

Also a member of the 2006 LumberKings, Whittleman will play alongside several other Midwest League alumni. Former stars like Luke Hochevar (Burlington Bees, '06), Brian Anderson and Colby Rasmus (Swing of the Quad Cities, '06), Cameron Maybin (West Michigan Whitecaps, '06), Jay Bruce (Dayton Dragons, '06) and Justin Upton (South Bend Silver Hawks, '06) will also appear in the game.

Fresh off the 2007 Midwest League All-Star Game, Whittleman is no stranger to awards and accolades. The 2005 second-round pick of the Rangers, he has already won both the Midwest League Player of the Week award and the Rangers' Minor League Offensive Player of the Month award for April, hitting .320 with 12 home runs and 43 RBI in the first half.

The 2007 XM Satellite Radio All-Star Futures game takes place on All-Star Sunday at 3 PM central time and can be seen live on ESPN2.