Memphis’ Wong Selected for Second All-Star Futures Game

Major League Baseball’s best and brightest will converge on New York’s Citi Field for this year’s All-Star Game festivities. Hilo’s Kolten Wong will be among them for the second year in a row to showcase his skills in a big league ballpark.

Wong, currently playing for the Memphis Redbirds at the Triple-A minor league level, was invited to his second consecutive Sirius XM All-Star Futures Game and will compete for the USA against the World squad. The announcement was made Wednesday by Major League Baseball.

His first appearance in the minor league showcase came in 2012 at Kansas City’s Kauffman Stadium. He batted 0-for-2 with a run scored in the USA’s 17-5 victory over the World team.

The St. Louis Cardinals’ minor league prospect is one step away from making the major league squad. In 69 games with the Cardinals’ AAA affiliate, Wong leads the team with 11 stolen bases. He is batting .319 with five home runs and 25 runs batted in. He has committed six errors in the field, tying him for the most on the team.

Teammate Oscar Taveras will join him at the Futures Game for the second straight year, but once again, will be in the opposing dugout. A native of the Dominican Republic, Taveras’ selection to the World team comes in the midst of another stellar season. He is hitting .306 on the season with five home runs and 32 runs batted in.

Mookie Wilson will coach the United States squad. The former Met player and coach, who is known for the ground ball that he hit through Bill Buckner’s legs in the 1986 World Series, was inducted into the team’s Hall of Fame in 1996. He also played for the Toronto Blue Jays.

Edgardo Alfonzo will manage the World dugout. The 39-year-old was named as an All-Star with the Mets in 2000 and won the Silver Slugger Award the prior year.

The Sirius XM All-Star Futures Game is televised on Sunday, July 14 at 8:00 a.m. Hawaii time. The game can be seen on ESPN2 and MLB.com from the home of the New York Mets.