J.O. Berrios may be only 20 and one of the youngest players in next month's Futures Game at Target Field, but he doesn't figure to be overwhelmed by the chance to represent his franchise in a big-league setting. After all, he's already represented his homeland in the World Baseball Classic.
Berrios, who has posted a 2.05 ERA in 14 starts this season for Class A Fort Myers, is one of two members of the Twins organization to be selected for the July 13 Futures Game, which pits the best American prospects against a team of international prospects. New Britain first baseman Kennys Vargas, like Berrios a Puerto Rican, will be Berrios' teammate on the international team. Vargas is hitting .318 with 14 home runs and 57 RBIs for the Class AA Rock Cats this season.
Berrios, a righthanded pitcher from Puerto Rico selected with the 32nd pick in the 2012 draft, has climbed quickly through the Twins' system. He struck out 100 batters in just 103 innings at Cedar Rapids last summer, and has 98 already this year at Fort Myers, in 83 1/3 innings. He also pitched twice for the Puerto Rican team in the 2013 WBC, allowing four runs over two innings.
No Twins prospect was selected for the USA team. Last season, the Twins were represented by third baseman Miguel Sano and outfielder Byron Buxton at the Futures Game at Citi Field in New York. Both players have been injured all season this year, however.
Though Sano and Buxton have not been to the major leagues yet, 22 participants in the 2013 Future Game, won by Team USA 4-2, have. Team USA has a 9-6 record in the Futures Game, and has won the last four in a row.
Here is the complete Team USA roster for the 2014 Futures Game:
RHP Christian Binford, KC
RHP Lucas Giolito, Wash
LHP Marco Gonzales, StL
RHP Hunter Harvey, Balt
LHP Daniel Norris, Tor
LHP Henry Owens, Bos
RHP Braden Shipley, Ariz
RHP Robert Stephenson, Cin
RHP Noah Synergaard, NYM
RHP Jake Thompson, Det
RF Josh Bell, Pit
2B Mookie Betts, Bos
3B Kris Bryant, ChC
SS J.P Crawford, Phil
3B Joey Gallo, Tex
2B Micah Johnson, CWS
C Peter O'Brien, NYY
C Justin O'Conner, TB
3B D.J. Peterson, Sea
C Kevin Plawecki, NYM
CF James Ramsey, StL
RF Hunter Renfroe, SD
SS Corey Seager, LAD
RF Michael Taylor, Wash
LF Jesse Winker, Cin
Here is the complete World Team roster for the 2014 Futures Game:
RHP Alfonso Alcantara, LAA
RHP J.O. Berrios, Min
LHP Edwin Escobar, SF
RHP Domingo German, Mia
RHP Tayron Guerrero, SD
RHP Jorge Lopez, Mil
RHP Francellis Montas, CWS
LHP Enny Romero, TB
RHP Luis Severino, NYY
LHP Julio Urias, LAD
C Jorge Alfaro, Tex
CF Dariel Alvarez, Balt
SS Javier Baez, ChC
C Christaian Bethancourt, Atl
SS Carlos Correa, Hou
1B/3B Maikel Franco, Phi
RF Gabriel Guerrero, Sea
SS/3B Rosell Herrera, Col
SS Francisco Lindor, Cle
RF/LF Steven Moya, Det
3B Renato Nunez, Oak
2B Jose Peraza, Atl
CF Dalton Pompey, Tor
RF Domingo Santana, Hou
1B Kennys Vargas, Min