DAVENPORT, Iowa (JULY 1, 2013) - Quad Cities River Bandits shortstop Carlos Correa was selected by fans for the final roster spot on the World Team roster for the 2013 SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game, set for Sunday, July 14, at Citi Field in New York. The Santa Isabel, Puerto Rico, native is the first position player to make the game in the same year he appeared for the Midwest League club.
For the first time in the All-Star Futures Game's 15-year history, fans determined the final player on both the U.S. and World Team rosters by casting their votes in the All-Star Sunday Futures Finalists ballot. Major League Baseball announced Correa's selection Monday afternoon. He is one of three current Midwest Leaguers selected to the game, as he joins Beloit pitcher Michael Ynoa, of the Oakland Athletics, on the World Team; Bowling Green pitcher Taylor Guerreri, of the Tampa Bay Rays, is on the U.S. Team.
The 18-year-old Correa was the No. 1 overall pick by the Houston Astros in the 2012 First-Year Player Draft. He was the youngest player in the 2013 Midwest League All-Star Game, which he started at shortstop for the Western Division All-Stars, June 18 at Fifth Third Field in Dayton, Ohio. He is currently third in the Midwest League with a .323 batting average and fifth with a .408 on-base percentage. He is also third in batting average among Astros minor leaguers with full-season affiliates. Rated by Baseball America as the top prospect in the Astros minor league system entering the season, he was the Quad Cities Player of the Month in May, when he assembled a career-high 10-game hitting streak, held a .349 average and had 18 RBIs in 22 games. In his final 21 games in June, Correa hit for a .422 average with two home runs, 13 RBIs and a .578 slugging percentage.
This season, two former River Bandits - both from the 2011 Midwest League Championship team - have already been selected for the All-Star Futures Game. Outfielder Oscar Taveras and infielder Kolten Wong will play for the World and U.S. Teams, respectively, for a second consecutive year.
The last player selected for the All-Star Futures Game in the same season he played for Quad Cities was St. Louis Cardinals right-hander Carlos Martinez in 2011. Martinez was promoted to the advanced Class-A Palm Beach Cardinals before being named to the World roster for the game in Phoenix, Ariz. He threw one scoreless inning in a 6-4 U.S. victory.
Cardinals right-hander Shelby Miller was the last River Bandit selected for the All-Star Futures Game while on the Quad Cities roster. Miller pitched for the U.S. in the 2010 game in Anaheim, Calif., and worked two-thirds of a scoreless inning in a 9-1 U.S. victory.
The SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game, which is now in its 15th year, features the top Minor League prospects competing in a nine-inning contest as part of Taco Bell All-Star Sunday. The U.S. Team leads the all-time series, 8-6. The game will begin at 1 p.m. Central Daylight Time July 14 and can be viewed live on ESPN2, ESPN2 HD and MLB.com.
UP NEXT: Monday is First Responders Night, when all police, fire and EMS personnel can show a badge or credential at the "Suites" entrance for a $10 package including a bleacher ticket and a hot dog and soda voucher. For $15, fans can purchase a wristband for all-you-can-eat hot dogs, nachos, peanuts and popcorn on Munchie Monday presented by 97X. Single-game tickets are on sale at the River Bandits box office at Modern Woodmen Park, by phone at 563-324-3000 and online at www.riverbandits.com. Season ticket and mini-plan packages start at just seven games and begin at less than $50. Call a River Bandits account representative today to choose your seats and get the details of our various mini-plan packages.
ABOUT THE BANDITS: The River Bandits ownership is making one of the biggest improvements to Modern Woodmen Park since the ballpark was first built back in 1931! A new Ferris wheel, standing 112 feet over the playing field, is planned for next spring, along with a carousel and other new games and attractions. This season, the team just unveiled a new 300-foot long dual zip line, a rock climbing wall, a Mediacom Frog Hopper, and a number of new bounce houses. The team also boasts a new major league affiliate, the Houston Astros, and fans can see last year's No. 1 overall draft pick, Carlos Correa, as well as first-round draft choice Lance McCullers. The Astros also just made the very first selection in the major league draft June 6 and could have top pick Mark Appel play in the Quad Cities. With new rides, new attractions, new improvements, a new affiliate and future major league stars, the second half of this season is one every fan will not want to miss!
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