DAVENPORT, Iowa (June 30, 2014) - Quad Cities River Bandits right-handed pitcher Michael Feliz has been added to World Team roster for the 2014 SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game, set for Sunday, July 13, at Target Field in Minneapolis. Feliz's selection makes the River Bandits are the only Class-A team in baseball to be represented by a current player in each of the last two All-Star Futures Games.
The Azua, Dominican Republic, native is replacing Chicago White Sox prospect Francellis Montas on the World Team roster. Feliz is one of two current Midwest Leaguers selected to the game, as he joins Burlington right-handed pitcher Alfonso Alcantara on the World Team.
The 21-year old Feliz was signed by the Houston Astros as a non-drafted free agent on May 19, 2010. He is currently 3-2 with a 3.64 ERA over 14 appearances, including 10 starts. Rated among the top prospects (No. 9 by Baseball America and No. 10 by MLB.com) in the Astros organization entering the season, Feliz has tossed 47 innings, allowing just 41 hits while walking 21 against 56 strikeouts. Opponents are batting .232 against him on the season. In his final five first-half appearances, the River Bandits' youngest pitcher was 2-0 with a 0.40 ERA, giving up only one earned run in 22 1/3 innings with one walk, 13 hits allowed and 27 strikeouts.
Former River Bandits shortstop Carlos Correa was selected to the initial World Roster for the All-Star Futures Game but will not compete due to injury.
St. Louis 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.
SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game, which 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, 9-6. The game will begin at 4 p.m. Central Daylight Time July 13. It can be seen live on MLB.com and MLB Network, and followed live on MLB.com's Gameday. In addition, XM Radio witll broadcast play-by-play coverage of the event live on MLB Network Radio XM 89 and Sirius channel 209. MLB.com will also provide complete coverage before, during and after the game. Fans can stay updated by following @MLBFutures on Twitter and can send and receive tweets to and from the U.S. and World Team dugouts during the game by tagging tweets with the hashtags #USDugout and #WorldDugout.
UP NEXT: The River Bandits return home for the Fourth of July weekend, beginning with a 7 p.m. game Friday, July 4, to be followed by Fourth of July Fireworks presented by Smart Toyota of the Quad Cities, WLLR and WQAD. Game tickets are available at www.riverbandits.com. To order any of the River Bandits 2014 ticket plans - with new lower prices - call the River Bandits box office at 563-324-3000. Season ticket and mini-plan packages start at just seven games and begin at less than $40. Call a River Bandits account representative today to choose your seats and get the details of our various mini-plan packages.
ABOUT THE BANDITS: Having just been named Ballpark Digest's winner of Best Ballpark Improvement in America under $1 million, the River Bandits ownership recently made one of the biggest improvements to Modern Woodmen Park since the ballpark was first built back in 1931! A new Ferris wheel, standing 105 feet over the playing field, opened May 24, and Space Camp opened June 20. Soon to come is another new ride, this one called a "Drop and Twist." In 2013, the team unveiled a new 220-foot long dual zip line, a rock climbing wall, and a number of new bounce houses. Last season, the team's major league affiliate, the Houston Astros, saw all six of its affiliates reach the playoffs - the first time in a decade any MLB team can claim such success. The River Bandits were one of three affiliates to reach the championship round and one of two to win their league championship.
