AFL Announces Rising Stars Game Roster
November 1, 2011 - Arizona Fall League (AzFL) News Release
Phoenix, Arizona - The Arizona Fall League, known throughout professional baseball as a finishing school for Major League Baseball's elite prospects, stages its sixth annual Rising Stars Game at 8:10 p.m. ET (5:10 p.m. AZ) on Saturday, November 5 at Surprise Stadium. The contest will be nationally televised by MLB Network and online via MLB.com (MLB.TV).
Scouting and minor-league directors of every major-league organization, in consultation with Fall League Director Steve Cobb and his baseball personnel staff, selected the players for the annual showcase that pits elite prospects from the Fall League's East Division and West Division clubs.
Each major-league organization is offered the opportunity to be represented by at least one player.
The East Division roster fields players from the Mesa Solar Sox (Cubs, Orioles, Pirates, Twins, White Sox), Salt River Rafters (Astros, Diamondbacks, Dodgers, Rockies, Tigers) and Scottsdale Scorpions (Angels, Giants, Nationals, Phillies, Red Sox). The West Division roster is stocked from the Peoria Javelinas (Brewers, Cardinals, Mariners, Mets, Padres), Phoenix Desert Dogs (Athletics, Blue Jays, Indians, Reds, Yankees) and Surprise Saguaros (Braves, Marlins, Rangers, Rays, Royals).
The coaching staffs of the two division-leading teams through play of Saturday, October 29 earned the right to manage Saturday's contest. Salt River manager Stu Cole (Rockies) and his staff - pitching coach Dan Carlson (Diamondbacks) and hitting coach Chris Cron (Tigers) - lead the East Division. Saguaros manager Billy Gardner, Jr. (Rays) and his staff - pitching coaches Derrick Lewis (Braves) and hitting coach Corey Hart (Marlins) - guide the West Division.
Rosters - The first two selections in Major League Baseball's 2011 Draft - Mesa Solar Sox right-handed pitcher Gerrit Cole (Pirates) and Peoria Javelinas left-handed pitcher Danny Hultzen (Mariners) - will be the East and West starting pitchers, respectively.
Complete Rising Stars Game rosters follow.
TV - MLB Network's Paul Severino (play-by-play) and Dave Valle (color commentary) form the broadcast team for both MLB Network and MLB.com (MLB.TV).
The Rising Stars Game is the first of three 2011 Fall League contests MLB Network and MLB.com (MLB.TV) will nationally televise. The Friday, November 11th United Concordia Dental Military Appreciation Game (Mesa Solar Sox at Salt River Rafters) at 8:10 p.m. ET (6:10 p.m. AZ) and the Saturday, November 19th AFL Championship Game at 3:10 p.m. ET (1:10 p.m. AZ) also will air.
First Five Rising Stars Games - The first five Rising Stars Games showcased some of baseball's current standouts, including Ryan Braun, Jacoby Ellsbury and Hunter Pence in 2006, Brett Gardner and Andrew McCutchen in 2007, Gordon Beckham, Tommy Hanson and Drew Stubbs in 2008, Starlin Castro, Ike Davis, Buster Posey, Drew Storen and Stephen Strasburg in 2009, and Dustin Ackley, Brandon Belt, Eric Hosmer, Jason Kipnis, Ben Revere and Eric Thames last year.
For current Arizona Fall League information, including pitch-by-pitch gamecasts by Baseball Advanced Media, visit www.mlbfallball.com. Also follow the Fall League via Twitter/mlbazfallleague and Facebook/mlbfallleague.
Arizona Fall League Stories from November 1, 2011
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
