Five former BlueClaws named to Futures Game rosters
Published on June 30, 2008 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Jersey Shore BlueClaws News Release
LAKEWOOD, N.J. - Five former BlueClaws have been named to Futures Game rosters. Two pitchers, right- hander Carlos Carrasco and left-hander Antonio Bastardo, will represent the World team, while catcher Lou Marson, shortstop Jason Donald and outfielder Greg Golson will play for the United States squad. The annual game will be played on July 13 at Yankee Stadium as part of All Star Weekend.
All five players are currently in Double-A with the Reading Phillies. Reading is the best represented team in the Futures Game.
Marson, 22, has shot up prospect lists after putting together a blistering start to the 2008 campaign. The backstop spent the entire 2006 season in Lakewood, hitting .243 with the BlueClaws in 104 games. This season he has posted a .324 batting average, good enough for fifth best in the Eastern League. He has also been strong behind the plate, throwing out a league-best 25 runners.
Donald, 23, joins Bastardo as the 2007 BlueClaws to make the Futures Game rosters. Donald tore up the South Atlantic League, hitting .310 with four home runs in 51 games before being promoted to High Class A Clearwater. A third round draft pick in 2006, Donald is hitting .298 with nine home runs so far in Reading. The shortstop made a splash this year in Big League Spring Training, hitting two home runs in an exhibition game against the Toronto Blue Jays.
Golson, 22, has been one of the top outfielders in the Eastern League this season, displaying an impressive combination of power and speed. The 2005 and 2006 BlueClaw hit .299 with seven home runs and 17 stolen bases before heading to the disabled list on June 17 with a sprained wrist. The former first round pick still holds Lakewood records for most career runs (107) and hits (184).
Carrasco, 21, is making his third consecutive trip to the Futures Game after being selected for the 2006 game in Pittsburgh and the 2007 edition in San Francisco. The top prospect in the Phillies system according to Baseball America, Carrasco is 5-7 with a 4.18 ERA this season with the R-Phils. Carrasco helped the BlueClaws to the 2006 South Atlantic League title, going 12-6 with a 2.26 ERA in 26 starts that season.
Bastardo, 22, was named to the World roster, but will not play in the game due to injury. The southpaw was among the Minor League leaders in strikeouts with 86 in 77 innings pitched, before moving to the disabled list on June 15 with left shoulder inflammation. Bastardo joined the BlueClaws just before the All Star break in 2007 and was dominant, going 9-0 with a 1.87 ERA in 15 starts before finishing the season in Clearwater.
The 2008 BlueClaws finished with the best first half in team history. They return to FirstEnergy Park on July 7 for eight games with the Augusta GreenJackets (San Francisco Giants) and Greenville Drive (Boston Red Sox). Tickets to every remaining BlueClaws game are still available online at BlueClaws.com, over the phone at (732) 901-7000 or in-person at the FirstEnergy Park ticket office.
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