Future is now for three Knights
Published on June 22, 2006 under International League (IL1)
Charlotte Knights News Release
Fort Mill, SC - On July 9th three members of the Charlotte Knights will take part in the 2006 XM Satellite Radio All-Star Futures Game held at PNC Park in Pittsburgh. The rosters were set Wednesday afternoon and infielder, Josh Fields, manager, Razor Shines, and pitching coach, Juan Nieves, will be making the trip to PNC Park in Pittsburgh to take part in the All-Star festivities.
Josh Fields was chosen as a member of the United States team. Fields was selected in the first round (18th overall) in the June 2004 draft and is currently in his third season in the White Sox system. Fields currently has a .318 (76-239) batting average and is in fourth place in the International League. He is also currently among the I.L. leaders in runs scored (43), extra base hits (33), slugging percentage (.556), on base percentage (.400), doubles (20) and hits (76).
Razor Shines was selected as a member of Ferguson Jenkins' World Team coaching staff. This will be the second consecutive year Shines has participated in the Futures Game. Last year Shines was selected to help coach the United States Team. Shines is currently in his sixth season as a manager in the White Sox organization and his first at Class AAA Charlotte. Shines was also named the Southern League Manager of the Year in 2005.
Juan Nieves will join Razor Shines as a member of the World Team and will serve as the teams Pitching Coach. Nieves is currently in his eighth season as a pitching coach in the White Sox organization and his second at Class AAA Charlotte. Nieves was 32-25 with a 4.71 ERA (257 ER/490.2 IP) and 352 strikeouts over three major-league seasons with Milwaukee from 1986-88. He recorded the only no-hitter in Brewers' history on 4/15/87 vs. Baltimore (W, 7-0) and at age 22, became the 14th-youngest player to pitch a no-hitter and was also the first Puerto Rican to accomplish the feat.
This year's Future Games roster has only three members that have seen action in the big leagues. Last year the team had a total of eight members with who had seen some time playing in the majors. The 2006 World Team has representatives from 11 different countries with Venezuela and the Dominican Republic both with six players each.
The exhibition game will have a USA team compete against a World squad, with both teams consisting of 25 of baseball's top prospects. The game will be aired live on ESPN2, on All-Star Sunday at 4pm Eastern Time.
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