Three Hooks Tabbed for Futures Game
June 25, 2015 - Texas League (TL1)
Corpus Christi Hooks News Release
CORPUS CHRISTI - Major League Baseball announced the official rosters for the 2015 Futures Game Thursday. Three 2015 Hooks - pitcher Mark Appel, infielder Tony Kemp and manager Rodney Linares - will join some of the best up-and-coming talent in the minor leagues at the 86th MLB All-Star Game in Cincinnati.
Appel, who was promoted to Class AAA Fresno June 24, started thirteen games for the Hooks this season, posting a 5-1 record with a 4.26 ERA. The Astros number one overall pick in the 2013 draft allowed just four earned runs over his final 23 1/3 innings before the promotion.
A fifth round pick by the Astros in the same 2013 draft, Kemp lit up scorecards and highlight reels with regularity in 50 games with Corpus Christi this season. The winner of a 2014 MiLB Gold Glove at second base spent time on SportsCenter's Top 10 for a diving play in centerfield earlier this year and was hitting .358 with 10 doubles when he was called up to Fresno June 11. The 5' 6" Kemp, who hits from the left side, has shown patience at the plate, drawing more walks (153) than strikeouts (144) in his minor league career.
Now in his 17th year in the Astros organization, Linares has been climbing the minor league ranks as a manager. The 37-year-old is in his ninth season at the helm in the Houston system, previously managing in Greenville, Lexington and Lancaster. Linares was promoted to manage the Hooks after three years at High-A Lancaster, compiling a 234-186 record and winning two California League titles in 2012 and 2014.
The Futures Game will be played Sunday, July 12 at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati before the Major League All-Star game on Tuesday, July 14. The Futures Game rosters are divided by nationality with the USA playing the World squad. Appel and Kemp will be on the USA roster, while Linares, a native of the Dominican Republic, will coach the World side.
The trio joins these Hooks alums who have been selected to play in the showcase over the last 11 years: IF Jose Altuve (2011); MGR Keith Bodie (2013), C Jason Castro (2009); RHP Jarred Cosart (2011 & 2010), IF Carlos Correa (2013), OF Delino DeShields, Jr. (2013), RHP Michael Feliz (2014), RHP Jason Hirsh (2006), RHP Chia-Jen Lo (2009), RHP Jordan Lyles (2010), RHP Fernando Nieve (2005), LHP Troy Patton (2005), OF Hunter Pence (2006), OF Domingo Santana (2014), IF Jon Singleton (2012), George Springer (2013), C J.R. Towles (2007), LHP Polin Trinidad (2008) & IF Jimmy VanOstrand (2007).
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