IL1 Indianapolis Indians

Tribe's Tom Filer to Coach in Futures Game

Published on June 27, 2012 under International League (IL1)
Indianapolis Indians News Release


INDIANAPOLIS -- Indianapolis Indians pitching coach Tom Filer has been selected to coach in the Futures Game on Sunday, July 8, in Kansas City, Mo.

The Futures Game, held in conjunction with Major League Baseball's all-star break, showcases some of the best prospects in baseball, pitting a United States team against a World team. Filer will help instruct Team USA, managed this year by Hall-of-Famer George Brett.

"A couple of weeks ago, on our last homestand, [Pittsburgh Pirates director of player development] Larry Broadway came over to me and told me that I was selected to go to the Futures Game," Filer said of how he found out. "I had just got done throwing batting practice to the pitchers down in the cage. I was walking [into the clubhouse] and he goes 'Hey, you got a minute?'

"I thought he was going to ask me about one of our pitchers and see if I had an answer or some information for him. He said 'I want to congratulate you, you've been selected to go to the all-star game, to the Futures Game.' I was like, 'What?' and he goes, 'Yeah, you've been selected to go' and he stuck out his hand.

"I was kind of dumbfounded when he did it, but later it sunk in and I was like, 'Yeah, I'm more than proud to go do that.'"

This season, Filer's Indianapolis pitching staff leads the International League with a 3.04 ERA. The Indians (47-31) have the league's best record and own a 2.5-game lead over the second-place Lehigh Valley IronPigs (44-33). The Tribe was the first IL team in 2012 to have five different pitchers each with five wins.

"The guys have really been throwing the ball well," Filer said of his staff. "One of the things they've been doing very well is throwing strikes. [We're] getting ahead and we've been able to put people away."

Giving credit where it's due, Filer didn't discount the effort of the Indianapolis defense, which ranks third in the league with a .982 fielding percentage.

"I can also say our defense has been very good behind us," Filer said. "We have a lot of guys in the outfield with speed, and that's really helped us out."

Working with Team USA, Filer will have a chance to see a couple of potential future Indians pitchers in the form of Pirates prospects Gerrit Cole and Jameson Tallion, who will also be representing Pittsburgh in the Futures Game. Filer has worked with Cole in spring training and called him a "big, strong guy with a big fastball," but Filer is looking forward to seeing Tallion up close for the first time.

"You know, I haven't really seen Tallion pitch in a game," Filer said. "I kind of glance over during a spring training game and see him pitching on another field, but I haven't been able to see him up close and make an evaluation of my own. I want to see what makes him good."

In addition to seeing some of the organization's best pitching prospects, Filer wants to just bask in the experience. Asked what he's looking forward to the most, Filer replied, "The fanfare. It's a festival, you know? We're going to be around all of these good, young players and I'm anxious to see what's out there compared to what we have here as an organization with the Pirates.

"I [am] very excited about it and very proud to represent the Indians, along with the Pittsburgh Pirates, at the all-star game," Filer said.

Check out the Indianapolis Indians Statistics

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



International League Stories from June 27, 2012


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.

OurSports Central