Ozhaino Albies and Max Kepler selected for World Team in Futures game

Curacao native Ozhaino Albies has received an invitation for the Futures Game, the yearly event that precedes the All Star Game and features the most talented players from the Minor Leagues. It is the first time that a player from Curacao receives an invitation for the Futures Game since Jurickson Profar played in the game.

The nr. 5 Braves prospect will be the youngest player ever to play in the Futures game  at an age of eighteen. A few days ago, Albies also played in the All Star Game of the South Atlantic League where he went 0 for 2.

So far Albies is having a great season so far with the Rome Braves. In 67 games he hit .323 with an on-base-percentage of .375. In 279 at bats, Albies collected ninety hits, of which thirteen doubles and six triples. Albies stole twenty-two bases aldready. Last season Albies was the only seventeen-year old player in the Appalachian League that hit way above .300.

Max Kepler from Germany also received an invitation. the outfielder of the Minnesota Twins organization is playing for the AA Chattanooga Lookouts of the Southern League. Kepler earned the honor of being the hitter of the week in the week that ended on June 21. Kepler also played in the All Star Game of the league he is currently playing at. For team North, he went 0 for 2 but he drew a walk and scored a run. Kepler is the very first player from Germany that will appear in the Futures Game. In the regular season Kepler is hitting a whopping .338.