Cubs prospects selected for Futures Game roster
MILWAUKEE — Cubs fans will get a glimpse of a couple of the organization’s top prospects on a national stage next month.
Outfielder Brennen Davis and pitcher Manuel Rodríguez were selected to the National League Futures Game, which will be played at Coors Field in Colorado Sunday July 11 at 2 p.m. CT. The Futures Game is an annual event to kick off MLB’s All-Star week.
Davis — the top prospect in the Cubs organization — will be able to learn from former big leaguers Andruw Jones and Vinny Castilla, who are coaches for the NL Futures Game roster.
Davis, 21, is slashing .255/.368/.396 (.764 OPS) in 31 games in the Cubs system this year. He began the season with Class-A South Bend and was promoted after about a week.
He spent last summer at the Cubs’ alternate site and received his first opportunity this spring to be a part of big-league camp in Arizona.
David Ross was impressed with what he saw out of Davis in Mesa.
“The athleticism, the ability to go get the ball, run the bases, the physique in what he looks like and continue to develop at such a young age,” Ross said. “I think that’s just super positive to be around that environment of the Futures Game, other future stars, guys you end up competing against and playing with. Those are really cool things.
“Things I was never able to be a part of but always from an outside perspective, it’s like the ultimate All-Star Game as a minor leaguer to say, wow, you’re really on the radar to be an everyday big-leaguer. That’s such a huge accomplishment for those guys and happy for them.”
Rodríguez turns 25 later this summer and is on the 40-man roster. The right-handed reliever is 1-1 with a 2.03 ERA and 1.35 WHIP with Double-A Tennessee this season in 13 games.
He dealt with a biceps strain for most of last year.
“Manny’s been through a lot — some ups and downs with the injuries and getting back,” Ross said. “He’s starting to throw the ball well, just got promoted. Really good for him.”