Some of the biggest stars of the Eastern League won’t be at Wednesday’s All-Star Game at Hadlock Field. New Britain catcher Tom Murphy, a rising prospect for the Colorado Rockies, is playing in the Pan-Am Games. Bowie pitcher Terry Doyle, a former Boston College standout, is not available because he’s been promoted to Triple-A.
But it’s certain that the game will feature future major leaguers. Here are six prospects to keep your eyes on:
Josh Bell (47)
First base, Altoona
Bell, 22, was a second-round draft choice of the Pirates in 2011, but Pittsburgh wanted him enough to offer a $5 million signing bonus. The Pirates’ No. 4 prospect, according to Baseball America, Bell was named the Florida State League MVP last year after batting .335/.886 OPS. He has continued to hit in Double-A, batting .312/.811 this season.
Gavin Cecchini (2)
Shortstop, Binghamton
When Cecchini’s brother, Garin, played for the Sea Dogs in 2012, he arrived too late in the season for the All-Star Game, and was in Triple-A the next year. Gavin Cecchini, 21, is a New York Mets’ first-round draft choice (2012) and No. 10 prospect (Baseball America). He is one of the league’s leading hitters at .295/.785, with 18 doubles.
Mychal Givens (40)
Pitcher, Bowie
Givens, 25, was a second-round pick of the Baltimore Orioles in 2009, but as a shortstop. He converted to a pitcher in 2012 and so impressed the Orioles this season that he was called up to the majors for one game, on June 24 at Fenway Park. He pitched a 1-2-3 inning with a strikeout. His fastball can climb to 98 mph and he has 70 strikeouts in 492/3 innings.
Brandon Nimmo (9)
Outfield, Binghamton
Even though Nimmo’s home state of Wyoming does not have high school baseball, the Mets saw enough of Nimmo to make him their first-round draft pick in 2011. Nimmo, 22, is New York’s No. 3 prospect according to Baseball America. He reached Double-A for the second half of 2014, and this season is batting .289, with a .733 OPS.
Gary Sanchez (35)
Catcher, Trenton
Now that the New York Yankees appear to be holding onto to more of their prospects, maybe Sanchez, 22, has a shot at playing in Yankee Stadium. Ranked New York’s No. 5 prospect by Baseball America, he leads Eastern League catchers with a .258 average/.788 OPS and 12 home runs. Sanchez has thrown out 37 percent of potential stealers.
Austin Voth (37)
Pitcher, Harrisburg
While Voth, 23, is not included in prospect rankings, he was a fifth-round draft pick of the Washington Nationals in 2013, out of the University of Washington, and has moved steadily through the minors. Voth commands a swing-and-miss fastball and leads the league with 98 strikeouts, in 103 innings. He also has a 3.06 ERA. Voth may be limited Wednesday because he pitched Monday.
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