Detroit Tigers prospects don't quite connect at MLB All-Star Futures Game in Texas
Ryan FordThe future hasn’t quite arrived for a pair of Detroit Tigers prospects playing in Saturday’s All-Star Futures Game at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas.
Low-A outfielder Max Clark and Double-A infielder Hao-Yu Lee combined to go 1-for-5 for the American League squad in a 6-1 loss to the National League.
Clark, the No. 3 overall pick in last year’s draft, had the lone hit, a sharp line-drive single off left-handed St. Louis Cardinals prospect Quinn Mathews, a 23-year-old pitching in Double-A, in the sixth inning.
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The 19-year-old Clark, who has a .785 OPS with the Lakeland Flying Tigers of the Florida State League, opened his Futures appearance in the leadoff spot, lining out to Druw Jones (the son of longtime Atlanta Braves outfielder Andruw Jones) on an 89.9 mph changeup from Rockies right-hander Chase Dollander, the No. 9 overall pick out of Tennessee last summer.
Clark then followed with a lofted two-out flyout to left in the third inning off a 92.1 mph sinker from Marlins right-hander Noble Meyer, the No. 10 pick last summer. In the fourth, Clark worked an extended at-bat before striking out looking on a fifth-pitch 80.2 mph slurve from another Marlins prospect, Thomas White, the 35th overall pick last summer.
Lee, who was acquired from the Philadelphia Phillies at least year’s trade deadline in the Michael Lorenzen trade, entered for the AL in the fifth inning as a defensive sub at third base and came to the plate with runners on first and third and two outs. Facing Reds prospect Rhett Lowder (already in Double-A after going seventh overall last summer), the 21-year-old Lee grounded to short for the forceout at second base.
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