LA's top 2 prospects ready for Futures Game

LOS ANGELES -- Corey Seager was the National League Rookie of the Year last season, Cody Bellinger is the leading candidate this season and the Dodgers will be represented in today's 2017 SiriusXM Futures Game by pitcher Yadier Alvarez and outfielder Alex Verdugo, who someday could follow in their footsteps.
Alvarez and Verdugo, the top-ranked prospects in a deep Dodgers organization, will play for the World Team at Marlins Park in Miami. The annual showcase can be viewed live at 1 p.m. PT on MLB Network and MLB.com.
:: 2017 Futures Game coverage ::
Current Dodgers who have played in Futures Games are Adrián González (2001), Chase Utley (2001), Franklin Gutierrez (2003), Josh Fields (2006), Clayton Kershaw (2007), Pedro Báez (2009-10 as an infielder), Joc Pederson (2013), Seager (2014) and Julio Urías (2014).
The Futures Game, which is now in its 19th year, features the top Minor League prospects competing in a nine-inning contest as part of All-Star Sunday. The U.S. Team leads the all-time series, 11-7. Last year in San Diego, the World Team defeated the U.S., 11-3, snapping a six-game U.S. winning streak.
Major League Baseball, in conjunction with MLB.com, Baseball America and the 30 Major League Clubs, selected the 25 players currently on each team. Each Major League organization is represented and players from all full-season Minor Leagues were eligible to be selected.
As part of its live All-Star Week programming, MLB Network will exclusively televise and MLB.com will live stream the SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game at 4:00 p.m. (ET), with Matt Vasgersian, Mike Lowell, Heidi Watney and MLB.com prospect expert Jonathan Mayo on the call live from Marlins Park.

The 21-year-old Alvarez, who signed out of Cuba for a $16 million bonus (and matching penalty) in 2015 and debuted in the United States in '16, is ranked by MLBPipeline.com as the No. 1 prospect in the organization and No. 40 overall in MLB. The lanky right-hander is 2-4 with a 5.37 ERA at Class A Advanced Rancho Cucamonga.
"Yadi has come a long way in the last few months," said Gabe Kapler, the Dodgers' director of player development. "His talent is shining through. Our staff in Rancho has noticed improvements across the board, both on and off the field. The arm is electric, and we're all excited for him. He really wants the ball on the big stage and will undoubtedly be honored to perform."
The 21-year-old Verdugo, drafted in the second round in 2014, is ranked by MLBPipleline.com as the No. 2 prospect in the organization and No. 51 overall in MLB. A left-handed hitter and thrower with a rocket right-field arm, he is batting .347 with an .884 OPS at Triple-A Oklahoma City.
"Alex has earned the respect of his teammates, Hass [OKC manager Bill Haselman] and all his coaches in Triple-A through his devotion and professionalism," said Kapler. "He's become a dependable defender, an instinctive, assertive base runner and a great manager of his at bats. He's a complete baseball player and is well-deserving of experiences like the one he's about to have at the Futures Game."

Although a native of Tucson, Ariz., Verdugo played for Team Mexico in the World Baseball Classic and will represent that country on the World Team.
"It's an honor and privilege to represent a country, Mexico or the United States," said Verdugo. "My father is Mexican and I take a lot of pride in that."