JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. – A recent first-round pick was here in 2022. A prolific slugger who could have gone first overall in Japan is here now. The modern version of the Appalachian League – a formerly affiliated Rookie-level circuit that transitioned to summer collegiate ball three years ago – is getting more loaded by the year, and the latest constellation of talent will be on full display.

The 2024 Appalachian League All-Star Game will be held Tuesday at 7 p.m. ET at Johnson City’s TVA Credit Union Ballpark. The event, which splits two teams between the East and West Divisions, will be streamed live on MLB.com. The game can also be seen Saturday at 11 a.m. ET on MLB Network.

This year’s showcase comes one week after Kansas State shortstop Kaelen Culpepper went 21st overall to the Twins in the 2024 First-Year Player Draft, thus becoming the highest-drafted Appy League alum in the loop’s short history. Culpepper hit .299/.457/.439 with two homers and 10 steals in 29 games for Bluefield in 2022.

Looking to follow in the Wildcat’s footsteps is this year’s biggest Appalachian League name: Rintaro Sasaki.

The left-handed slugger set a Japanese high-school record with 140 homers while playing for his father Hiroshi, who also coached Shohei Ohtani in his prep days. Instead of going in the NPB Draft, Sasaki chose to head stateside and attend Stanford, though he’s yet to play for the Cardinal. To prepare for his first NCAA season, the corner infielder began his summer in the MLB Draft League with Trenton, hitting .221/.387/.395 with four homers, before joining the Greeneville roster last week. He is 2-for-9 with five walks in his first four games with the Flyboys and hit his first Appalachian homer (a 430-foot shot) on Sunday.

Sasaki will be joined on the West roster by another fairly big name in his Greeneville teammate Brodie Johnston. The recent Tennessee high-school grad was named a Perfect Game All-American at third base alongside 2024 first-rounders Konnor Griffin and Bryce Rainer, and despite being the Appy League’s second-youngest hitter, he’s had few issues handling college arms with a .285/.354/.479 line and five homers in 37 games. The Vanderbilt commit leads the Appy League in triples (four), total bases (69) and RBIs (39).

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The East roster boasts UNC Wilmington outfielder Alec DeMartino, who has been one of the best performers anywhere in summer collegiate ball this year. If the season ended today, the Pulaski slugger would win the Appalachian League Slash-Line Triple Crown with a .408/.517/.676 mark over 20 games. Keep an eye out for Tri-State right-hander Joe Gomez on the East squad. The 5-foot-10 hurler has shown spin rates as high as 3,500 rpm on his breaking ball and 3,000 rpm on his fastball while fanning 30 in 22 2/3 innings as a reliever.