Two Twins legends will be part of the All-Star festivities at Target Field when they manage the 2014 Futures Game.
Major League Baseball announced Wednesday that former Twins manager Tom Kelly and Hall of Fame pitcher Bert Blyleven will square off against each other in the Futures Game.
Kelly will manage the U.S. Team, and Blyleven, born in the Netherlands, will manage the World Team.
The Futures Game takes place on July 13 at Target Field and will pit some of the best prospects in the game against each other in a midseason exhibition game.
Kelly led the Twins to World Series Championships in 1987 and ’91. He ranks first in Twins history with 1,140 victories and 2,385 games as manager. He was named the American League Manager of the Year in 1991 and the Twins retired his number 10 on Sept. 8, 2012.
Blyleven was a 2011 inductee into the baseball Hall of Fame. He pitched for 22 seasons and won 287 games in his career. he set a Twins record with 2,035 strikeouts and was the AL Rookie of the Year in 1970. He was also an integral part of Kelly’s 1987 World Championship team.
According to the Pioneer Press, Twins prospect and double-A center fielder Byron Buxton, baseball’s top-ranked prospect, figures to headline Kelly’s U.S. team.
The Twins top international prospect infielder Miguel Sano will miss the Future’s Game, he is recovering from Tommy John surgery. The Pioneer Press says some of their other top international prospects in the Twins organization include Puerto Rican right-hander J.O. Berrios and second baseman Eddie Rosario; Australian left-hander Lewis Thorpe, Dominican second baseman Jorge Polanco and shortstop Danny Santana; and German outfielder Max Kepler.
The U.S. Team holds a 9-6 all-time edge over the World Team.
