News
Three HWB Alumni Chosen for All-Star Futures Game
Kyle Galdeira
02/05/07
Of the 50 minor league prospects selected to participate in the 2007 XM Satellite Radio All-Star Futures Game, three made their mark in the 2006 Hawaii Winter Baseball campaign.
Johnny Whittleman and Joba Chamberlain, both former West Oahu CaneFires, and Rick Vanden Hurk of the Waikiki BeachBoys will participate in the ninth-annual game on July 8 in San Francisco. The contest will be televised live from AT&T Park at 10 a.m. Hawaii time on ESPN2.
Players were selected after all 30 professional organizations and selected members of the media weighed in on which prospects have the best shot at major league success. The two all-star squads--the United States and World teams--each contain 25 players; 12 countries and every professional organization is represented.
Whittleman (pictured right) is hitting an impressive .318 with 20 doubles, 12 home runs and 43 RBIs. The 20-year-old third basemen with the Low-A Clinton LumberKings (Texas Rangers) has already matched his RBI total from last year, and has hit three more home runs through 66 games this season than his nine dingers through 130 games in 2006.
Chamberlain, a product of the New York Yankees system, has tallied a 5-0 record with a miniscule 1.76 ERA and 68 strikeouts through nine starts and a combined 51 innings with High-A Tampa and Double-A Trenton. The HWB all-star consistently hits 95-97 mph with his fastball, and was clocked at 98 mph during an appearance in Hawaii.
Despite already cracking the Florida Marlins' roster earlier this season, Vanden Hurk, a native of the Netherlands, will suit up for the World squad. The 22-year-old hurler owns a 2-2 major league record to go with a 2-1 mark and 52 strikeouts on the hill for the Double-A Carolina Mudcats.
