2011 XM All-Stars Futures Game Rosters

When the future stars of tomorrow take the field in the 2011 XM All-Stars Futures Game on July 10, 2011 at Chase Field in Phoenix, AZ, the Boston Red Sox will be represented by two of their minor leaguers.

Here’s the release from the Portland Sea Dogs:

Portland, Maine- Portland Sea Dogs’ outfielder Chih-Hsien Chiang and third baseman Will Middlebrooks have been selected to play in the 2011 XM Satellite Radio All-Star Futures Game at Chase Field in Phoenix, Arizona on Sunday, July 10th as part of Major League Baseball’s All-Star Week. The XM satellite All-Star Futures Game showcases the top prospects throughout Minor League Baseball.

Major League Baseball, in conjunction with the Major League Baseball Scouting Bureau, MLB.com, Baseball America, and the 30 Major League Clubs, selected the 25-man rosters for each club, the U.S. Team and the World Team. Each Major League organization is represented and the World Team features players from 12 different countries and territories outside the 50 United States. Players from all full-season Minor Leagues were eligible to participate. Chiang will play for the World team and Middlebrooks will represent the U.S. team.

The game will begin at 6:00 PM. (ET) and can be viewed live on ESPN2, ESPN2 HD and MLB.TV. XM will provide satellite radio play-by-play coverage of the XM All-Star Futures Game on MLB Network Radio XM 89 in addition to its other comprehensive live coverage from Arizona. Taco Bell All-Star Sunday is the first of three days of All-Star events at Chase Field, culminating with the 82nd All-Star Game on Tuesday, July 12th.

Outfielder Chih-Hsien Chiang is hitting .307 with 11 home runs and 41 RBI in 53 games for the Sea Dogs this season. In his second season with Portland, he leads the Eastern League with a .620 slugging percentage and ranks second in the league in doubles (21), extra base hits (35), and his .307 average ranks ninth in the league. He was selected as the Eastern League Player of the Week for the Week of May 30th through June 5th, hitting .424 with three home runs during the stretch. The 23 year-old homered in four straight games (June 3-7) to tie a franchise record. Chiang reached base safely in a team high 21 straight games from May 27 through June 18. Chiang, who is a native of Taitung, Taiwan, was signed by the Red Sox as an international free agent in 2005.

Third baseman Will Middlebrooks has appeared in 53 games for the Sea Dogs this season. He ranks among the team leaders in virtually every category including ranking third in hitting (.297) and home runs (8), while his 32 RBI’s is fifth best. He entered the season as the 11th ranked prospect in the Red Sox organization by Baseball America. Baseball America also rates Middlebrooks as having the “Best Infield Arm” in the Red Sox farm system.

The 22 year-old was named to both the Carolina League’s mid-season and post-season All-Star teams in 2010 with the Salem Red Sox. The Texas native was selected by the Red Sox in the 5th round (174th overall) in the 2007 First-Year Player Draft.

Sea Dogs that have participated in the Futures Game in the past include Junichi Tazawa (2009), Clay Buchholz (2007), Edgar Martinez (2006), Todd Claus (2005 & 2006), Hanley Ramirez (2005), Juan Perez (2004), Jorge de la Rosa (2003), Ron Johnson (2003), Kevin Youkilis (2003), A.J. Burnett (1999), and Pablo Ozuna (1999).

Click on the read more button to see the full 2011 XM All-Stars Futures Game rosters.