Rutschman and DiplÃ¡n chosen for All-Star Futures Game

By Roch Kubatko

Orioles

June 30, 2021, 8:09am

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Top prospect Adley Rutschman is one of the highest profile names listed among players chosen today for the All-Star Futures Game.

Rutschman, chosen by the Orioles as the first overall selection in the 2019 draft out of Oregon State University, was selected to the American League team. One of his teammates is Triple-A Norfolk pitcher Marcos DiplÃ¡n.

The 22nd installment of the game will be played at 3 p.m. Sunday, July 11, at Coors Field in Denver.

Rutschman, 23, is batting .287/.426/.520 with seven doubles, 11 home runs, 32 RBIs, 40 walks and 35 strikeouts in 217 plate appearances with Double-A Bowie. He's risen to No. 1 prospect in the minors with the Rays promoting shortstop Wander Franco.

His inclusion seemed a mere formality.

DiplÃ¡n, 24, has made 11 relief appearances with Norfolk and allowed four earned runs in 14 innings. He's walked five batters and struck out 17.

The Orioles claimed DiplÃ¡n off waivers from the Tigers as their first move at the 2019 Winter Meetings. He was designated for assignment later that month to create room for pitcher Kohl Stewart on the 40-man roster, and later outrighted to Norfolk.

DiplÃ¡n didn't pitch in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season. The Orioles re-signed him to a minor league deal in October.

The Orioles reassigned DiplÃ¡n to minor league camp on March 6, the same day as Rutschman.

DiplÃ¡n was an international signing for the Rangers, who landed him as an amateur from Santiago, Dominican Republic, on July 2, 2013 and gave him a $1.3 million bonus. He was considered one of the top arms in that class, with Baseball America rating him as the No. 6 prospect.

The Futures Game wasn't played last summer due to COVID-19. Orioles pitching prospects and former first-round picks DL Hall and Grayson Rodriguez participated in 2019.

The 2021 roster includes two first overall draft selections, including Tigers infielder Spencer Torkelson.

The game will last seven innings, with former Orioles reliever LaTroy Hawkins managing the American League team and former Rockies infielder Vinny Castilla managing the National League.