Pair of former Hogs to play in Futures Game

Pair of former Hogs to play in Futures Game

UA Media Relations SAN DIEGO, Calif. – Former Razorback Baseball standouts Andrew Benintendi and Ryne Stanek were selected to play in the Sirius/XM All-Star Futures Game earlier this week as they will be part of the USA Team that will take on the World Team on Sunday, July 10 at Petco Park in San Diego.

The Futures Game is part of the MLB All-Star week festivities and has been an annual event since 1999.

Only two Razorbacks have taken part in previous Futures Games as pitcher Jess Todd played in 2008 and catcher James McCann played in 2013.

The game’s first pitch will be broadcast on MLB Network and MLB.com as well on SiriusXM on XM channel 89 and Sirius channel 209 at 3 p.m.

CST.

Benintendi, who has made a meteoric rise through the minor league ranks since being drafted by the Boston Red Sox last summer, is one of the top prospects in the minors and is currently hitting .283 with 3 home runs and 23 RBIs for the Double A Portland Sea Dogs.

The former Hog All-American and National Player of the Year is hitting a combined .311 this year after spending the first month and a half with Single A Salem to go with 25 doubles, 8 triples and 55 RBIs. Benintendi struggled initially after getting moved to Double A, but has settled in well, notching 14 hits in his last 10 games including a four-hit game Tuesday night against the Trenton Thunder.

Benintendi is currently the No. 21 prospect in the minors according to MLB Pipeline and the No. 3 prospect in the Red Sox organization.

Stanek has been one of the better pitchers as of late at the Double A level.

Currently playing for the Montgomery Biscuits in the Tampa Bay Rays organization, Stanek has made a steady rise through the minors since being drafted in the first round by the Rays in 2013.

Through 76 innings this season, the St. Louis native has only allowed 33 earned runs and struck out 88 batters, which is second best in the Southern League. Stanek was part of the Biscuits starting rotation since Opening Day, but was moved to the bullpen during the last month. He’s picked up two saves since the move.

Benintendi and Stanek are the two most recent first round draft picks for Arkansas Baseball and each earned All-American status during their time in a Razorback uniform.

Benintendi is just one year removed sweeping every major national player of the year award including the Dick Howser Trophy and Golden Spikes Award during his sophomore season.

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By John Thomas