OTTAWA – A record four Canadians will be making their way to St. Louis on July 12th for one of the grandest showcases for Major League prospects at the 11th annual MLB All-Star Futures Game.
Nick Weglarz (Stevensville, ON), Brett Lawrie (Langley, BC), Rene Tosoni (Toronto, ON) and Tyson Gillies (Vancouver, BC) will be representing the maple leaf as part of the World team, who will take on Team USA as part of the MLB All-Star festivities.
Weglarz, 21, is playing with the Double-A Akron Aeros in the Cleveland Indians system and is having a solid season up to the half way mark. The outfielder is hitting .264 with 11 home runs, 13 doubles and 51 RBI in 67 games so far this season. Weglarz has represented Canada on numerous occasions including the 2008 Olympics and the 2009 World Baseball Classic.
Lawrie, 19, is in his first full season of professional baseball with the Single-A Wisconsin Timber Rattlers in the Milwaukee Brewers system. Lawrie has appeared in 57 games so far this season and is hitting .268 with eight home runs and 40 RBI. Lawrie became the highest Canadian position player ever drafted when he was selected 16th overall by the Brewers in the 2008 MLB Draft and he has been a member of both the Junior and Senior National Teams, playing in the 2006 and 2008 World Junior Championships and at the 2008 Olympics and 2009 World Baseball Classic.
Tosoni, who will turn 23 prior to the All-Star Game, is an outfielder with the Double-A New Britain Rock Cats in the Minnesota Twins organization. Tosoni is hitting .271 with nine home runs, 14 doubles and 45 RBI in 67 games this season. Tosoni was a member of the Junior National Team prior to being drafted in 2005.
Gillies, 20, is hitting .325 in 62 games with the Single-A High Desert Mavericks in the Seattle Mariners organization. He has amassed four home runs and 21 RBI so far to go along with eight doubles and nine triples this season. Gillies was a member of the Junior National Team for the 2006 World Junior Championship.
The MLB All-Star Futures Game will take place on Sunday, July 12th at 2 PM ET at Busch Stadium in St. Louis.
