The Arizona Fall League's annual prospects showcase, the Rising Stars Game, will be played Saturday at 8 p.m. Eastern and broadcast live on MLB Network, and the rosters were released Wednesday.
The East roster has plenty of talent, starting with a trio of Astros prospects—starting pitcher Jarred Cosart, first baseman Jonathan Singleton and right fielder George Springer. Springer has hit three homers and ranks fifth in the AFL with a .423 on-base percentage. The East infield also features the two winners of BA's top amateur awards in 2010, High School Player of the Year Kaleb Cowart (Angels) and College Player of the Year Anthony Rendon (Nationals). Rendon continues to work his way back from a fractured left ankle.
The East outfield also includes speedster Gary Brown (Giants), five-tool talent Brian Goodwin (Nationals) and slugger Corey Dickerson (Rockies).
Both rosters have a prominent infielder-turned-outfielder, with the East featuring Nick Castellanos (Tigers), who moved from third to right field after the all-star break, while the West has stolen base king Billy Hamilton (Reds). After spending all year at shortstop, Hamilton is shifting to center field in the AFL. He has six more steals in the AFL in seven attempts, tied for second in the league, after stealing 155 bases during the regular season.
Hamilton leads a thinner prospect crop on the West roster that includes 2012 College Player of the Year Mike Zunino (Mariners) and Marlins outfielder Christian Yelich (Marlins). Springer's college teammate at Connecticut, Nick Ahmed (Braves), is on the West club, as is 2011 Rising Stars MVP Nick Franklin (Mariners), who has a 1.024 OPS thus far in the AFL. Franklin homered last year off Gerrit Cole (Pirates) en route to the MVP award.
Righthander Kyle Gibson (Twins) is slated to start for the West. The 2009 first-round pick, coming back from Tommy John surgery, had 19 strikeouts and gave up only one run in his first three starts over 13 innings before giving up eight hits and six runs in a two-inning start on Monday.
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