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Futures Game: World Team Bios

Coaches

RICK BURLESON, Coach, San Antonio

Burleson is in his first season as San Antonio (Double-A Texas League) manager and second as field manager in the Dodgers organization. Last season, he led San Bernardino to the advanced Class-A California League championship. Prior to his joining the Dodgers organization, Burleson served in a coaching capacity with the Angels, Red Sox, and A's. A four-time American League All-Star, Burleson played shortstop for 13 seasons in the Major Leagues with Boston, California, and Baltimore, compiling a .273 batting average.

TONY FRANKLIN, Coach, Las Vegas

Franklin is in his fifth season as the Padres' Minor League infield coordinator. He previously spent sevens seasons as a minor league manager and instructor with the White Sox. Prior to his stint with the White Sox, Franklin also served in managing and coaching capacities in both the Cubs and Orioles systems.

KIRK CHAMPION, Coach, Charlotte

Champion, a pitching coach with 38-42 Charlotte, is in his 11th season as a pitching coach in the White Sox organization. He helped to lead Charlotte to the International League title and a berth in the Triple-A World Series. This season, his pitching staff is second in the IL with a 3.97 ERA.

GARY JONES, Coach, Pawtucket

Jones is in his first season with Pawtucket and also his first with the Red Sox organization. Prior to his joining the Red Sox, Jones spent nine seasons as manager and coach in the A's system. He guided Edmonton to the Triple-A Pacific Coast League title in 1996 and 1997 and was recognized in 1997 as Baseball America's Manager of the Year. As a player, he spent seven seasons playing in the Cubs and A's organizations.

MIKE ROJAS, Coach, Chattanooga

Rojas is in his eighth season as a manager and second in the Reds' organization. In seven minor league seasons, he compiled a record of 313-356 (.468) for Chicago (AL), Houston, and the Reds. As a player, Rojas caught in the Oakland and Toronto farm system from 1983-86. He is the son of New York Mets coach Cookie Rojas.

Players

RAMON CASTRO -- C, Marlins, Calgary -- Puerto Rico

Castro is hitting .340 this season with 14 homers and 43 RBI for Calgary in the Triple-A Pacific Coast League. He hit a pair of home runs on June 9, marking the third straight game in which he homered. The Puerto Rico native went 24-for-46 (6 2B, 9 HR, 22 RBI) over a 14-game stretch from June 6-24.

The 24-year-old Castro is the Marlins' top catching prospect. In his first full season with Florida since being acquired in '98 from the Astros for Jay Powell, the 1994 first-round pick hit .258 with 15 home runs and 61 RBI in 97 games with Triple-A Calgary. Castro also had a short stint with the Marlins.

Castro's top attribute is his throwing arm. After nailing 46% of would-be basestealers to lead the Double-A Texas League in '98, Castro gunned down 10 of the first 13 baserunners last season. He finished the year throwing out 31-of-86 runners (.360).

MIGUEL OLIVO -- C, Athletics, Midland -- Dominican Republic

Olivo is batting .284 with five home runs and 35 RBI this season while splitting his time between Modesto in the advanced Class-A California League and Midland in the Double-A Texas League. The 21-year-old had an 11-game hitting streak (17-44, 2 2B, 1 3B, 2 HR, 9 RBI), the longest such streak of his career, in May while playing for Modesto.

A strong-armed but raw catcher with a developing bat, Olivo has a chance to surpass the achievements of other highly talented catchers in the Oakland organization.

A rookie level Arizona League All-Star in 1998 (.311, 2 HR, 23 RBI), Olivo topped the .300 mark again last season. The righthanded swinger hit .354 with five homers in August to finish the Class-A California League season at .305 with 13 doubles, six triples, nine homers and 42 RBI in 73 games.

CARLOS PENA -- 1B, Rangers, Tulsa -- Dominican Republic

Pena is batting .301 with 17 homers and 70 RBI for Tulsa in the Double-A Texas League this season. He began the season on a hot streak, as the 22-year-old Dominican native belted eight homers and knocked in 24 runs in his first 27 games.

The tenth overall pick in the 1998 draft, Pena proved a capable run producer in his first full season of professional baseball. He finished second in the advanced Class-A Florida State League with 103 RBI and hit .300 with men in scoring position. The lefthanded hitter was third in extra-base hits (57) and walks (74) and fifth in total bases (229). Pena delivered 18 homers and 31 doubles, and he scored 85 runs.

A little known engineering student at Northeastern, Pena won the Collegiate Cape Cod Summer League MVP in 1997 (.318, 8 HR, 33 RBI) and caught scouts' eyes. Born in the Dominican Republic, Pena graduated from Haverhill (MA), HS, played one season at Wright State and two for the Huskies in Boston.

JULIO ZULETA -- 1B, Cubs, Iowa -- Panama

Zuleta is batting .320 this season with 14 homers and 54 RBI for Iowa in the Triple-A Pacific Coast League. The 25-year-old Panama native appeared in 13 games for the Cubs earlier this season, making his major league debut on April 6.

Coming out of nowhere to lead all Cubs minor leaguers with a .331 average and 106 RBI in 1998, Zuleta proved he was no fluke in his first full season at Double-A last year. The 25-year-old hit .295 with a career-high 21 homers and 97 RBI, which were again tops in the system. Signed as a non-drafted free agent following the 1992 season, Zuleta also belted 37 doubles and owned a .519 slugging percentage, factoring into his inclusion on the Cubs' 40-man roster. He is mainly a pull hitter who crowds the plate as evidenced by being hit with a league-leading 20 pitches last season and 18 in 1998.

RUBEN SALAZAR -- 2B, Twins, Ft. Myers -- Venezuela

Salazar is batting .316 with eight homers and 42 RBI for Ft. Myers in the advanced Class-A Florida State League this season. The Venezuelan had a 10-game hitting streak in April and has not been below .300 since the seventh game of the season.

As a 21-year-old free agent from the Twins Venezuelan Academy, Salazar lit up the scoreboards in the rookie level Appalachian League last season. Although he was a bit old for the league and alternated between second base, third base and designated hitter, Salazar led the league in eight categories, batting .401 with 14 homers and 65 RBI. The now 22-year-old came within two homers of winning the Triple Crown and was named Appalachian League Player of the Year and "Star of Stars" by HOWE SPORTSDATA for statistical excellence.

Salazar became just the third Minnesota farmhand to ever hit .400 and the first since 1971. The 5-foot-9, 162-pounder hit for the cycle, had a five-hit game, a 20-game hitting streak and had four hits and three walks in one game alone. He blasted pitchers both home and on the road, batting .405 with seven homers in hitter-friendly Elizabethton, and .397 with seven dingers on the road.

TRAVIS WILSON -- 2B, Braves, Macon -- New Zealand

Wilson is batting .275 with nine homers and 39 RBI for Macon in the advanced Class-A Carolina League this season. The 22-year-old New Zealander collected RBI in eight consecutive games May 14-21 (9-35, 1 2B, 1 3B, 2 HR, 8 RBI).

A Rookie level Appalachian League All-Star in 1998, Wilson made his full-season debut a success by finishing seventh in the lower level Class-A South Atlantic League in batting (.309) and again earning All-Star status.

Wilson was a world-class fast pitch softball player before being signed by Atlanta in 1996. Having never faced an overhand curve before, Wilson struggled mightily at the plate, batting just .215 with 60 strikeouts in 233 at-bats at Rookie level Danville in 1997. He returned to Danville in '98 and batted .323 while leading the loop in extra-base hits with 39.

The 6-foot-2, 185-pounder was switched from third to second base last year. Actually, it was a return to his old softball position. Atlanta moved Wilson to third base because it was a reflex position, a skill necessary in softball with the pitcher 10 feet closer to home plate. Now adapted to the American game, Wilson was switched back to his more familiar position. After making six errors in April alone, he made just three the rest of the year and went 41 consecutive games without an error.

JOSE LEON -- 3B, Cardinals, Arkansas -- Puerto Rico

Leon, a 23-year-old Puerto Rican, is hitting .259 this season with 11 homers and 31 RBI for Arkansas in the Double-A Texas League.

After back-to-back all-star seasons, Leon struggled in 1999, batting just .233 while making the jump to Double-A. Bothered throughout the year with nagging injuries, including a sprained ankle which disabled him for two weeks in July, he still produced good power numbers. Leon smacked 18 home runs in 335 at-bats and also added 17 doubles.

Leon was a 22nd-round draft pick in 1994. He first gained notice in 1996 when he finished third in the short season Appalachian League with 10 homers. He followed with 20 and 21 longballs in 1997 and 1998, respectively. With the power comes lots of strikeouts and he's fanned over 100 times each of the last three seasons, including 114 last year.

FELIPE LOPEZ -- SS, Blue Jays -- Puerto Rico

Lopez, a 20-year-old Puerto Rico native, is hitting .248 with six homers and 24 RBI this season for Tennessee in the Double-A Southern League.

Drafted with the eighth overall pick in the 1998 draft, Lopez took a while to get on track in his first full season of pro ball, managing only five hits in his first 43 at-bats and a .176 average through the end of April. He righted the ship over the next two months, hitting .326 with nine homers and 38 RBI. He collected hits in nine of his final 21 at-bats to finish the campaign batting .277 with 14 homers and 80 RBI in the Class-A South Atlantic League.

Lopez received a $2 million bonus in August of '98, the highest ever for a native of Puerto Rico. He hit .521 in his senior season and broke Lake Brantley (FL) High School's record with 34 stolen bases in 35 attempts. Lopez batted .375 in 23 games split between the Class-A New York-Penn and Florida State Leagues in his professional debut.

CHIN-FENG CHEN -- OF, Dodgers, San Antonio -- Taiwan

Chen is batting .272 with four homers, 41 RBI, and 17 stolen bases for San Antonio in the Double-A Texas League this season. The 22-year-old hit in 13 of his first 14 games this year, batting .435 over that stretch. The Taiwan native is batting .338 this season with runners in scoring position.

The first native of Taiwan to play professionally in the United States in 24 years, Chen exceeded all expectations with a monster season in 1999, earning Most Valuable Player honors in the advanced Class-A California League. With 31 home runs and 31 stolen bases, he became the first player in league history to post a 30-30 season. Chen tied for the league lead with 123 RBI, finished second in homers, and his .316 average tied for 10th in the loop. He set San Bernardino club records for home runs and RBI. Despite playing his home games in the toughest home run park in the league, Chen batted .364 with 14 home runs at San Bernardino.

A member of Taiwan's 1990 Little League World Series champion team, Chen left San Bernardino to play for his native country in the Asian Cup, the Olympic qualifying tournament for Asia. He did not play in the post-season for the California League champions. Just 22-years-old, Chen is adapting well in his adjustment to life in this country. He has learned some English and Spanish and has remained in Los Angeles in the offseason to further acclimate himself.

ALEX ESCOBAR -- OF, Mets, Binghamton -- Venezuela

Escobar is batting .281 eight home runs, 37 RBI, and 11 stolen bases for Binghamton in the Double-A Eastern League this season. The 21-year-old Venezuelan had 11 RBI in his first 12 games of the season.

Considered to be the Mets' top prospect and one of the most exciting players in the minor leagues, Escobar was limited to just three games in 1999 with back and shoulder injuries. The native of Venezuela has played professionally for four years and been healthy for only one. In that season, 1998, he batted .310 with 27 home runs, 91 RBI and 49 stolen bases at Class-A Columbia. He finished among the top five in the South Atlantic League in homers, RBI and steals, including a 1998 minor league high of swipes in seven consecutive games from May 9-19.

JACKSON MELIAN -- OF, Yankees, Norwich -- Venezuela

Melian is batting .248 with seven home runs, 35 RBI, and 17 stolen bases for Norwich in the Double-A Eastern League this season. The 20-year-old native of Venezuela has been caught stealing just once all season.

Melian, named after former Yankees slugger, Reggie Jackson, is just 20 years old and blessed with a wealth of talent. He spent the 1999 campaign in the advanced Class-A Florida State League and got off to a great start, hitting .321 with 17 RBI in April. A strong second half, including a seven-game stretch in which he knocked in 14 runs, allowed him to finish with a .283 average, six home runs and 61 RBI in 128 games. Melian showed signs of his power and speed with 13 triples, good for second in the league. The Venezuelan native had a productive winter campaign in his homeland, batting .273 with four homers and 28 RBI in 50 games.

Signed by the Yankees in July, 1996 at the age of 16, Melian hit .257 with 11 homers, 81 RBI and 15 stolen bases over his first two professional seasons. He was forced to deal with adversity in 1998 as an automobile accident took the lives of his parents as they were driving just ahead of the team bus.

NTEMA NDUNGIDI -- OF, Orioles, Frederick -- Zaire

Ndungidi is batting .284 with ten homers, 54 RBI, and 13 stolen bases for Frederick in the advanced Class-A Carolina League this season. He reached base safely by hit or walk in 24 consecutive games over one stretch this season and is a .323 hitter with runners on base. The 21-year-old Zaire native was selected league Player of the Month for April.

Ndungidi, who had never homered more than seven times in a season, is showing his power for the first time in his professional career. Born in Zaire, Ndungidi moved to Montreal as a youngster and was a supplemental first-round pick of the Orioles in 1997, Ndungidi hit just .185 in 18 Gulf Coast League games that summer. He batted .295 with seven homers in 210 at-bats in the rookie level Appalachian league in '98 and managed a .227 mark with 42 RBI and 22 steals in 26 attempts between two Class-A levels last season.

BILL ORTEGA -- OF, Cardinals, Arkansas -- Cuba

Ortega is batting .327 with a career-high 12 homers and 62 RBI for Arkansas in the Double-A Texas League this season. The 24-year-old hit in each of his first nine games and has not stopped hitting since. He reached base safely by hit or walk in 41 consecutive April 25-June 7, a minor league best for this season.

A defector from Cuba signed in 1997, Ortega broke out with a .316 average last year. He finished ninth in the advanced Class-A Carolina League with a .306 average, then hit .377 in 20 games at Double-A Arkansas.

The 6-foot-4, 205-pounder started to show some over-the-fence power, smacking 11 home runs last year. He had a five-hit game in late July and a 24-game hitting streak between the two leagues. Ortega ended his Carolina League season with a 20-game streak and had a base hit in his first four games in the Texas League.

CRAIG ANDERSON -- LHP, Mariners, Wisconsin -- Australia

Anderson is 9-4 with a 3.56 ERA for Wisconsin the Class-A Midwest League this season. He won three straight starts May 23-June 2, including a six-inning, two-hit, ten-strikeout performance in a 4-1 win over Cedar Rapids.

Signed out of his native Australia in March, Anderson displayed a feel for pitching well beyond his 18 years of age during the 1999 season. On the strength of mainly off-speed pitches, he posted the short-season Class-A Northwest League's most wins (10) and best winning percentage (.833) while ranking third in ERA (3.20) and strikeouts (82).

Anderson won his first three professional starts, including a one-hit, 11-strikeout performance over six scoreless innings in his second outing. He won six straight decisions between July 29 and August 31 before losing his season finale. Anderson matched his total of 11 strikeouts and tossed his first professional shutout 13 days later as he posted four straight winning starts in the midst of the six-game winning streak. The now 19-year-old worked 90 innings, most in the league, and walked just 13 batters. Both his 1.20 BB/9 IP and 9.70 baserunners/9 IP were the fewest in the circuit.

DANYS BAEZ -- RHP, Indians, Akron -- Cuba

Baez is a combined 3-5 this season with a 4.22 ERA while splitting time between Kinston in the advanced Class-A Carolina League and Akron in the Double-A Eastern League. Baez allowed three earned runs or fewer in five of his nine Class-A starts before being promoted to Akron in mid-May, for which he has gone 1-3 with a 3.60 ERA.

In an organization devoid of front line pitching, the Indians tried to buy an ace this winter when they signed Baez. The Cuban defector with vast potential chose to sign with the Indians over other clubs because of the Indians' immediate need for pitching and the club's commitment to Latin American pitchers. Baez received a major league contract worth $14.5 million over four years, believed to be the largest contract ever given to an amateur player.

Baez has a college degree in physics and was the number three starter for his Cuban club. A member of the Pan Am Team that played in Manitoba, the big righthander defected during the games, established residency in Costa Rica and had a tryout arranged for all interested parties. Cleveland projects the big righthander to be a starting pitcher for the long term.

RANDEY DORAME -- LHP, Dodgers -- Mexico

Dorame is 10-3 with a 2.72 ERA between Vero Beach in the advanced Class-A Florida State League and San Antonio in the Double-A Texas League this season. He won six straight starts for Vero Beach from April-May 25, the second-longest such streak in the minors this season. When he was promoted to San Antonio on June 7, the 21-year-old Mexican entered the Texas League with a 21-4 mark over the past two seasons.

After pitching in the Dominican Republic and Mexico the two previous seasons, Dorame made his US debut last year. He was the advanced Class-A California League's Pitcher of the Year, leading the loop in in ERA (2.51), tying for the lead in wins (14) and finishing third in strikeouts (159). He started the mid-season All-Star game and tied the San Bernardino franchise mark for wins.

A soccer player growing up in Mexico, Dorame did not begin playing baseball until he was 14. Signed by noted scout Mike Brito, he was assigned to the Dominican Summer League in 1997, where he was 8-0, 0.97 ERA. He allowed just 33 hits in 64 2/3 innings and struck out 69.

GERALDO GUZMAN -- RHP, Diamondbacks, Tucson -- Dominican Republic

Guzman is 7-4 with a 2.60 ERA between El Paso in the Double-A Texas League and Tucson in the Triple-A Pacific Coast League. Guzman was 3-3 with a 3.57 ERA for El Paso prior to his promotion. In six starts for Tucson, he is 4-1 with a 1.42 ERA. In 38 innings, the 27-year-old Dominican has yielded just 23 hits and 10 walks while striking out 44.

CARLOS HERNANDEZ -- LHP, Astros, Michigan -- Venezuela

Hernandez is 4-3 with a 3.32 ERA this season for Michigan in the Class-A Midwest League. On May 28, the 20-year-old Venezuelan tossed the first no-hitter in team history in a 2-0 win over West Michigan in the second game of a doubleheader

Hernandez was one of the most dominant pitchers in the rookie level Appalachian League last season and capped it off with some late-season heroics. With the division on the line, Hernandez posted a minor-league high 18 strikeouts, including eight in a row at one point, over seven innings to lead his team to victory.

Hernandez's stock rose dramatically with his 5-1 record, 1.79 ERA and 82 strikeouts over 55 innings. He split time between the bullpen and the rotation until August when he was given a good look as a starter. He promptly went 3-1 with a 1.44 ERA in six starts down the stretch. Over 31 2/3 innings, the southpaw fanned 56 while yielding just 18 hits. Hernandez also struck out 11 or more in each of his final three outings.

SUN WOO KIM -- RHP, Red Sox, Pawtucket -- Korea

Kim is 5-2 with a 5.45 ERA for Pawtucket in the Triple-A International League this season.

The 22-year-old Korean signed with the Red Sox in January of 1998 and ranked tied for the Class-A Florida State League lead with five complete games and tied for fourth with 12 wins that summer. Last year, he went 9-8, 4.89 ERA in 26 starts for Double-A Trenton before going 5-1, 2.27 ERA with 31 strikeouts in 31 2/3 Arizona Fall League innings.

The 6-foot-2, 180-pounder has posted a K/BB ratio of almost 3:1 in his two seasons in the States.

AARON MYETTE -- RHP, White Sox, Charlotte -- Canada

Myette is 3-3 with a 4.74 ERA this season between Birmingham in the Double-A Southern League and Charlotte in the Triple-A International League. A native of Canada, the 22-year-old Myette missed the first month of the season with a broken hand.

By winning 25 games over the last two years, Myette has established himself as one of the top pitching prospects in the organization. He won 13 games at two Class-A levels in 1998 despite missing the first month of the season with a shoulder problem, and he was 12-7, 3.66 ERA last season. The righthander led his Double-A Birmingham club in wins, finishing third in the Southern League, and he was also fourth in innings pitched (165), fifth in strikeouts (135) and eighth in ERA (3.66).

TOMOKAZU OHKA -- RHP, Red Sox, Pawtucket -- Japan

Ohka is 7-6 with a 2.90 ERA this season for Pawtucket in the Triple-A International League. On June 1, he became just the third pitcher in International League history and the first in nearly 50 years to throw a nine-inning perfect game as the Red Sox topped Charlotte, 2-0.

The 24-year-old Ohka, a Japanese import in his first year in the States, won all 15 of his minor league decisions last season between Double-A Trenton and Pawtucket. His win total was tied for second in the minors and his 2.31 ERA ranked tied for sixth. Ohka's dominance in the minors earned him some time at the major league level, where he went 1-2, 6.23 ERA in eight appearances.

A native of Kyoto, Japan, Ohka played professionally in his home country before being signed by Boston under a working agreement with his former club. Boston had done some scouting favors for his Japanese club, which repaid the favor by offering Ohka to the Sox. He participated in the Futures Game during All-Star weekend at Fenway Park.

RAMON ORTIZ -- RHP, Angels, Edmonton -- Dominican Republic

Ortiz is 7-5 this season with a 5.24 ERA. The 24-year-old Dominican made one rehab start at Lake Elsinore in Aril and was then roughed up in Anaheim (2-2, 6.90 ERA) before moving back to Edmonton (4-3, 4.58 ERA) in mid-May.

Pitching for Erie in the Double-A Eastern League last season, Ortiz was recognized as the League's Player of the Month for June, going 5-0 with a 1.12 ERA, 41 strikeouts and two shutouts, including a one-hitter in his final start. That performance earned him a promotion to Triple-A Edmonton, where he struck out 12 batters in winning his first start, improving his winning streak to 10 games. In nine Pacific Coast League starts, he went 5-3, 4.05 ERA with 64 strikeouts in 53 1/3 innings. Ortiz won his major league debut on August 19 and posted a 2-3 record with a 6.52 ERA over nine starts with Anaheim.

Ortiz, signed as a non-drafted free agent in 1995, has a career mark of 41-29, 3.25 ERA in the minors. In 1997, he led the minor leagues with 225 strikeouts, pitched a no-hitter among his four shutouts, and struck out a career-high 14 batters in a game in the Class-A Midwest League. He has afforded the opposition just a .228 average over his five minor league seasons.

CARLOS SILVA -- RHP, Phillies, Clearwater -- Venezuela

Silva is 6-7 with a 3.43 ERA for Clearwater in the advanced Class-A Florida State League this season. The 21-year-old Silva won his first three starts of the season and has issued just 14 walks in 107 2/3 innings this season.

Signed out of his native Venezuela at age 16, Silva pitched three seasons for Martinsville in the rookie level Appalachian League before debuting in the Class-A South Atlantic League last season. He got off to a great start, going 5-1, 1.13 ERA in his first nine starts while pitching at least seven innings each time out. He also was selected to start the league all-star game. Silva finished 11-8, 3.12 ERA.

BRAD THOMAS -- LHP, Twins, New Britain -- Australia

Thomas is 8-4 with a 3.16 ERA this season between Ft. Myers in the advanced Class-A Florida State League and New Britain in the Double-A Eastern League. The 22-year-old Australian won four straight starts in April, allowed two earned runs or fewer in his first eight outings, and was 6-2, 1.66 ERA at the time of his promotion to New Britain. Thomas started 2-2, 5.73 ERA in his first four Double-A starts.

Last season, Thomas was 8-11 with a 4.78 ERA pitching for Ft.Myers. In 1998, he was 11-8 with a 2.95 ERA for Ft. Wayne in the Class-A Midwest League. Thomas opened his professional career in 1997, where he went 3-4 with a 4.48 ERA for Elizabethton in the rookie level Appalachian League.

CHIN-HUI TSAO -- RHP, Rockies, Asheville -- Taiwan

Tsao is 8-5 with a 2.56 ERA this season. His 133 strikeouts lead the minor leagues. The 19-year-old Taiwan native started the June 20 All-Star Game for the Southern Division and pitched two scoreless innings. He gave up two hits and two walks while striking out three.

Tsao, the first player from the Far East that the Rockies have ever signed, was sought after by the Yankees, Braves and Dodgers before signing for a Rockies' record bonus of $2.2 million. Lack of pitching in the organization and the Rockies' uniform color were key reasons he signed with the organization over the higher profile suitors.

The Taiwan native, who has an advanced feel for his craft, was 3-0 with 30 strikeouts in 23 innings without allowing a run in the Jr. World Championships last summer. He followed that with a one-hit, 15-strikeout shutout performance for the Asia World Cup team against Japan.

WILFREDO RODRIGUEZ -- LHP, Astros, Round Rock -- Venezuela

Rodriguez began the season at Kissimmee in the advanced Class-A Florida State League, where he went 3-5 with a 4.75 ERA in nine starts before being promoted to Double-A Round Rock. The 21-year-old Venezuelan won his first start for Round Rock, as he defeated Arkansas 5-2 in the second game of a July 1 twinbill.

After going 19-7 in his first two professional campaigns, Rodriguez added velocity and became a Florida State League All-Star last season, leading the loop in wins (15) and strikeouts (148) while finishing sixth in ERA (2.88).

A product of Houston's vaunted Venezuelan scouting pipeline, Rodriguez made his debut in 1997 in the rookie level Gulf Coast League, leading the league in wins (8) and innings pitched (68) while finishing second in strikeouts (71). Moving up to the lower level Class-A Midwest League in '98, he went 11-5 and finished fourth in the league with 170 strikeouts.

LUIS SATURRIA -- OF, Cardinals, Arkansas -- Dominican Republic

Saturria is batting .265 with 13 homers and 46 RBI this season for Arkansas in the Double-a Texas League. The 23-year-old enjoyed a stretch in May in which he collected 10 RBI in nine games.

An advanced Class-A Carolina League All-Star in 1998, Saturria made the jump to Double-A last year where he showed flashes of brilliance combined with prolonged slumps.

The native of the Dominican Republic established career highs with 30 doubles and 16 home runs but his .244 average was the lowest mark in his four years of professional ball. Additionally, he fanned an alarming 134 times, which was the second most in the Texas League.

Saturria's outstanding raw tools prompted the Blue Jays to select him in the Rule V draft following the 1997 season, but he was returned to the Cardinals prior to the 1998 campaign. The 23-year-old hits for good power, has tremendous speed and has earned praise within the organization for his defense, where he has the range for center and the arm for right.

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