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Catching on Rays prospect leads U.S. to victory in Futures Game
Updated: Friday July 20, 2001 10:07 PM
SEATTLE (AP) -- Toby Hall gave the Tampa Bay Devil Rays something to cheer about during All-Star week. Hall homered and scored two runs to lead the United States to a 5-1 win over the World team in the All-Star Futures game Sunday. "It's a great feeling," Hall said. "You have those jitters when you come into a major league ballpark. Everyone should have that feeling. This is what I want to do with my life." Adam Dunn and Chase Utley also homered for Gaylord Perry's U.S. team. Chris George, who could be pitching for Kansas City before the end of the season, pitched two scoreless innings for the win. Hall is the only member of the Devil Rays' organization who will play this week at Safeco Field because Greg Vaughn -- Tampa Bay's lone All-Star selection -- withdrew Sunday due to a strained right hamstring. Hall felt bad for Vaughn, but was more overwhelmed by his own experience. The Hall of Fame asked him for his bat to be put on display in Cooperstown. "I was speechless," he said. "That is something down the road that I'll have to check out." Hall's performance has been about the only bright spot for Tampa Bay this season. The Devil Rays (27-61) entered the All-Star break with a .306 winning percentage -- the lowest in the majors since Philadelphia (.295, 23-55) in 1997. A ninth-round pick in the 1997 draft, Hall is batting .339 with 16 homers and 63 RBIs as a catcher for Triple-A Durham.
"He's one of the best hitters I've played against," Dunn said. Hall played in four games as a September callup last year, going 2-for-12 with a home run. He could be up for good later this season. "You can't control the uncontrollable," he said. "They give me a Durham Bulls uniform to wear every day and I go about my business that way. Whatever happens from then on, if they give me a different jersey some other time, then I will do the same thing." Hall singled and scored in a two-run second inning for the U.S. team and hit a solo homer leading off the fourth. The home run came after World team first baseman Luis Garcia dropped a foul pop for an error. "It was the same pitch that I had fouled off," Hall said. "I just tried to stay focused in case he threw it again. I wanted to make sure I put a better swing on it." Utley, a Class-A second baseman for the Phillies, hit the next pitch from Cubs prospect Juan Cruz for a homer to make it 5-0. Houston prospect Carlos Hernandez allowed two runs in one inning to take the loss for Minnie Minoso's World team. Wilson Betemit homered for the World team. George, who got the save in last year's game, hopes to follow the path set by Ben Sheets, his Olympic teammate. Sheets pitched in the Futures game last season, won the gold medal in Sydney, and is a major league All-Star this year. "As great as it is I'd like to be in the big leagues next year," George said. "To fill Ben's shoes would be a great honor." Sheets is one of 27 Futures games alums in the majors. Houston All-Star outfielder Lance Berkman, Yankees second baseman Alfonso Soriano, Oakland left-hander Mark Mulder, Cleveland left-hander C.C. Sabathia and Philadelphia outfielder Pat Burrell are among the other players making an impact in the majors this season.
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