Promising catcher infielder earn Futures Game spots.
This story was excerpted from Juan Toribio’s Dodgers Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.
PHILADELPHIA — The biggest stars of the game are highlighted throughout All-Star Week. All the excellence in the sport is on full display during the Home Run Derby and in the Midsummer Classic.
But before the current stars take the field in Arlington, the next wave of players will be showcased in the Futures Game on Saturday. For the Dodgers, they’ll be represented by two promising young players: catcher Thayron Liranzo and infielder Jeral Perez.
Liranzo, the Dodgers’ No. 8 prospect per MLB Pipeline, possesses one of the most advanced offensive games in the system. The 21-year-old quickly climbed through prospects lists last season when he smashed 24 homers with a .962 OPS at Single-A Rancho Cucamonga.
The Dominican catcher, who can also play first base and might be more of a long-term investment given all the talent the Dodgers have at the position both in the Minors and in the Majors with Will Smith, parlayed his success last season by being the star of the show in the Dodgers’ Spring Breakout game against the Angels this spring, smashing a three-run homer.
This season, Liranzo hasn’t had quite the same level of success at High-A Great Lakes, posting a .731 OPS in 65 games (233 at-bats). The power is still on display, however, as he has hit 14 doubles and seven homers this season.
Perez, on the other hand, is following Liranzo’s footsteps, as he’s now the prospect quickly rising through the lists with a strong performance in Single-A this season. The 19-year-old was a relative unknown coming into the year, but that’s no longer the case.
