Boston Red Sox legend David Ortiz has been named manager of the World Team in the 2018 All-Star Futures Game in Washington, D.C.
The future of Major League Baseball is going to get a taste of a Boston Red Sox legend from the recent past.
David Ortiz has been selected to manage the World Team in this year’s All-Star Futures Game at Nationals Park in Washington, D.C. Former Minnesota Twins outfielder Torii Hunter, a longtime friend of Ortiz, will manage the U.S. Team.
10x All-Star @davidortiz and 5x All-Star @toriihunter48 will return to the dugouts to manage the World Team and U.S. Team, respectively, in the @SIRIUSXM All-Star Futures Game on All-Star Sunday, July 15th at Nationals Park.
— MLB Communications (@MLB_PR) June 21, 2018
The Futures Game will kick off the All-Star festivities on Sunday, July 15. The always anticipated Home Run Derby will follow the next day. The three-day event wraps up with the 89th All-Star Game on July 17.
Ortiz spent 14 of his 20 career big league seasons with Boston. He made 10 All-Star appearances, won three World Series championships, and seven Silver Slugger awards. He finished top-10 on the AL MVP ballot seven times during his time in Boston.
Hunter spent 12 years of his career with the Twins, overlapping with Ortiz during the first six years from 1997-2002. He was a five-time All-Star, nine-time Gold Glove winner, and two-time Silver Slugger.
Do the Red Sox have future stars on the farm?
The rosters for the Futures Game haven’t been announced and it’s yet to be seen how the Red Sox organization will be represented. Outside of Ortiz, of course.
Top prospect Michael Chavis is serving an 80-game suspension for performance-enhancing drugs. No. 2 prospect Jay Groome underwent Tommy John surgery last month. A farm system depleted by trades is short on star talent without their best prospects available.
Rafael Devers was the only Red Sox prospect to appear in last year’s game. He was in Double-A at the time but quickly shot up through the farm system to make his major league debut shortly after the All-Star break.
While the Futures Game may not be loaded with Red Sox prospects, the big league roster remains stocked with young stars. Mookie Betts, Andrew Benintendi, and Xander Bogaerts are among the 25-and-under potential All-Stars who should remain in the team’s long-term plans.
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Plus, the Futures Game will have Big Papi. His presence is reason enough to tune in. The charismatic Ortiz will provide no shortage of entertainment in the World Team’s dugout. He also has plenty of wisdom to pass down to the next generation of stars.