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Meet the Future: World Team middle infielders
06/29/2006 1:33 PM ET
By Jonathan Mayo / MLB.com

When the World Team takes the field for the first time at the 2006 XM Satellite Radio All-Star Futures Game on July 9, they will likely be doing something never before seen on the Futures Game stage.

The World Team should feature an all-Taiwanese middle infield, a first coming in the eighth rendition of the All-Star exhibition that showcases the game's top prospects. Yung Chi Chen, from the Mariners system, will start at second base and his middle-infield mate should be Chin-lung Hu, from the Dodgers.

The pair will not be strangers to each other. They were Taiwan's double-play combination during the World Baseball Classic. Both played well on that stage and the World Team will hope they can replicate that performance in Pittsburgh on July 9.

The Taiwanese pair will be joined by Joaquin Arias and Luis Cruz up the middle. Arias is a terrific shortstop with speed and Cruz adds more flexibility to an already multi-talented World infield by being able to play short and second.

Here are some more details about the World Team's middle infield:

Joaquin Arias, Oklahoma (Triple-A, Rangers)

He may forever be known as the "other" player in the Alex Rodriguez-Alfonso Soriano swap with the Yankees back before the 2004 season. As he moves up the Rangers ladder, though, he may eventually establish a new identity, that of a regular big-league shortstop.

"I've seen him since he was with the Yankees," said one scout familiar with Arias. "In my judgment, he has the ability to become an every-day guy."

Playing at age 21 in Triple-A, Arias has hit .269 in 71 games for Oklahoma City. That's well below his .295 career average coming into the game, but he's contributed elsewhere with 18 steals and he's second in the Pacific Coast League with eight triples. Combine that with a steadily improving glove at short and he could be a very productive Major Leaguer soon.

"He's very athletic, he can handle the bat," the scout said. "He's a little more adept at going the other way than pulling the ball for power. He's got solid run, throw and hit tools for me. He's held his own in big-league camp. He's a pretty good looking kid."

Yung Chi Chen, San Antonio (Double-A, Mariners)

Chen has done nothing but hit since signing with the Mariners in 2004. He carried a .292 average into this season, his second full pro stint in Seattle's organization. The 22-year-old has shown the ability to run a little and hit for some power, as well.

He raised his game a notch in the hitter-friendly California League, leading the circuit with his .342 average through 67 games this season. He also collected 25 extra-base hits, putting him on pace for a career-high .478 slugging percentage. His 21 steals had him fourth in the California League in that category. As a result, he was initially the lone representative from Inland Empire to be named to the California League All-Star Team. Another result was a promotion to Double-A San Antonio on June 29.

"He's swung the bat very well in Inland this year," said a scout who knows Chen. "Offensively, he can swing the bat, he can hit for some power. He's got kind of alley power. He's an average runner, a solid defender. He's just a good little baseball player."

He gave a glimpse of just how good in front of a global audience during the World Baseball Classic. Chen went 5-for-14 (.357) with a homer and five RBIs, all coming in his team's final game in which he hit the tournament's first grand slam.

"We like him; we liked him before," the scout said. "We've liked him and weren't surprised when he did play well in the World Baseball Classic."

Luis Cruz, Mobile (Double-A, Padres)

This could be a breakout season for the 22-year-old shortstop/second baseman from Mexico. The Padres got Cruz from the Red Sox back in 2002 for Cesar Crespo, and Cruz has been crawling up the Padres' ladder slowly since.

He hit just .231 in the Midwest League back in 2003, his first season in the Padres system. He increased his numbers across the board with a move to the California League in 2004, hitting .277 and slugging over .400 for the first time in his career.

Last season, his journey took an odd turn. He began the year with Double-A Mobile, but after hitting just .152 in his first 31 games, he was loaned to the Diablos Rojos del Mexico in the Mexican League. There, he hit .283 through July while playing four positions (mostly second), before finishing the season with Mobile.

Whatever he learned in Mexico seems to have paid off. He's hitting .282 with seven homers and 43 RBIs in 72 games. His .462 SLG would easily be a career high and he's increased his value by continuing to show the ability to play multiple positions. He's seen time at second, short and third this season.

"He's been hot," said a scout who has seen Cruz, pointing out that he hit .189 in April before hitting .317 since. "He's got a little pop. He's got good hands, good actions. He's got enough arm to play short, but he may be too big.

"He's been a consistent player this year. He got off to a poor start, but he's played well the last couple of months. His power numbers aren't too bad for that league."

Chin-lung Hu, Jacksonville (Double-A, Dodgers)

If the World Team has a defensive specialist, it might be Chin-lung Hu. He leads the Southern League in fielding percentage for the juggernaut Jacksonville Suns. As one team executive put it, "Defensively, he has as good hands and as accurate a throwing arm as you'd ever see. And he's got good range."

Just calling him a glove man would be selling him way short. He hit .313 last year with Vero Beach in the Florida State League to bring his career average up to .306 since joining the Dodgers organization in 2003. He showed some pop, as well, with eight homers and 29 doubles to go along with 23 stolen bases.

This season, the 22-year-old has hit .269 for the Suns, but he's already set a career high with 31 walks to help him keep up a decent .342 on-base percentage, important since he's spent almost all of the season batting either leadoff or second in Jacksonville's lineup.

"His offense seems to get better every year," said the executive about Hu, who also has nine steals so far in 2006. "He's a line-drive hitter. He's got a little power in his bat, but he's not a big guy. He hits singles and doubles. He's really fun to watch play."

He definitely was fun to watch when he played alongside Chen in the World Baseball Classic. Hu went 5-for-12 (.417) with two steals in three games for Chinese Taipei.

This story was not subject to the approval of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues or its clubs.