U.S. outfielders prepared to compete

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U.S. outfielders prepared to compete
07/04/2006 10:45 AM ET
By Jonathan Mayo / MLB.com

The U.S. outfield may not have the same name recognition as its infield in the upcoming XM Satellite Radio All-Star Futures Game, but that doesn't mean it's not a formidable group.
It's a particularly young quintet, ranging in age from 19 to 23 with an average age of just a hair over 21 years old. Three come courtesy of the 2005 draft, with a year or less of pro ball under their belts. Three of the players come from the talent-laden Texas League. They bring a combination of speed and power they'll hope to use against the World pitching staff on Sunday, July 9. Here's a closer look at the five bats that will make up the U.S. team's outfield.
Travis Buck, Midland Rockhounds (Double-A, A's)
Taken in the supplemental first round (36th overall) by the A's in the 2005 draft, Buck has quickly jumped onto the fast track. That shouldn't surprise anyone after the Arizona State product hit .346 in his pro debut for short-season Vancouver and Class A Kane County.
Buck can do a little bit of everything as he's shown across two levels so far this year. He began the season with Stockton in the Class A Advanced California League and dominated there to the tune of a .349 average and 1.003 OPS (.400 OBP + .603 SLG). He hasn't stopped since the promotion up to Double-A. With Midland, Buck has hit .303 over 41 games, with a .384 OBP and .480 SLG. For the season, he's hit .322 with a .922 OPS and gone 11-for-13 in stolen-base attempts.
"It's a really big honor and a privilege making the Futures Game being in my first full year of professional baseball," Buck told MLB Radio recently. "I always set high expectations for myself. I wanted to have a really good first half of the year to be in contention for it. When I got the good news, it was definitely something I wanted to hear."
Billy Butler, Wichita Wranglers (Double-A, Royals)
Ever since he signed as the No. 14 overall pick in the 2004 draft, Butler has done nothing but hit. Including 80 games this year with Double-A Wichita, Butler has a career .344 average in the Royals system.
But he's far from just a guy who hits for average. Butler, who joins the Royals' top pick from last year -- Alex Gordon -- on the U.S. team, had a .606 slugging percentage coming into the year after hitting a combined 30 homers and 39 doubles in 2005 (he also drove in 110 runs). He finished the season in Double-A as a teenager and has picked up where he left off in the Texas League this season at age 20. He's hit 10 homers and driven in 58 runs for Wichita through those 80 games, sitting among the league leaders in a host of offensive categories.
Butler, who comes from the same Florida high school as fellow 2004 first-rounder and 2006 Futures Gamer Eric Hurley, clearly has a bat that should get him to the big leagues in short order. The one knock on him, however, has been his glove. He began his career as a third baseman, but was moved to the outfield last season. He's played both corners this season and it's safe to say he hasn't won any bonus points for style. His best position in the big leagues may be batter's box, but it's a position he should fill well for a long time in Kansas City.
Cameron Maybin, West Michigan Whitecaps (Class A, Tigers)
Of the three 2005 draft picks in this outfield, Maybin has the most upside. The No. 10 overall pick has the complete package of all five tools. And he's also the one with the least amount of experience. He signed too late with the Tigers to make his pro debut last summer. Then he missed a month of the Midwest League season with a finger injury.
While he is just getting started, there is no question about his skill set. He's got all five tools and has shown glimpses of all of them with West Michigan. He's got an advanced knowledge of the game for a teenager, as evidenced by his stolen base rate (13-for-14) and his on-base skills (.388) through his first 47 games as a pro.
"My agent called me and asked, 'How would you like to be in Pittsburgh on All-Star Weekend,'" Maybin told the Asheville Citizen-Times. "I told him that'd be real nice, and he told me to get ready to go. It was real exciting especially after I didn't even get a mention for the Midwest's All-Star Game. It's pretty cool."
Hunter Pence, Corpus Christi Hooks (Double-A, Astros)
Looking for a favorite to go yard in the Futures Game? Pence might be your guy.
The 23-year-old hit 31 homers last year, mostly in the South Atlantic League with Lexington. There were those who were dubious, however, wanting to see Pence replicate the performance after being "too old" for the SAL.
He's done so and then some. Making the leap to Double-A after spending just 41 games in the Class A Advanced Carolina League last summer, Pence has hit 20 out in 78 games for Corpus Christi. He leads the league in homers and RBIs (62) and is among the tops in the circuit in slugging (.560). He's even added nine steals for good measure and went 1-for-4 as a Texas League All-Star.
"I didn't know much about it until the last few years," Pence said about the Futures Game. "I'm looking forward to getting to go and having the experience.
"I had fun at the Texas League All-Star Game and then I'll get to do this. I'm sure these are experiences I'll remember for the rest of my life."
Nolan Reimold, Frederick Keys (Class A Advanced, Orioles)
Reimold, a second-round pick by the Orioles in 2005, has skyrocketed up the Orioles' prospect depth chart in a hurry. The Bowling Green product has always hit for power, but exploded on the scene by hitting 15 homers in his pro debut, first for Aberdeen in the NY-Penn League, then making the leap to Frederick in the Class A Advanced Carolina League. He played exceptionally well in Frederick's run to the Carolina League title in 2005, hitting .357 in seven postseason games.
Reimold headed back to Frederick this year and hasn't missed a beat. Though his average has dipped (.265) due to an injury and slump in June, he's still hit well for power (10 homers, 17 doubles in 66 games) and driven in 43 runs. He's also helped his team in other ways, stealing 11 bases and being among the league leaders in OBP (.403).
Reimold had a banner day at the recent California-Carolina League All-Star Game. Reimold went 2-for-3 with an important RBI and a run scored to earn Top Star honors as the league's starting right fielder in the game. Now the central Pennsylvania native will get to head back to PA for the Futures Game.
"I was really excited about that, I wasn't expecting it," he said of the honor. "My family is real excited. I've already gotten a bunch of tickets for them."
This story was not subject to the approval of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues or its clubs.