Drew Gilbert will be the only Houston Astros prospect to participate in the MLB Futures Game, set for July 8 in Seattle preceding All-Star Weekend.
Gilbert was one of 50 players selected for the event, which usually features some of the best prospects in the game. Gilbert is, per MLB.com, the Astros’ only Top 100 prospect. He will play for the American League and its manager, former Seattle infielder Harold Reynolds.
The Futures Game is a showcase for the game’s best prospects. This year the game will pit the American League against the National League, as the game goes away from its USA vs. The World format.
Gilbert is currently playing for the Astros’ Double-A affiliate, the Corpus Christi Hooks.
Gilbert came to the Astros last July as their first-round pick (No. 28 overall) as a polished hitter from his time at the University of Tennessee. Due to the Vols’ postseason run and an injury, Gilbert played just a combined 10 games with the Astros’ Florida Complex League team and its Class-A affiliate in Fayetteville.
This season he started with High Class-A Asheville, where he slashed .360/.421/.686/1.107 with six home runs and 18 RBI in just 21 games before the Astros promoted him to Double-A Corpus Christi on May 9.
Gilbert’s bat has struggled with the Hooks. Through 37 games he’s slashed .202/.346/.271/.617 with two home runs and 10 RBI.
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