Richmond Flying Squirrels right-hander Shaun Anderson has been selected to pitch in the SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game on Sunday, July 15 at Nationals Park. The SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game is the preeminent prospect showcase and features the top Minor League players competing in a nine-inning contest as part of MLB All-Star Sunday. Anderson had been slated to pitch in the Eastern League All-Star game on Wednesday, July 11, but instead will attend the MLB All-Star festivities in Washington, D.C. Anderson will be replaced on the Eastern League All-Star roster by Squirrels reliever Dan Slania.
Anderson becomes the third player to participate in the SiriusXM All-Star Futures game while still a member of the Flying Squirrels. Richmond catcher Tommy Joseph was the first to do so in 2012 and Tyler Beede was the last to participate in 2015. Richmond players such as Kyle Crick (2013), Edwin Escobar (2014) and Adalberto Mejia (2016) have also appeared in the game before or after wearing a Squirrels uniform. The Futures Game showcases the next generation of MLB talent, with each MLB team sending a maximum of two players from their system. The game consists of a U.S. Team and a World Team. Both rosters can be viewed here
Inclusion in the Futures Game means that Anderson will no longer pitch in the Eastern League All-Star contest. His spot on the Western Division roster will be filled by Richmond Flying Squirrels reliever Dan Slania. Slana has been added to the Western Division Roster for the 2018 Eastern League All-Star Classic, presented by Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey.
Slania makes his second career All-Star roster and his first at Double-A. Slania is 0-2 with a 2.66 ERA on the season and has recorded one save for the Flying Squirrels. Slania has the third-lowest BB/9 recorded by EL relievers this season with just seven walks in 40.1 innings pitched out of the bullpen. A fifth-round selection by the San Francisco Giants in 2013 out of Notre Dame, Slania was named the Eastern League Pitcher of the Week for the week ending August 20, 2017.
Anderson becomes the third current Flying Squirrel player to participate in the SiriusXM Futures Game. The nomination to the Eastern League All-Star team was his first such honor as a professional and occurred in his first year at Double-A. The former Red Sox third round selection has been a mainstay in the Richmond rotation, starting 15 games for the Flying Squirrels this season. Anderson is currently third in the Eastern League in strikeouts (91) and leads the Flying Squirrels in innings pitched (91). The righty won five of his first seven decisions this season and has lasted at least five innings in all 16 starts this year. The hurler has also contributed at the plate when needed this season, delivering a pair of doubles and a base hit in 21 at bats.
The San Francisco Giants acquired Anderson last year from the Boston Red Sox at the trade deadline in exchange for Eduardo Nunez. Boston picked up Anderson in the third round of the 2016 draft out of the University of Florida. Anderson pitched almost exclusively out of the bullpen for the Gators. In his third and final season at Florida, Anderson appeared in 36 games out of the bullpen closing 13 games and posting a 0.97 ERA
Updated rosters for the 2018 Eastern League All-Star Classic can be viewed here.
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