NewsFutures Game to showcase top Phils duo
Flande, Drabek to strut stuff while toeing rubber in St. Louis
By Todd Zolecki / MLB.com
06/25/09 11:00 AM ET
ST. PETERSBURG -- The Phillies already know Kyle Drabek and Yohan Flande are two of the top pitching prospects in their organization.
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The duo will represent the Phillies in the Futures Game next month. The 11th annual XM All-Star Futures Game, pitting the best Minor League prospects from the United States against the best from the rest of the World, will be held at Busch Stadium in St. Louis on All-Star Sunday, July 12, at 2 p.m. ET. MLB.com will provide complete coverage before, during and after the game, which can be seen live on ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD and followed live on Gameday.
Drabek, who will play for the USA Team, is arguably the top pitching prospect in the Phillies' organization. He is so good that he is considered untouchable as the July 31 non-waiver Trade Deadline approaches. A first-round pick in the 2006 First-Year Player Draft, Drabek has recovered nicely from Tommy John elbow reconstruction surgery July 25, 2007.
Drabek started the season at Class A Clearwater and went 4-1 with a 2.48 ERA in 10 appearances (nine starts). He was promoted to Double-A Reading, where he entered Thursday 3-0 with a 2.08 ERA in four starts.
Flande has opened a few eyes in the organization this season. The 23-year-old left-hander from the Dominican Republic is 6-1 with a 2.45 ERA in 12 starts for Clearwater. Flande has walked 22 and struck out 64 in 77 innings.
Todd Zolecki is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
