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St. Louis Cardinals' Kolten Wong gets a base hit to bring in the winning run in the ninth inning of a spring training baseball game against the Atlanta Braves in Jupiter, Fla., Monday, March 12, 2012. St. Louis won 5-4. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)
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Former University of Hawaii star Kolten Wong has been selected to play in the All-Star Futures Game that is played on July 8 as part of Major League Baseball’s All-Star week, it was announced Thursday.
Wong is a second baseman in the St. Louis Cardinals organization.
“I was speechless,” he told MLB.com. “This is only my first year. To get the chance to play in the Futures Game, I don’t know if a lot of guys do that. For me, it was a big step and something I always wanted to do. To do it as early on in my career, I’m super excited.”
He is one of nine first-round picks from the 2011 draft who will participate in the game.
Wong was named to the Texas League All-Star Game last week as a member of Class AA Springfield. In his first full pro season, Wong is hitting .301 in 65 games with seven doubles, four triples, seven home runs, 31 RBIs, 39 runs and 12 stolen bases.
Wong was the No. 22 overall pick in the 2011 MLB First-Year Player Draft.
“I think (being named to the Futures Game) has given me a pretty good boost,” said Wong, who graduated from Kamehameha-Hawaii. “Knowing I have been selected, I wake up with a smile on my face. I’ll get to see what it’s like to play with the best in the world.”