Major League Baseball announced on Friday that 29 players have been selected to represent Major League Baseball on a trip to Japan for games versus the Japanese national team. The games will be November 11th through November 20th and will take place at various stadiums in Japan.
Selected to the team are pitchers Jeff Beliveau, Jerry Blevins, Chris Capuano, Randy Choate, Jeremy Guthrie, Tommy Hunter, Hisashi Iwakuma, Mark Melancon, Franklin Morales, Hector Santiago, Matt Shoemaker, Jose Veras, Tsuyoshi Wada, and Rob Wooten. The catchers will be Drew Butera, Erik Kratz, and Salvador Perez. Infielders selected were Jose Altuve, Robinson Cano, Alcides Escobar, Evan Longoria, Justin Morneau, Eduardo Nunez, and Carlos Santana. The outfielders are Dexter Fowler and Yasiel Puig. IFs/OFs will be Chris Carter, Lucas Duda, and Ben Zobrist. The manager selected to represent the USA is John Farrell. The coaches are Terry Francona, Brian Butterfield, DeMarlo Hale, Mike Maddux, and Juan Nieves, according to ESPN.
The 2014 renewal of the event will mark the 11th All-Star Series and the 36th time overall that a team of Major Leaguers has toured Japan for exhibition games, dating back to 1908, according to a Major League Baseball press release.
Baseball Commissioner Allan H. (Bud) Selig said, "Major League Baseball is delighted that many of our finest players will represent our sport during the 2014 Japan All-Star Tour. This event will not only resume a longtime baseball tradition, but also will illustrate the historic bond that links us to our Japanese friends and peers. On behalf of our Clubs, I thank Nippon Professional Baseball, and all of us at Major League Baseball look forward to another memorable experience."
All-Star Series 2014 Schedule
Tuesday, Nov. 11: Exhibition Game vs. Hanshin Tigers/Yomiuri Giants at Koshien
Wednesday, Nov. 12th: Game #1 at Kyocera Dome, Osaka
Thursday, Nov. 13th: Travel Day
Friday, Nov. 14th: Game #2 at Tokyo Dome, Tokyo
Saturday, Nov. 15th: Game #3 at Tokyo Dome, Tokyo
Sunday, Nov. 16th: Game #4 at Tokyo Dome, Tokyo
Monday, Nov. 17th: Travel Day
Tuesday, Nov. 18th: Game #5 at Sapporo Dome, Sapporo
Wednesday, Nov. 19th: Travel Day
Thursday, Nov. 20th: Exhibition Game - Team Japan, Okinawa