Two Angels prospects named to Futures Game

Two Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim prospects have been selected to participate in the 2007 XM Satelitte All-Star Futures Game, to be played Sunday, June 8th in San Francisco as part of the All-Star Week festivities. 50 Minor Leaguers altogether, representing 12 countries and all 30 organizations, were chosen for the ninth-annual mid-summer showcase.

Right-hander Rich Thompson, hailing from Hornsby, Australia, and third-baseman Freddy Sandoval, a native of Tijuana, Mexico, will both represent the Los Angeles Angels organization and play for the World team. Both play for the Angels’ Double-A Texas League affiliate, the Arkansas Travelers.

Thompson, 22, is the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes all-time leader in appearances with 108, and entering this year he was eighth on the all-time leaders for innings pitched with the team (228 1/3). He made one relief appearance with the Quakes early this season but has spent the majority of the campaign with the Double-A Travs, and has posted a 1-3 record and a 2.18 ERA in 18 appearances, including two starts.

The right-hander has fanned 47 in 43 1/3 innings this season between the two clubs. Thompson was recently named as one of the Travs representatives for this season’s Texas League All-Star Game. Sandoval, 24, is in his first season with Arkansas after posting a .258 average with five homers and 54 RBI in Rancho Cucamonga in 2006. This season, Sandoval is hitting .291 with five homers, 32 RBI, and 41 runs scored. Sandoval was also names as a Texas League All-Star.

The 2007 Futures Game will be held at AT&T Park in San Francisco on All-Star Sunday and will be broadcast live at 1 p.m. Pacific Time on ESPN2.