By: Bob Wirz
The American Association has many reasons to feel good about itself, not the least of which is that 12 graduates have played in the major leagues already this season. Now it has learned one of its recent umpires has been selected to call balls and strikes at next month’s Futures Game, which will be part of the MLB All-Star festivities in Cincinnati.
That is young Ron Teague (pictured), now working regularly in Class AA (Texas League), who was in the American Association from 2006-2010. “This one (honor) is really special to me,” Director of Umpires Kevin Winn told this corner. It should be. Winn hired Teague when he was only 18, and has watched him fast track toward the majors through the Arizona, Appalachian, Midwest and California Leagues. The Cypress, TX resident is only 28.
The game, which matches top Minor League prospects from the United States against a team of top international prospects, will be played at 3:00 p.m. on July 12 at Great American Ballpark in Cincinnati and will be televised nationally on MLB Network.
Teague follows in the footsteps of Adam Hamari, a former Can-Am League umpire who worked the plate for the Futures Game in 2010. Hamari made his Major League debut in July 2013.
Previously the chief spokesman for Commissioners Bowie Kuhn and Peter Ueberroth, Bob Wirz has been writing extensively about Independent Baseball since 2003. He is a frequent contributor to this site as well as writing his blog, www.IndyBaseballChatter.com.
Photo from proumpirecamp.weebly.com.
