Athletics prospect James Simmons selected for Rising Stars game

Oakland Athletics pitching prospect James Simmons was selected to the 2012 Arizona Fall League Rising Stars game. The first-round draft pick from 2007 will represent the West Division in Saturday's game at the Salt River Fields at Talking Stick in Arizona.

The 26-year-old has compiled a 1.23 ERA playing with the Phoenix Desert Dogs this season. He went 3-2 with a 2.98 ERA in 39 games in Double- and Triple-A play during the year. Simmons played for Double-A Midland and Triple-A Sacramento, and he pitched in 63.1 innings while tallying 50 strikeouts to 22 walks.

Simmons has been joined on the Desert Dogs team in the AFL by A's prospects Grant Green, an infielder, and catcher Max Stassi. Neither made the Rising Stars roster.

Simmons is one of 11 pitching prospects on the Rising Stars roster.

The 6'3, 220 pound right hander was taken 26th overall by Oakland in the 2007 June amateur draft. He played collegiately at University of California, Riverside.