The 2011 Futures Game brought some solid excitement Sunday afternoon as the US team came back from a 4-3 deficit to win 6-4. Although the game featured a host of solid performances, Oakland Athletics prospect Grant Green was named MVP of the game following a 2-for-2 performance with two doubles, an RBI and the game-tying run scored.
Green started the game on the bench but came on in relief of second baseman Jason Kipnis. Green's first at bat came in the fifth inning after Gary Brown reached base with single and advanced to third on a steal and a balk. Green drilled a double to left field to drive in Brown and give the US a 3-0 lead. In the eighth inning, he hit a double off the wall in centerfield that would have been a home run in most parks. Chase Field has a fairly high wall and Green joked about it after the game. He came around to tie the game at 4 on a Tim Beckham double to left-center.
Although the A's have kept Green at short thus far in his professional career, scouts generally see him as a likely second baseman at the major league level. He got some time at second during the Futures Game and handled himself fairly well. He has struggled in Midland at short stop with 21 errors in the first half of the season which likely means a switch to second shouldn't be too far off.
Offensively his numbers have taken a step back from last year in Stockton, but he's settling into a solid groove. His current line at Midland is .288/.350/.401. He has four home runs but has acknowledged he'll develop into more of a doubles hitter as opposed to a pure power guy.
If Green does make the move to second base and finds sustained success and continued development in the minors, it will be interesting to see what the A's do with him and current second baseman Jemile Weeks. In the month since being called up, Weeks has been a spark for the A's offense and seems to be the long term answer at second.
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