Lawlar, Bliss Set For 2023 All-Star Futures Game

Amarillo, Texas (July 8, 2023) – Later today, Jordan Lawlar and Ryan Bliss will take the field in Seattle’s T-Mobile Park for the 2023 SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game. The annual showcase of top Minor Leaguers will feature 28 of MLB’s Top 100 prospects (MLB Pipeline) including six of the top 10. The game is scheduled to start at 7 p.m. ET and will be exclusively streamed on Peacock & SiriusXM.

Lawlar is the no. 6 overall prospect by MLB Pipeline rankings and will be attending his second-straight All-Star Futures Game. He was a late addition to the National League roster in 2022 after an injury opened a roster spot. He got one at-bat last summer in Los Angeles, going 0-for-1. This year, Lawlar is hitting .245 with 13 doubles, three triples, 12 home runs, 36 RBI, 33 walks, and is 26-for-28 on stolen base attempts through 65 games in his first full-season at the Double-A level. Since May 23, Lawlar is hitting .314 over his last 33 games and ranks tied for fourth in the D-backs’ organization in home runs with seven. His 44 hits over the span are the fifth most in the farm system. He also has the second-most runs scored (34), and the third-most stolen bases (16) over his last 33 games. Lawlar will start at shortstop for the National League squad and hit second in the lineup.

Bliss currently ranks as the D-backs’ no. 29-rated prospect and has been one of the most dominant players in all Minor League Baseball in 2023. Bliss leaves for the Futures Game hitting .358, the fourth highest AVG among all qualified full-season minor league players. He leads the minors with 105 hits and was the first player in Minor League Baseball to get to a 100-hit season in 2023, doing so on July 3. Bliss also ranks tied for third in total bases (174) and runs scored (67). His 41 XBH through 68 games is tied for sixth-most, and his 25 doubles are tied for eighth in all Minor Leagues. Bliss has been the primary leadoff hitter for Amarillo this season and leads all MiLB with six leadoff home runs, setting a new Amarillo franchise record. The only player in professional baseball with more leadoff home runs than Bliss this season is Mookie Betts, who has nine for the Los Angeles Dodgers. This will be Bliss’ first Futures Game appearance, and he will be starting at second base and batting eighth for the National League.

The 2023 SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game will be played as a seven-inning showcase with first pitch scheduled for 7 p.m. ET/ 6 CT and can be streamed exclusively on Peacock and SiriusXM. The two rosters will be managed by former MLB greats that have distinct ties to Seattle. The National League roster will be managed by* Raul Ibañez*, who spent 11 seasons with the Mariners and ranks eighth in Seattle Mariners history with 156 home runs. The American League prospects will be managed by Harold Reynolds, a two-time All-Star for the Mariners after playing his first 10 seasons in the Emerald City.

The Amarillo Sod Poodles are currently on the road in Springfield but will be returning for the start of a nine-game home stand beginning against the Frisco RoughRiders (Double-A, Texas Rangers) on Friday, July 14. After the brief three-game set, the Sod Poodles will welcome the Wichita Wind Surge (Double-A, Minnesota Twins) for six games starting on Tuesday, July 18. For the most up-to-date information on the Sod Poodles, visit www.SodPoodles.com or follow the team on social media on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram at @sodpoodles.