The Los Angeles Dodgers were represented by Diego Cartaya, Bobby Miller and Miguel Vargas in the 2022 MLB All-Star Futures Game at Dodger Stadium, with only the New York Yankees matching them in having three prospects selected to the showcase as well.
Each of the Dodgers’ Minor Leaguers started for the National League team, with Miller on the mound and pitching to Cartaya, and Vargas playing second base. Vargas batted fifth and Cartaya hit ninth in manager Mike Scioscia’s lineup.
“That was awesome,” Miller said of sharing the field with Cartaya and Vargas. “Hopefully one day it can be like that in the big leagues.”
Miller struck out three in his lone inning of work but also issued a leadoff walk and threw a wild pitch, which led to a run on a base hit by Texas Rangers Minor Leaguer Dustin Harris. “Overall, pretty happy about the outing,” he said after the NL fell 6-4 to the American League.
“Obviously those walks will catch up to you. They advanced a couple bases. Good piece of hitting by Harris; I thought that was a really good pitch that he hit. I thought that was a good changeup that I threw, out of the zone I think.
“After that I really started to dial it in with the off-speed and getting ahead with the fastball, getting to those put-away pitches with two strikes.”
Miller ended his outing by getting Matt Wallner of the Minnesota Twins swinging, which was a bit of redemption. “Last time I faced him in Tulsa he hit a homer off of me, so it made me feel pretty good,” Miller said. “I wanted to face him again.”
Vargas, one of the top position players in the Dodgers’ farm system, went hitless in the loss but drew a walk and scored a run on an afternoon he’ll remember. “An emotional day,” he said. “Being in Dodger Stadium with the home fans, it’s a great moment. Probably the best moment of my life playing baseball.”
Cartaya went 0-for-2 with a run scored and he reached on an error. A fly ball to center field was dropped for a two-base error, and Vargas joked after the game Cartaya was “skinny” and without “muscles.”
Cartaya was disappointed to not have enough of a swing behind the fly ball, but otherwise enjoyed playing alongside his fellow Dodgers prospects.
“That was fun,” Cartaya said of his Futures Game experience. “Catching Bobby, he’s really good, so it was really fun out there.”
Dodgers All-Stars
The number of 2022 Dodgers All-Stars increased to five with Tyler Anderson getting added to the NL team as an injury replacement for the San Francisco Giants’ Carlos Rodón.
It’s Anderson first career All-Star Game selection.
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