C.R.’s A.J. Puk selected to play in baseball’s Futures Game

CEDAR RAPIDS — Cedar Rapids Washington graduate A.J. Puk has been selected to participate in the 2017 Futures Game, July 9 at Marlins Park in Miami. It is held in conjunction with the Major League Baseball All-Star Game and includes many of the top prospects in the game.

Puk is a left-handed pitcher who was the first-round draft pick (sixth overall) of the Oakland Athletics last year out of the University of Florida. He began this season in high-Class A Stockton but was recently promoted to Double-A Midland.

The 6-foot-7 Puk had a 4-5 record and 3.69 earned run average in 14 games, 11 starts, at Stockton. He held opposing hitters to a .198 batting average and was among the leaders in the minor leagues with a whopping 98 strikeouts in just 61 innings.

He has struggled at Midland, posting an 0-2 record and 8.59 ERA in two starts. He does have eight strikeouts in 7 1/3 innings.

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