SEATTLE -- The Washington baseball program was represented well at Major League Baseball's All-Star festivities in Denver, Colorado this past week.
On Sunday, former Husky infielder and catcher Willie MacIver participated in the All-Star Futures Game, representing the Colorado Rockies organization as a catcher. The Futures Game features 50 of the game's top minor leaguers, pitting the top prospects from the American and National League against each other. Behind the dish, MacIver threw out the MLB's No. 5 overall prospect Julio Rodriguez attempting to steal third base.
"I'm happy for Willie," Washington head coach
Lindsay Meggs said. "Obviously he's very talented, but nobody out works him. He loves it."
MacIver earned his spot in the prestigious event by tearing up the High-A ranks for the Spokane Indians this season. In 46 games, he batted .286 with a .937 OPS, while launching 10 home runs and driving in 30 runs. On June 29, MacIver was promoted to AA and now plays for the Hartford Yard Goats. Despite just 11 of his 109 starts at Washington coming as a catcher, he has been strong defensively in the minors, throwing out 35% of attempted base stealers. Baseball America named him the
Midseason Minor League Player of the Year for the Rockies organization.
In the main event of the week, Washington was featured once again. Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Andrew Kittredge, who pitched for UW in 2009 and 2010, was selected to the MLB All-Star game for the first time in his career.
In his one inning of action in the "Midsummer Classic," Kittredge worked a perfect seventh frame, inducing three straight groundouts to help lead the American League to a win.
After going undrafted out of college, Kittredge signed a free agent deal with the Seattle Mariners and worked his way up their farm system to the AAA level before being traded to the Rays in 2016. He made his MLB debut in 2017 for Tampa Bay and is now pitching in his fifth season in the majors.
After posting a 4.93 ERA across 93 games in his first four seasons, it has all come together for Kittredge this year. In 32 games, with four starts, Kittredge boasts a 1.47 ERA and 0.860 WHIP in 43.0 innings of work. He has struck out 43 batters to just 10 walks and has a record of 6-1 for the defending American League Champions, who currently lead the American League Wild Card standings.
