Kansas City Royals prospects Miguel Almonte and Yordano Ventura were named to the World roster for the 15th annual SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game today. The game will feature the top Minor League prospects competing in a nine-inning contest in a U.S. vs. the World format at 1 p.m. CT on Sunday, July 14 at Citi Field in New York. The contest will be televised live on ESPN2 and MLB.com and also be available on the radio at MLB Network Radio (XM channel 89).

Almonte, 20, was the 2012 Dominican Royals Pitcher of the Year and a Dominican Summer League All-Star last year. He has made 14 starts for Lexington (Class A) this year and is 3-5 with a 3.42 ERA, recording 77 strikeouts in 73.2 innings. The 6-foot-2 right-handed pitcher fanned a season-high 12 last night against Hickory, but did not factor into the decision. He was signed by the Royals as a non-drafted free agent on November 10, 2010.

Ventura, 22, will be making his second-straight appearance at the SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game, also starting for the World team in last year’s game at Kauffman Stadium. The 5-foot-11 right-handed pitcher is 5-3 this year between Double-A Northwest Arkansas and Triple-A Omaha, posting a 3.14 ERA in 15 starts. He has recorded 92 strikeouts in 77.1 minor-league innings this year while holding opponents to a .209 batting average. He was named the Royals’ No. 4 Prospect by Baseball America entering 2013 and the Texas League Pitcher of the Week on May 13 after tossing 11.0 scoreless innings during the previous week. Ventura has won his last two starts with Omaha and will get the ball again tomorrow for the Storm Chasers in their game against the Iowa Cubs.

Major League Baseball, in conjunction with the MLB Scouting Bureau, MLB.com, Baseball America and the 30 Major League Clubs, selected the 25-man rosters for both the U.S. and World teams.

— Royals Media Relations —