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FSL offers major glimpse of future

Despite injuries and promotions, today's All-Star Game has bright prospects.

By BOB PUTNAM, Times Staff Writer
© St. Petersburg Times
published June 18, 2002

DUNEDIN -- In 1990, Dennis Holmberg took over as manager of the Dunedin Blue Jays and did some pretty impressive things. His team set Florida State League records and nearly broke national records for the first half of the season in wins (53) and winning percentage (.791).

As a reward, Holmberg was selected to manage the American League players in the 29th FSL All-Star Game, hosted by Dunedin.

Looking back, Holmberg realizes what a reward it was.

Holmberg's lineup turned out to be a who's who in major league baseball. His second baseman was Jeff Kent, the 2000 National League MVP. His catcher was Ivan Rodriguez, the 1999 American League MVP.

The opposing lineup was pretty good, too. Felipe Alou managed the National League players, a group that included Eric Young and Kenny Lofton.

"That was really a special year," said Holmberg, currently the manger at Auburn, the Blue Jays' low Class A affiliate. "I knew the guys we had were good, but you never can predict having guys that would eventually put up Hall of Fame-type numbers."

Tonight, Dunedin hosts the 40th All-Star Game, the first here since 1990. So who will be the next Kent or Rodriguez?

Who knows?

In the past week, injuries and promotions have reshaped the rosters for both teams, so much so that 20 players who were selected will not be able to participate. The hardest hit was Tampa, which tied St. Lucie with the most selections (eight) but will have two players on the field, pitchers Mike Knowles and Charles Manning.

The roster fluctuation became so severe the Yankees had to give up the designated hitter spot on the team to Clearwater's Juan Richardson after losing Brian Myrow to injury and Aaron Rifkin to promotion within two days.

"It hurts missing so many guys," said Tampa manager Mitch Seoane, who will manage the Western Division All-Stars tonight.

Although you'll have to dig a little deeper in the bushes to find stars who could blossom, there are some there.

Jose Reyes, a 19-year-old shortstop for St. Lucie the youngest player in the league, is the top prospect and is the heir apparent to Rey Ordonez's spot in the Mets lineup within the next two years. Coincidentally, Ordonez was an FSL All-Star in 1994.

Another one to watch is Clearwater's Taylor Buchholz, rated the Phillies' fourth-best prospect by Baseball America.

"There will be some guys from this game who will get to the majors," Holmberg said.

"They may not be Kent or Rodriguez, but they'll get there. I mean if you're selected to an All-Star Game, you've got to be doing something right."

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