Red Sox pitching prospect Luis Guerrero reflects on Futures Game
Red Sox pitching prospect Luis Guerrero reflects on Futures Game
The MLB Futures Game is a way for the MLB and its organizations to show off its young talent. In this game, viewers can typically look forward to seeing blue-chip prospects like Marcelo Mayer and Nick Yorke. The game can also be used to showcase thriving talent fans may not have heard of yet, like Luis Guerrero.
A 17th-round draft pick, Guerrero was the lowest-drafted player to participate in the Futures Game. While he found it as an opportunity to represent later-round picks, that’s just a number to him.
“I don’t care what round you’re drafted in,” Guerrero said. “You say, ‘Okay, I’m a professional now. A 17th round [draft pick] for, I don’t care whatever the money,’ I just need to work towards my goal of the MLB.”
A quick riser in the Red Sox organization, Guerrero has done everything he can to prove that he’s ready for each challenge. In his most recent outing, Guerrero was even called upon to finish off a no-hitter.
In the Futures Game, the flame-throwing right-handed reliever took advantage of his opportunity. Only getting to face one batter, he sat him down with a 100 mph fastball.
“It felt great,” Guerrero said. “I knew I had just one batter, so I wanted a strikeout.”
While his velocity was what wow-ed his peers, it wasn’t the only thing that caught their eyes. Guerrero as an infant had a procedure on his right knee that left him hospitalized for close to a year. As a result, it caused muscles to not fully grow in his leg, which left him with a slight limp.
“When I went in for the game, everyone was asking ‘Hey, what happened? Is everything okay?’,” Guerrero said. “And I just said yes, everything is okay. Then I threw my slider at 91 [mph] and my fastball at 101 [mph] and I heard, ‘Really?’.”
Also highlighting getting to meet Ken Griffey Jr. and Felix Hernandez, he enjoyed the festivities before returning home. Posting a 1.54 ERA in 35 innings pitched, Guerrero has mostly served as the closer for the Sea Dogs.
Despite all of his recent achievements, he remains solely focused on his main goals.
“I’m ready for whatever, with what happens now, or what happened Friday,” Guerrero said, referring to pitching in torrential downpours in Portland last week. “I’m here today, let’s do it.”
Follow Josh on Twitter @Joshball22 and Instagram @joshballmedia
For additional Red Sox, Bruins, Patriots, MLB, and NFL content follow Beyond the Monster on Twitter @BeyondtheMnstr.
Join our new Facebook group for all of our latest content, click the link here.