Miami Hurricanes Alum Zack Collins Chosen For MLB Futures Game
Former Miami Hurricanes Catcher Zack Collins has been chosen to participate in the Major League Baseball Futures game. Collins is currently playing for the Winston-Salem Dash in the Class A Carolina League.
The Dash is an affiliate of the Chicago White Sox. Collins is in his second season with Winston-Salem after an All-American career with the Miami Hurricanes. All his numbers have taken a dip in his second year of professional baseball.
Collins was the tenth overall pick in the 2016 Major League Baseball draft by the Chicago White Sox. He is hitting just .208 but with ten home runs, 29 RBIs and a league-high 56 walks. The Dash’s 29-51 record is the worst in the league.
Collins was a first-team All-American in 2016. His 78 walks that season is second in Miami Hurricanes Baseball history. Collins has a less than inspiring slash line this season. In addition to his .208 batting average, Collins has a solid .364 on-base percentage a .398 slugging percentage and a .762 on-base plus slugging.
Collins will be a part of a White Sox resurgence at the futures game. He will be joined on the American Futures team by White Sox AA pitcher Michael Kopech. Infielder Yoan Moncada will play for the World Team in the Futures game.
Collins is one of two catchers on the American team. The other is Baltimore Orioles AAA Catcher Chance Sisco who plays for Norfolk in the International League.
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Collins will be managed by another former Miami Hurricanes catcher Charles Johnson. Johnson was a second-team All-American in 1992. He enrolled at Miami and a turned down a potentially large contract after being selected tenth in the 1989 MLB draft.
Johnson made two all-star teams in his Major League career, played on the 1992 US Olympic Baseball team in Barcelona and had his number 23 retired by the Miami Hurricanes in 2002.
Johnson was a four-time gold glove award winner. Hopefully, Collins will get a chance to work with him All-Star weekend.
In their preview of the game and what to watch for Baseball America said of Collins:
"“Collins was the first (ACC catcher) picked (in 2016) thanks to a long-track record of power…Collins has power potential, but watch to see how well he receives during the game, as that’s the biggest item on his to-do list.”"
His defense has some good and bad aspects to his game in just over a year of professional baseball. Collins has 14 passed balls in professional baseball including nine this season. He has thrown out 34 of 81 runners attempting to steal for a very respectable 42 percent.
Speaking to the Daily Herald in Chicago about Collins selection to the Futures Game White Sox General Manager Rick Hahn said:
"“It’s also nice to get Zack Collins recognized. A lot of people look at the low batting average he has this year and stop their analysis at that. But the fact of the matter is the kid’s getting on base, he’s hitting for power and he’s made great strides defensively…It’s good to see him get the opportunity to showcase all of that on a big stage.”"
Next: Miami Hurricanes Baseball Alum Yonder Alonso Chosen For AL All-Star Team
Collins, Kopech and Moncada are part of a renaissance in the White Sox organization. The Cubs plethora of young talent created a lot of buzz throughout baseball last season and seemingly did the impossible by winning the world series. Could the White Sox do the same in a few years?