Los Angeles Dodgers' Yasiel Puig to play for MLB All-Star Team in 2014 Japan All-Star Series

Los Angeles Dodgers star outfielder Yasiel Puig has been named to the MLB All-Star Team that will participate in the upcoming Japan All-Star Series 2014, it was announced by Major League Baseball and the Major League Baseball Players Association.  The Dodgers also will be represented in Japan by catcher Drew Butera and Director of Team Travel Scott Akasaki.

The MLB All-Stars will be led by Boston Red Sox manager John Farrell, and will travel to Japan next week to play a five-game series against “Samurai Japan” (Japan’s National Team).

The 29-man roster consists of 14 pitchers, three catchers, seven infielders, three outfielders, and two infielders/outfielders.  The pitching staff includes (alphabetically) Jeff Beliveau (TB); Jerry Blevins (WSH); 2006 All-Star Chris Capuano (NYY); Randy Choate (STL); Jeremy Guthrie (KC); Tommy Hunter (BAL); Tokyo native and 2013 All-Star Hisashi Iwakuma (SEA); 2013 All-Star Mark Melancon (PIT); Franklin Morales (COL); Hector Santiago (LAA); Matt Shoemaker (LAA); Jose Veras (HOU); Aichi native Tsuyoshi Wada (CHI); and Rob Wooten (MIL).

The three catchers are Butera, Erik Kratz (KC), and two-time All-Star Salvador Perez (KC), while the position players consist of 2014 AL Batting Champion and two-time All-Star Jose Altuve (HOU); six-time All-Star Robinson Cano (SEA); Chris Carter (HOU); Lucas Duda (NYM); Alcides Escobar (KC); Dexter Fowler (HOU); three-time All-Star Evan Longoria (TB); 2014 NL Batting Champion and four-time All-Star Justin Morneau (COL); Eduardo Nunez (MIN); Puig; Carlos Santana (CLE); and two-time All-Star Ben Zobrist (TB).

All-Star Series games will be hosted in Osaka (Kyocera Dome), Tokyo (Tokyo Dome), and Sapporo (Sapporo Dome).  Two exhibition games will complement the five-game series, with one game in Osaka (Koshien Stadium) and the other in Okinawa (Okinawa Cellular Stadium).

MLB Network will exclusively televise every game of the Japan All-Star Series live in the United States, beginning with the exhibition game on Tuesday, November 11th at 4:00 a.m. (ET).

The full roster of players and coaches is below:

MLB ALL-STAR ROSTER FOR JAPAN ALL-STAR SERIES 2014

Manager
John Farrell, Boston Red Sox

Coaches
Terry Francona, Manager, Cleveland Indians
Brian Butterfield, Third Base Coach, Boston Red Sox
DeMarlo Hale, Bench Coach, Toronto Blue Jays
Mike Maddux, Pitching Coach, Texas Rangers
Juan Nieves, Pitching Coach, Boston Red Sox

Pitchers (14)
Jeff Beliveau, TB
Jerry Blevins, WSH
Chris Capuano, NYY
Randy Choate, STL
Jeremy Guthrie, KC
Tommy Hunter, BAL
Hisashi Iwakuma, SEA
Mark Melancon, PIT
Franklin Morales, COL
Hector Santiago, LAA
Matt Shoemaker, LAA
Jose Veras, HOU
Tsuyoshi Wada, CHI
Rob Wooten, MIL

Catchers (3)
Drew Butera, LAD
Erik Kratz, KC
Salvador Perez, KC

Infielders (7)
Jose Altuve, HOU
Robinson Cano, SEA
Alcides Escobar, KC
Evan Longoria, TB
Justin Morneau, COL
Eduardo Nunez, MIN
Carlos Santana, CLE

Outfielders (2)
Dexter Fowler, HOU
Yasiel Puig, LAD

Infielders/Outfielders (3)
Chris Carter, HOU
Lucas Duda, NYM
Ben Zobrist, TB

By Staff of TheDailySportsHerald.com and news services