AJ Cole Earns Save In Futures Game

A.J. Cole, the lone Nationals representative in the MLB Futures Game, earned the save in the U.S. team’s 4-2 victory over the World team by recording the last two outs.

Jul 14, 2013; Flushing , NY, USA; USA pitcher

throws a pitch during the 2013 All Star Futures Game at Citi Field. USA defeated World 4-2. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

Taylor Jordan was originally scheduled to play in the de-facto minor league All-Star game, but his promotion made him ineligible to play. Cole was ranked the Nationals’ third-best prospect by Baseball America prior to the season, but has not been extremely impressive with a 4.43 ERA at High A Potomac this season. He entered the game with one out, runners on first and second, and a 4-2 lead, and retired both Mariners prospect Ji-Man Choi and Giants prospect Jesus Galindo.

The Nationals drafted Cole out of high school in the 4th round in 2010 and gave him a record-breaking $2 million bonus to spurn his commitment to the University of Miami. They traded him to the Athletics in the Gio Gonzalez deal, but reacquired him in a three-team trade with the Mariners for Michael Morse.