One of the highlights of All Star festivities is the Futures Game. MLB invites top prospects from the major league teams to compete against each other is a USA vs World format. Foreign born vs native competitors team up and show off their talents for those of us willing to fork over $30 for a combined ticket that gets you the Futures game and the Celebrity Softball game afterwards.

The Padres representatives in the Futures game, P Simon Castro and SS Drew Cumberland (both with the AA Missions), played for the World and USA teams respectively.

Castro, 22 and a native of the Domincan Republic, was the starting pitcher for the World team. This is where he had a chance to shine but it was an odd and concerning performance. Castro, who normally throws his fastball in the low to mid 90’s, never hit anything close to that on the park gun. He averaged mid to high 80’s with his fastball and his location way off. His pitches appeared flat and his slider had minimal movement. He hit the first batter , walked the second batter then advanced them both with a wild pitch. After a pop up to the third hitter retired him for the first out, the fourth hitter singled to drive in a run. The fourth hitter also singled, driving in another run and the two on base advanced on another wild pitch. The next two hitters flied out and struck out to end the only inning Castro pitched. So his line was 1 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 WP and 1 BB. Not the type of outing one would expect from the top pitching prospect in the Padres system with a 2010 line of 90.2 IP, 73 H, 41 R, 30 ER, 4 HR, 28 BB, 78 SO, 5 HBP, 1 WP. It could be explained by nerves, not unusual for a young pitcher who has not ever been exposed to a major league park. Whatever the cause, it was a big stage in which to flop.

Now, with the trading deadline quickly upon the Padres, we have to wonder if Castro will be part of a package used to pry a bat or a pitcher from an opposing team. And what effect did his performance have on his value to the Padres or to other clubs?

SS/2B Drew Cumberland was the starting second baseman for Team USA and played 5 innings. He was clean in the field, making both his defensive plays smoothly, and went 0/2 at bat with a fly out to RF and a pop up to short. Drew is currently on the DL for an extended period with a deep gash to his knee suffered while making a defensive play against the wall. He is expected to miss 6-8 weeks, the rest of the minor league season.

For the record, USA won the game handily, 9-1, with the two prospects from the Angels organization as the stars of the show. Ironic, as the Angels were the host team. OF Mike Trout was 3 for 4 with 2 singles and a double and a run scored and an RBI. Catcher Hank Conger was 2/4 with a single and HR and 5 RBi. Conger was named game MVP.