Lavarnway, Iglesias named to Rising Stars game

In a showcase of some of the best minor league talent in the game, two top Red Sox prospects will display their ability in the Arizona Fall League's Rising Stars Game, which will take place Saturday at 9 PM EST.

Jose Iglesias, 20, has dazzled with his defensive ability, but has also been solid at the plate in his two years with the Boston system. This fall, as a member of the Peoria Javelinas, Iglesias is hitting .294/.324/.297 in 9 games. In a 2010 season shortened by injury, Iglesias hit .285/.315/.357 in 57 games with Double-A Portland.

Joining Iglesias will be his Portland and Peoria teammate Ryan Lavarnway. In a breakout season this year split between High-A Salem and Double-A Portland, Lavarnway hit .288/.393/.489 with 22 home runs and 102 RBI. The 23-year-old backstop has hit .267/.414/.378 with 1 home run in 12 games for the Peoria Javelinas this fall. His impressive season earned him 2010 Red Sox Minor Leauge Offensive Player of the Year honors.

The Rising Stars contest will be shown on MLB Network and has proven to be a preview of the next wave of MLB stars, as Mike Leake, Buster Posey, Stephen Strasburg, Starlin Castro, Ryan Braun, Troy Tulowitzki and Phil Hughes have all participate in the past two years.

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