Kid Reporter Max Ferregur On the Scene at the All-Star Game

The 2014 Major League Baseball All-Star Game will be played on July 15 at Target Field, the home of the Minnesota Twins. Most of the attention will be on the game and the Home Run Derby, which will take place on July 14. But there are a lot of other awesome events happening before the main events.

For the next five days, Minneapolis will be the center of the baseball universe — and I’ll be there to cover all the action!

My All-Star experience begins Saturday at FanFest, followed by the Futures Game and Legends and Celebrity Softball Game on Sunday, the Home Run Derby on Monday, and the All-Star Game on Tuesday.

The Futures Games should be really fun. It will be played between some of baseball’s top young talent who will broken up into two teams: USA and World. On the American side will be 19-year-old Nationals prospect Lucas Giolito who some say has a Nolan Ryan-like arm; 22-year-old Cubs third-baseman prospect Kris Bryant; and Joey Gallo, a third baseman in Rangers system who has been compared to Adam Dunn.

Not to be outdone, the World Team will also shine bright: 17-year-old lefty Dodgers prospect Julio Urias from Mexico is being compared to Fernando Valenzuela; young Puerto Rican pitcher Jose Berrios is in the Twins organization and has been compared to the A’s pitcher Sonny Gray; and, Indians shortstop prospect Francisco is a great contact hitter and defensive player.

The Home Run Derby should be a blast, too. The American League is captained by Bleu Jays outfielder Jose Bautista, whose nickname is “Joey Bats” because of his power. The AL will also have A’s superstar — and last year’s Derby champ — Yoenis Cespedes; Brain Dozier, second baseman for the Minnesota Twins; and Adam Jones, outfielder for the Baltimore Orioles.

On the National League side, the team is captained by Rockies shortstop Troy Tulowitzki. But the guy everyone will be watching is Dodgers superstar Yasiel Puig, who is playing in his first Derby and All-Star Game. Power will also be supplied by Marlins outfielder Giancarlo Stanton (who, in my opinion, has the most power in the league) Reds third baseman Todd Frazier who can hit home runs one handed.

And, of course, there’s the All-Star Game itself. It should be a memorable one — and not just for all the stars who will be on the field at the same time. This will be Yankees captain Derek Jeter’s 14th and last All-Star Game. Among a lot of special moments, baseball fans will be watching for a tribute to “The Captain” to salute him for being one of baseball’s biggest and brightest stars on the diamond.  This is certainly a must-see event, and it’s one I’m excited to witness.

Stay tuned to SIKids.com for all my reports from the All-Star Game and all the latest from Minneapolis!