(Bowling Green, KY) – The Bowling Green Hot Rods, Class A affiliate of the Tampa Bay Rays, announced that OF Kyeong Kang has been chosen to represent the Hot Rods and the Rays in the 2009 XM All-Star Futures Game on July 12 at Busch Stadium in St. Louis. Kang will dress for the World Team, which will take on the U.S. Team in the prestigious event.

Originally born in Busan, South Korea, Kang is in his third season as a member of the Rays’ Minor League system. Through 34 games in a Hot Rods uniform, Kang is hitting .276 with one home run and 16 RBI. He has collected 35 hits in just 34 games, including 17 extra-base hits (12 doubles, four triples, one home run).

Kang was selected by the Rays as a draft-and-follow selection in the 2006 June Draft. Picked in the 15th round out of Parkview High School in Alpharetta, GA, he signed before the 2007 season, beginning his career with the Princeton Rays of the Rookie-level Appalachian League.

In his two seasons prior to joining the Hot Rods, Kang hit .276 with Princeton, collecting 14 doubles, three triples, and three home runs. One year later he played in the New York-Penn League (Short Season A) with the Hudson Valley Renegades. In 69 games he hit .278 with another 28 extra-base hits, including a career-best six home runs.

The XM All-Star Futures Game will take place during Major League Baseball’s All-Star weekend from July 12-15 at Busch Stadium in St. Louis, site of this year’s MLB All-Star Game. In its 11th year, the Futures Game begins at 1 PM CDT and can be seen live on MLB.TV, ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD. The game can also be followed live on MLB.com’s GameDay.

In its first ten years the Futures Game has been a stepping stone for big league success. The first ten games produced 39 MLB All-Stars and well over 200 big league players, including Alfonso Soriano (Chicago Cubs), Jose Reyes (New York Mets), Adam Dunn (Washington Nationals), and Chase Utley (Philadelphia Phillies).

Major League Baseball, in conjunction with the Major League Baseball Scouting Bureau, MLB.com, Baseball America, USA Baseball and the 30 Major League Baseball Clubs, selected the 25-man rosters for each club. Each Major League organization is represented and the World Team features players from 11 countries and territories. Players from all full-season Minor Leagues were eligible to participate.

Kang is one three current South Atlantic League members named to the World Team, as well as one recently promoted SAL member on the U.S. Team. Joining Kang for the World Team is Charleston pitcher Manny Banuelos and Savannah shortstop Wilmer Flores. Former Greenville pitcher Casey Kelly, since promoted to High-A Salem in the Carolina League, will pitch for the U.S. Team.

The Hot Rods are on the road playing for an eight-game trip with stops in Lexington and Rome, GA. They come back home to play the Augusta GreenJackets on Saturday, July 4, the start of an eight-game home stand. Join the Hot Rods for a spectacular fireworks show presented by WBKO on July 4.