June 25 -- DRABEK, FLANDE TO PITCH IN FUTURES GAME

(To read about Jimmy Rollins struggles, please click here or check the post below.)

BY SCOTT LAUBER

ST. PETERSBURG -- Not to distract from the previous post, but wanted to pass along an announcement from MLB: Phillies pitching prospects Kyle Drabek and Yohan Flande will participate in the annual Futures Game on July 12 in St. Louis.

For Drabek, 21, it's a just reward for a terrific first half of the season after missing most of last year while recovering from Tommy John elbow surgery. He has emerged as the Phillies' top pitching prospect, going 7-1 with a 2.36 ERA in 14 games (13 starts) between Class A Clearwater and Class AA Reading. Drabek has struck out 91 batters in 87-2/3 innings. Typically, the Phillies are careful about moving their prospects too fast too soon, but it's possible, if he continues to pitch well, that Drabek could be called up before the end of the season. Otherwise, he'll be a candidate to make the team next year during spring training.

Flande, 23, is still a relative unknown to most fans. After three seasons in the Dominican Summer League and one in the rookie-level Gulf Coast League, Flande has made the considerable leap to advanced Class A Clearwater and gone 7-1 with a 2.52 ERA and 67 strikeouts in 82 innings over 13 starts.

More in a bit from the Phillies' clubhouse here at the Trop.