FORMER VOL LUKE HOCHEVAR TO PLAY IN FUTURES ALL-STAR GAME JULY 8

Alley promoted to Triple A Portland

July 1, 2007

Former Tennessee pitcher Luke Hochevar (2003-05) has been invited to participate in the prestigious 2007 Futures All-Star Game on July 8 in San Francisco, Calif. The No. 1 overall pick in the 2006 MLB draft, Hochevar has starred for the Kansas City Royals Class-AA affiliate the Wichita Wranglers this season. Last month, he pitched a pair of innings in the Texas League All-Star Game.

Hochevar, who leads the Texas League in strikeouts with 83, was the only Royals prospect selected to compete in the annual Futures All-Star Game, which is designed to showcase the sport's top minor-leaguers. The game matches a 25-player team of U.S.-born players against a 25-player World Team. The 2007 World Team has representatives from 11 countries.

Major League Baseball, in conjunction with all 30 of its clubs, works with Baseball America and MLB.com to determine the elite players invited to the kick-off event for MLB All-Star weekend. Every organization is represented, with no more than two players from any organization. The game lasts seven innings, regardless of the score, and pitchers are limited to one inning. The Futures Game was first held in 1999.

The 2007 Futures Game will be held at AT&T Park in San Francisco on All-Star Sunday and will be broadcast live at 4 p.m. ET on ESPN2.

Josh Alley PROMOTED TO SAN DIEGO'S CLASS-AAA CLUB
Former Tennessee baseball player Josh Alley (2003-05) was recently promoted to the San Diego Padres Class-AAA team in Portland, Ore. Now that Alley, an outfielder from Anna, Ill., is active with the Portland Beavers, there are a total of 14 former Vols currently suiting up at the minor-league Class-AA level or above.

Alley, 23, started the 2007 season on the disabled list but was reinstated with the Class-A Lake Elsinore Storm in early June. Alley was a 10th-round selection of the Padres in the 2005 draft and was Tennessee's regular starter in centerfield during the Vols' run to the 2005 College World Series.