Top MLB Prospects Shine at All-Star Futures Game

The 2017 All-Star Futures Game, which took place Sunday at Marlins Park in Miami, showcased baseball’s premier prospects. Team USA defeated Team World by a score of 7–6. Team USA was managed by Marlins legend Charles Johnson, while World Series hero Edgar Renteria managed Team World.

This game was heavily scouted, especially with the trade deadline being three weeks away. After all, current MLB stars Giancarlo Stanton, Mike Trout, Jose Altuve, Kris Bryant, and Clayton Kershaw all played in the Futures Game.

Rockies prospect Brendan Rodgers said appearing in the game was on his “bucket list” when he was drafted in 2015. “I heard a lot of good things about the Futures Game, and I told myself when I got drafted: ‘I want to play in this one day.’ Then I made that happen.”

Added Brewers prospect Corey Ray, “It’s a milestone. It’s an honor to be a part of this game. They say most of the guys who play in this game play in the big leagues, so I guess I’m on the right step.”

There is no doubt that we will be seeing some of these players in the majors very soon. White Sox prospect Yoan Moncada is definitely on the cusp of playing in the big leagues. He is the consensus No. 1 prospect in all of baseball, and this is his second Futures Game.

In his first appearance, last year, Moncada earned MVP honors after leading Team World to a victory. Michael Kopech is another White Sox prospect who could be in the majors soon. In Sunday’s game, Kopech struck out Moncada with a 100 mph fastball.

The host Marlins were represented on both rosters. Team USA’s Brian Anderson is currently with the Marlins Double A affiliate, and Team World’s Tayron Guerrero pitched for Colombia in the World Baseball Classic. Both called it an “honor” to be in the game. “This is the field that I one day hope to play at,” Anderson said. “I’m looking forward to having fun at the game and just enjoying the opportunity.”

Twins prospect Nick Gordon comes from a famous baseball family, as his dad, Tom, played in the majors, and his brother, Dee, currently starts at second base for the Marlins. “My brother’s had a big influence on me,” said Nick, a shortstop. “Dee is always somebody who’s been helpful for me. To be able to be here on his field, or play on their field, is definitely fun.”

Gordon wasn’t the only participant to come from a baseball family. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is the son of Vladimir Guerrero, who was a nine-time All-Star, and Bo Bichette is the son of Dante Bichette, who had a successful 14-year MLB career. Both are Blue Jays prospects. Bo, a shortstop, said that his dad had the biggest influence on his career: “I learned everything from him.”

This year’s Futures Game was loaded with talented players who will soon be tearing up the major leagues. Maybe we’ll even see one of these players in the 2018 MLB All-Star Game.

Photograph by Juan Salas/Icon Sportswire/Getty Images (Moncada)