Futures Game Preview

My favorite event of MLB’s All-Star weekend will take place this Sunday: that’s right, the Futures game. I love the chance to watch the best prospects in the minor leagues battle each other, especially when I don’t get the chance to watch most of them during the year. Each organization is represented, so you can take a look into the future of your favorite team. Here are some of the guys I am looking forward to watching this year.

Bryce Harper—RF, Washington Nationals

Harper has been one of the most hyped prospects ever and has lived up to every bit of it so far. He destroyed low-A pitching in the first half of the season, hitting .318/.423/.554, and was just promoted to double-A this past week. He has game-changing power and one of the, if not the, best bats in the minors, in addition to a great eye and good speed. He has everything you could want in a baseball player, and this is a sneak-peek of what we will be seeing in the majors for the next decade or two.

Mike Trout—CF, Los Angeles Angels

Trout is probably the second-best prospect in the minors behind Harper. He is an outstanding runner and has a great bat, hitting for average and some power. So far in double-A this season he has hit .330/.422/.544 with 28 steals. He made an appearance in last year’s game and had a hustle double. He is a fun player to watch and won’t disappoint on Sunday.

EDIT: Trout got called up to the Angels today and will probably not play in the Futures game Sunday. Watch him in the majors instead.

Shelby Miller—P, St. Louis Cardinals

Miller posted a 2.98 ERA and struck out 81 in 53 innings in his 9 single-A starts this year, and has continued to impress since getting called up to double-A where he has posted a 1.89 ERA. Still just 20 years old, Miller has an electric arm and has the potential to be the Cardinals’ ace in a few years.

Matt Moore—P, Tampa Bay Rays

Moore is quite possibly the best left-handed pitching prospect in the minor leagues, with a fastball clocked at up to 97 and an above-average curveball and circle-change. In 96.2 double-A innings this season, he has 125 strikeouts to just 25 walks and a 2.19 ERA. Tampa Bay is very careful with their pitching prospects, but if Moore continues to pitch like this, it will be hard to keep him in the minor leagues for too long.

Manny Machado—SS, Baltimore Orioles

The third overall pick in 2010 is the best shortstop prospect in the minors and has five-tool potential. Between low-A and high-A this year he is hitting .257/.347/.433. He still has plenty of time to develop, as he just turned 19 on July 7, and he could anchor the Orioles’ line-up as an All-Star shortstop for years.

Wil Myers—RF, Kansas City Royals

One of the top prospects in the Royals’ loaded system, the former catcher was moved to right field to accelerate his path to the majors. He had a combined OPS of .934 between low and high class A last year, and although he has struggled some in a promotion to double-A this year (he also missed some time with a knee infection), he is still young for the league at age 20 and has plenty of time to continue developing.

Carlos Martinez—P, St. Louis Cardinals

The 19-year-old righty has an electric arm with a fastball up to 100 mph. He struck out 50 in just 38.2 low-A innings while posting a 2.33 ERA to start out the year, and while he has struggled a little since being promoted to high-A, it is fun imagining what he and Miller can do atop St. Louis’ rotation (or scary if you’re a Cubs fan like myself).

Martin Perez—P, Texas Rangers

The 20-year-old lefty has a 3.16 ERA in double-A so far this year and has struck out 83 in 88.1 innings. He has top of the rotation stuff with a good change-up, a fastball between 91 and 95 mph, and a curveball. He’s repeating double-A, but he still is very young and is doing much better in the league this year.

Julio Teheran—P, Atlanta Braves

I was fortunate enough to see Teheran pitch in triple-A this year, and he looked like an elite pitching prospect, probably the best one in the minors. He has an outstanding change-up, and he can consistently throw his fastball at 93, even running it up to 95 or higher if he needs to. His curveball is a great third pitch too, and if he can improve his command and locate the fastball, he should be at the top of Atlanta’s rotation next year.

Jurickson Profar—SS, Texas Rangers

Profar is a switch-hitting shortstop with a very refined approach and a great hit tool. He plays above average defense and is hitting .272/.385/.492 and has 40 walks to just 35 strikeouts. He’s still just 18 and has a long way to go before the major leagues, but he could end up being Elvis Andrus’ double play partner (if he gets moved to second base) or replacement.

I am really excited about the Futures game this year, as there are some prospects on the verge of breaking into the majors as well as some intriguing guys in the lower minors. Trout, Miller, Moore, and Teheran are all guys who could have a big impact in as early as 2012, and many more have a chance to become stars in a few years down the line. Take advantage of the chance to watch these guys play together; they are some special talents.