Futures Game rosters packed with prospects
30 of MLB's Top 100 prospects to represent U.S., World on July 15
What the All-Star Game is to Major League standouts, the SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game is to Minor League phenoms. Thirty of MLB Pipeline's Top 100 Prospects will appear in the 20th annual showcase of the game's best young talent on July 15 at Nationals Park.
The U.S. team, which will be managed by five-time All-Star and nine-time Gold Glover Torii Hunter, features 19 Top 100 Prospects. Shortstops Brendan Rodgers (Rockies, No. 6 on the Top 100) and Bo Bichette (Blue Jays, No. 7) are the highest-ranked prospects on the U.S. roster and part of a star-laden infield. That group also includes second baseman Keston Hiura (Brewers, No. 30), shortstop Carter Kieboom (Nationals, No. 62), first baseman Peter Alonso (Mets, No. 69) and third basemen Ryan Mountcastle (Orioles, No. 80) and Ke'Bryan Hayes (Pirates, No. 92).
• Futures Game rosters
It's conceivable that the United States could field an entire starting lineup of Top 100 Prospects in the game, which will be broadcast live at 4 p.m. ET on MLB Network and simulcast on MLB.com. The outfield is loaded with Taylor Trammell (Reds, No. 34), Jo Adell (Angels, No. 36), Kyle Lewis (Mariners, No. 58) and Alex Kirilloff (Twins, No. 67). Sean Murphy (Athletics, No. 66) could start behind the plate.
:: 2018 Futures Game coverage ::
MLB.com will live stream and MLB Network will exclusively televise the SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game at 4 p.m. ET, with Greg Amsinger, Harold Reynolds, Lauren Shehadi and Jim Callis calling the contest live from Nationals Park. The game will also be available to SiriusXM subscribers.
Baseball's top-rated pitching prospect, right-hander Forrest Whitley (Astros, No. 9), headlines a U.S. pitching staff that includes six other arms ranked in the upper half of the Top 100: righties Mitch Keller (Pirates, No. 12), Hunter Greene (Reds, No. 18), Kyle Wright (Braves, No. 25), Dylan Cease (White Sox, No. 40) and Matt Manning (Tigers, No. 47), plus left-hander Justus Sheffield (Yankees, No. 39). Greene (second overall), Wright (fifth), Hiura (ninth) and Adell (10th) all were top-10 selections in the 2017 Draft.
• 2018 All-Star Game
While the World squad can't match the United States' sheer total of Top 100 Prospects, it does feature the highest-ranked prospect in the Futures Game and the two best catching prospects in baseball. Manager David Ortiz, a 10-time All-Star and the 2013 World Series MVP, will have shortstop Fernando Tatis Jr. (Padres, No. 3) and backstops Francisco Mejia (Indians, No. 15) and Keibert Ruiz (Dodgers, No. 44) at his disposal.
San Diego's double-play combination of the future could be on display if Tatis teams with second baseman Luis Urias (No. 29). The World infield also includes first baseman/outfielder Yordan Alvarez (Astros, No. 51) and shortstop Andres Gimenez (Mets, No. 68).
The World matches its infield total with four Top 100 outfielders: Leody Taveras (Rangers, No. 28), Jesus Sanchez (Rays, No. 35), Heliot Ramos (Giants, No. 70) and Yusniel Diaz (Dodgers, No. 85). While he's not yet ranked on the Top 100 list, outfielder Seuly Matias (Royals) leads the Minors with 24 home runs.
Left-hander Jesus Luzardo (Athletics, No. 20) is the lone Top 100 Prospect on the World pitching staff. That doesn't mean the international team will have a shortage of mound talent, however.
Right-hander Jorge Guzman (Marlins) is one of the hardest-throwing starters in the Minors, capable of reaching 103 mph. Righty Enyel De Los Santos (Phillies) works in the mid-90s and leads the Triple-A International League with a 1.81 ERA. Righty reliever Yoan Lopez (Diamondbacks) has similar heat and has averaged 14.9 strikeouts per nine innings the last two years.
The United States owns an all-time 12-7 edge over the World and won the 2017 Futures Game 7-6 in Miami. Rays right-hander Brent Honeywell earned MVP honors by striking out four in two scoreless innings, though he's now sidelined after blowing out his elbow in February and having Tommy John surgery. Fourteen of the 50 Futures Gamers from last year currently are playing in the big leagues, including Ronald Acuna, Brian Anderson, Rafael Devers, Jack Flaherty and Yoan Moncada.
Here are the Futures Game representatives for each club (Pipeline rank for their club in parentheses):
ARI: Yoan Lopez, RHP (No. 25)
ATL: Kyle Wright, RHP (No. 2)
BAL: Ryan Mountcastle, 3B (No. 2), Alex Wells, LHP (No. 8)
BOS: Bryan Mata, RHP (No. 4)
CHC: Miguel Amaya, C/3B (No. 10)
CIN: Hunter Greene, RHP (No. 2), Taylor Trammell, OF (No. 3)
CLE: Francisco Mejia, C/OF (No. 1), Kieran Lovegrove, RHP
COL: Brendan Rodgers, SS/2B (No. 1), Jesus Tinoco, RHP (No. 12)
CWS: Dylan Cease, RHP (No. 4), Luis Alexander Basabe, OF (No. 13)
DET: Matt Manning, RHP (No. 2), Dawel Lugo, 2B (No. 12)
HOU: Forrest Whitley, RHP (No. 2), Yordan Alvarez, OF/1B (No. 3)
KC: Seuly Matias, OF (No. 3)
LAA: Jo Adell, OF (No. 1)
LAD: Keibert Ruiz, C (No. 2), Yusniel Diaz, OF (No. 2)
MIA: Jorge Guzman, RHP (No. 3)
MIL: Keston Hiura, 2B (No. 1)
MIN: Alex Kirilloff, OF (No. 3), Lewis Thorpe, RHP (No. 11)
NYM: Andres Gimenez, SS (No. 1), Peter Alonso, 1B (No. 2)
NYY: Justus Sheffield, LHP (No. 2)
OAK: Jesus Luzardo, LHP (No. 1), Sean Murphy, C (No. 3)
PHI: Enyel De Los Santos, RHP (No. 11)
PIT: Mitch Keller, RHP (No. 1), Ke'Bryan Hayes, 3B (No. 3)
SD: Fernando Tatis Jr., SS (No. 1), Luis Urias, SS/2B (No. 3) Buddy Reed, OF
SEA: Kyle Lewis, OF (No. 1)
SF: Heliot Ramos, OF (No. 1) Shaun Anderson, RHP (No. 7)
STL: Dakota Hudson, RHP (No. 3), Randy Arozarena, OF (No. 7)
TB: Jesus Sanchez, OF (No. 4), Nate Lowe, 1B
TEX: Leody Taveras, OF (No. 1) C.D. Pelham, LHP
TOR: Bo Bichette, SS/2B (No. 2) Danny Jansen, C (No. 6)
WSH: Carter Kieboom, SS (No. 3), Luis Garcia, SS/2B (No. 5)
Complete rosters