Futures Game Archives - River Avenue Blues

2018 Futures Game Thread: Sheffield representing Yankees

July 15, 2018 by Mike Leave a Comment

The Yankees are currently wrapping up the first half with the series finale in Cleveland. Meanwhile, in Washington, baseball’s best prospects have gathered at Nationals Park for the 2018 Futures Game. The Futures Game is exactly what it sounds like: A showcase of baseball’s future. It’s too bad the Futures Game doesn’t get more attention. It’s an awful lot of fun.

This year the Yankees have one representative at the Futures Game: LHP Justus Sheffield. Gleyber Torres and Miguel Andujar are in the big leagues, and others like RHP Chance Adams, OF Estevan Florial, and RHP Albert Abreu are either hurt or having down seasons. Oh well. Sheffield will pitch at some point today. They don’t bring kids to the Futures Game and then not play them. He’ll get an inning at some point. Here are the 2018 Futures Game rosters and here are the starting lineups:

Team USA
1. CF Jo Adell, Angels
2. SS Bo Bichette, Blue Jays
3. 2B Brendan Rodgers, Rockies
4. 1B Nate Lowe, Rays
5. DH Keston Hiura, Brewers
6. RF Alex Kirilloff, Twins
7. C Danny Jansen, Blue Jays
8. LF Kyle Lewis, Mariners
9. 3B Ke’Bryan Hayes, Pirates

RHP Mitch Keller, Pirates

World Team
1. CF Luis Basabe, White Sox
2. SS Fernando Tatis Jr., Padres
3. LF Yusniel Diaz, Dodgers
4. DH Seuly Matias, Royals
5. 1B Yordan Alvarez, Astros
6. 2B Luis Urias, Padres
7. RF Jesus Sanchez, Rays
8. C Miguel Amaya, Cubs
9. 3B Dawel Lugo, Tigers

LHP Jesus Luzardo, Athletics

It is hot, cloudy, and really humid in Washington today. There is rain in the forecast but not until much later tonight. The Futures Game won’t go longer than ten innings no matter what — each team only has ten pitchers on the roster — so the rain won’t be an issue. The Futures Game is scheduled to begin at 4pm ET and you can watch on MLB Network or stream on MLB.com. Enjoy the game.

Justus Sheffield selected for 2018 Futures Game

July 5, 2018 by Mike Leave a Comment

The 2018 Futures Game rosters won’t be officially announced until tomorrow, but Triple-A Scranton manager Bobby Mitchell let the cat out of the bag today. Mitchell told reporters that left-hander Justus Sheffield will represent the Yankees and pitch for Team USA in the Futures Game later this month.

“It’s awesome. I’m excited. I’m pumped,” said Sheffield to DJ Eberle. “Just the experience, getting to play with guys from all around — different leagues, different teams, meeting guys, getting to play in a big league stadium. I think it’s just going to be awesome.”

Sheffield, 22, is the Yankees’ top prospect now that Gleyber Torres has graduated to the big leagues. He’s pitched to a 2.49 ERA (2.99 FIP) with 27.2% strikeouts and 11.1% walks in 79.2 innings split between Double-A Trenton and Triple-A Scranton this season. Baseball America (subs. req’d) and MLB.com rank Sheffield as the 22nd and 39th best prospect in baseball, respectively.

Teams do have a say in the Futures Game rosters and I thought there was a chance the Yankees would hold Sheffield out in case they’re planning to call him up — that’s what happened with Luis Severino in 2015 — but that’s not the case, apparently. That doesn’t mean we won’t see Sheffield at some point this season! It just indicates a call-up isn’t imminent. Not surprising, I don’t think.

It’s unclear whether the Yankees will have any other representatives at the Futures Game. Teams do typically send two prospects, though not always. Torres and Miguel Andujar have graduated, Estevan Florial and Freicer Perez are hurt, and Chance Adams hasn’t pitched all that well this season. Maybe someone like Dillon Tate or Trevor Stephan will sneak onto the roster? We’ll see.

Florial and Domingo Acevedo represented the Yankees at the Futures Game last year. It was Jorge Mateo and Gary Sanchez in 2016, Sanchez and Aaron Judge in 2015, and Severino and Peter O’Brien in 2014. The 2018 Futures Game will be played Sunday, July 15th, at 4pm ET at Nationals Park.

2017 Futures Game Thread

July 9, 2017 by Mike Leave a Comment

The Yankees are wrapping up their first half at home against the Brewers this afternoon, and, down in Miami, baseball’s best young players are being showcased at Marlins Park. It’s the Futures Game, in which the game’s top prospects are put together on one field for the express purpose of promoting baseball’s future.

OF Estevan Florial and RHP Domingo Acevedo are representing the Yankees in the Futures Game this year. SS Gleyber Torres almost certainly would have been there had he not blown out his elbow a few weeks ago. It’s possible the Yankees held RHP Chance Adams out of the Futures Game because they’re planning to call him up at some point soon. I guess we’ll find out soon enough. Here are the lineups.

Team USA
1. SS Nick Gordon, Twins
2. CF Lewis Brinson, Brewers
3. LF Derek Fisher, Astros
4. 1B Rhys Hoskins, Phillies
5. 3B Nick Senzel, Reds
6. RF Kyle Tucker, Astros
7. DH Brian Anderson, Marlins
8. C Chance Sisco, Orioles
9. 2B Brendan Rodgers, Rockies
RHP Bent Honeywell, Rays

World Team
1. 2B Yoan Moncada, White Sox
2. LF Alex Verdugo, Dodgers
3. SS Amed Rosario, Mets
4. 3B Rafael Devers, Red Sox
5. CF Ronald Acuna, Braves
6. RF Eloy Jimenez, Cubs
7. DH Vlad Guerrero Jr., Blue Jays
8. 1B Josh Naylor, Padres
9. C Francisco Mejia, Indians
RHP Yadier Alvarez, Dodgers

Acevedo is tentatively scheduled to pitch the fourth inning for the World Team. Florial is going to come off the bench at some point. Everybody plays in the Futures Game. It’s not like the All-Star Game where some guys stay on the bench. Acevedo, Florial, and every other Futures Gamer will play at some point this afternoon.

The Futures Game will begin at 4pm ET and you can watch on MLB Network and stream live on MLB.com. The Marlins Park roof is closed, so the weather isn’t an issue. Enjoy the game.

Domingo Acevedo, Estevan Florial selected for 2017 Futures Game

June 29, 2017 by Mike Leave a Comment

Earlier today MLB announced the rosters for the 2017 Futures Game, and the Yankees are sending two players to baseball’s annual top prospect showcase: right-hander Domingo Acevedo and outfielder Estevan Florial. It is the first Futures Game selection for both players. Here are the World Team and Team USA rosters.

Acevedo, 23, has climbed from High-A Tampa to Triple-A Scranton this season, and has a 3.16 ERA (2.72 FIP) with 26.0% strikeouts and 5.5% walks in 15 starts and 94 innings. I ranked him as the 15th best prospect in the farm system before the season and the 13th best prospect in the system in my pre-draft update, though I’ve always been the low man on Big Sunday.

The 19-year-old Florial is having a breakout season with Low-A Charleston. He’s hitting .310/.388/.522 (159 wRC+) with ten homers and 13 stolen bases despite a 30.9% strikeout rate. Florial still swings and misses a bunch, but man, when he connects, the ball goes a long way. His tools are LOUD. I ranked Florial as the 16th best prospect in the system before the season and 14th before the draft.

The Futures Game rosters are selected by MLB with help from the MLB Scouting Bureau and Baseball America. Teams do have input and will often hold players out of the game if they’re considering a big league call-up. Two years ago the Yankees reportedly held Luis Severino out prior to his second half call-up. Maybe Chance Adams isn’t going for that reason. Also, I imagine SS Gleyber Torres received plenty of consideration before his injury.

Last year Jorge Mateo and Gary Sanchez represented the Yankees at the Futures Game. (Clint Frazier represented the Indians.) The year before that it was Sanchez and Aaron Judge. The year before that it was Severino and Peter O’Brien. This year’s Futures Game will be played Sunday, July 9th at Marlins Park. Edgar Renteria and Charles Johnson will serve as managers.

Jorge Mateo, Gary Sanchez to represent Yankees at the 2016 Futures Game

June 28, 2016 by Mike Leave a Comment

Sanchez in the 2015 Futures Game. (Getty)

Shortstop Jorge Mateo and catcher Gary Sanchez will represent the Yankees at the 2016 Futures Game next month, MLB announced earlier today. Here are the full Team USA and World Team rosters. Baseball America also has free mini-scouting reports for every player selected for the game, so check that out.

Mateo, 21, is heading to his first Futures Game. He is hitting .275/.333/.417 (122 wRC+) with five homers and 26 steals in 37 attempts (70%) for High-A Tampa this season. Mateo has actually been slumping pretty hard of late; he’s hitting .207/.250/.241 (45 wRC+) in 21 games this month. Still, the Futures Game is a showcase for the game’s top prospects, and Mateo certainly qualifies.

This is the second Futures Game selection for Sanchez, who also played in the game last year. The 23-year-old is hitting .279/.324/.500 (135 wRC+) with eight homers for Triple-A Scranton this season. Sanchez missed about three weeks with a thumb fracture after being hit by a foul tip. Last summer he went 1-for-2 with a double off Giants right-hander Tyler Beede in the Futures Game.

Teams do have some input into the Futures Game rosters. I remember last year there was talk the Yankees declined to let Luis Severino participate because there was a chance he would get called up before the All-Star break. That was never confirmed and Severino wasn’t called up until early-August. Still though, the Yankees wanted to be prepared in case they needed him.

Last year Sanchez and Aaron Judge represented the Yankees in the Futures Game. The year before it was Severino and Peter O’Brien. The year before that it was Rafael DePaula. The 2016 Futures Game will be played in Petco Park on Sunday, July 10th. Trevor Hoffman will manage Team USA and Moises Alou will manage the World Team.

2015 Futures Game Thread

July 12, 2015 by Mike 32 Comments

The Yankees are currently playing the final game of the first half against the Red Sox in Fenway Park (game thread), meanwhile, about 900 miles west, the 2015 Futures Game will be played this afternoon in Cincinnati. I wish they would play the Futures Game at night, in the 8pm ET ESPN slot, so it doesn’t have to compete against real MLB games each year. Tough to draw an audience this way.

Anyway, the Yankees have two prospects in the Futures Game this year and both are in the starting lineup. Outfielder Aaron Judge is at DH and will bat sixth for Team USA — too bad, his right field defense is underrated and we won’t get to see it today — while catcher Gary Sanchez is behind the plate and batting fifth for the World Team. I hope they go a combined 10-for-10 with ten homers. Here are the starting lineups:

Team USA (Manager: Ken Griffey Sr.)

2B Tony Kemp, Astros
SS J.P. Crawford, Phillies
C Kyle Schwarber, Cubs
3B Richie Shaffer, Rays
RF Kyle Waldrop, Reds
DH Aaron Judge, Yankees
1B Josh Bell, Pirates
LF Michael Conforto, Mets
CF Bradley Zimmer, Indians
RHP Lucas Giolito, Nationals

World Team (Manager: Tony Perez)

2B Ketel Marte, Mariners
SS Ozzie Albies, Braves
RF Yorman Rodriguez, Reds
1B Albino Fuenmayor, Royals
C Gary Sanchez, Yankees
3B Renato Nunez, Athletics
CF Manuel Margot, Red Sox
DH Nomar Mazara, Rangers
LF Raimel Tapia, Rockies
RHP Jose Berrios, Twins

The pitching orders and reserves can be found right here. There will be a new pitcher each inning and no, the game won’t go to extra innings if it is tied. They won’t extend any pitchers for the sake of an exhibition game.

Now, the bad news: the weather kinda sucks in Cincinnati today. It has been cloudy and overcast all day and there is rain in the forecast this afternoon. Hopefully the Futures Game isn’t delayed or outright canceled because of the weather. The game is scheduled to begin at 3pm ET and you can watch live on MLB Network and MLB.com. Enjoy the game.

Aaron Judge and Gary Sanchez selected for 2015 Futures Game

June 25, 2015 by Mike 21 Comments

Outfielder Aaron Judge and catcher Gary Sanchez have been selected to participate in the 2015 Futures Game, MLB announced earlier today. Judge will suit up for Team USA and Sanchez will play for the World Team, because duh. The full rosters are right here. Baseball America has free mini-scouting reports on all the players as well: Team USA and World Team.

Judge, 23, is New York’s best prospect. He is hitting .277/.345/.500 (139 wRC+) with 16 doubles and 12 home runs in 66 games this season, most with Double-A Trenton and a handful with Triple-A Scranton. Judge stands out for his size (6-foot-7 and 230 lbs.) and his raw power, though he has a line drive approach in games, so he doesn’t always tap into his pop. His athleticism and right field defense are assets as well and often overlooked.

The 22-year-old Sanchez is currently on the Double-A DL with a bruised hand after being hit by a foul tip, though the injury is considered minor and he’s expected back soon. Sanchez is hitting .256/.313/.432 (113 wRC+) with seven doubles and eighth homers in 45 games with the Thunder in 2015. He’s a bat first prospect with big power who is still trying to improve behind the plate so he can catch long-term.

Teams do have input for the Futures Game — Bill Shaikin says the Dodgers didn’t approve Corey Seager’s selection even though he’s the best prospect in the minors right now, for example — so it’s possible the Yankees declined to allow right-hander Luis Severino to participate, possibly because they are considering calling him up at some point. Then again, players who are called up are simply replaced on the Futures Game roster. Who knows?

It’s also possible the Yankees pushed for Sanchez to be included so they could showcase him for trades. Crazy? Maybe. But Peter O’Brien was a Futures Gamer last summer and was then traded a few weeks later. If Sanchez goes 0-for-2 in the Futures Game, no one blinks an eye. But if he homers off a top pitching prospect, well hey now, someone will take notice of that. It’s a no-lose situation for the Yankees. Well, unless Sanchez gets hurt, but you know what I mean.

This is the first Futures Game selection for both Judge and Sanchez. Severino and O’Brien represented the Yankees last season and Rafael DePaula the year before that. The Futures Game is Sunday, July 12th in Cincinnati. The final day before the All-Star break. Congrats to Judge and Sanchez. It’s always cool to be recognized as one of the best prospects in the game.