MLB Futures Game 2019: Top prospects who stood out

Frank Neville

MLB Futures Game 2019: Top prospects who stood out image

The annual Futures Game, played every year on All Star Sunday, has become professional baseball's premier prospect showcase.  It has also served as a preview of the next wave of big-league talent.  Last year’s rosters included 18 players who have since made their major league debuts.  Among the prospects who appeared in the 2018 Futures Game are rookie stars Peter Alonso, Fernando Tatis, Jr., and Yordan Alvarez as well as current big-league regulars Dakota Hudson, Shaun Anderson, Keston Hiura, Nate Lowe and Danny Jansen. 

This year, a new format (splitting the players into teams of AL and NL prospects rather than the previous format of U.S. players vs. non-U.S. players) has deepened the talent pool for the game and made for a more competitive affair after the US team dominated play for much of the past few contests.  A second format change (limiting the game to seven innings), had a less desirable effect as it resulted in a pitcher-dominated affair in which hitters had trouble finding a rhythm and hurlers aired it out in short stints.  Texas farmhand Sam Huff was named the game’s MVP after he provided the one offensive highlight with a two-run home run to tie the game in the bottom of the 7th. Collectively, the two teams combined for 12 hits with Huff and Tigers' prospect Isaac Paredes managing the only extra base knocks.

MORE PROSPECTS: Updated top-50 rankings

MLB Futures Game: Top prospects to watch 

Top arms

Deivi Garcia (RHP, New York Yankees) – At 5-9, Garcia was by far the smallest hurler in the game, but he wowed with some of the biggest stuff. The slight right-hander showed an electric four-pitch mix including a fastball that topped out at 95-96. Garcia pounded the zone and ate up righties with his deceptive delivery and low three-quarters arm angle. At 20, he may be given extra time to develop in the minors and at his size, he may end up in the bullpen. But his stuff is plus and there’s little doubt he’ll be a quality big-leaguer, either as a late-inning reliever or possibly as a No. 2 starter.

Nate Pearson (RHP, Toronto) – Pearson lit up the radar gun with a series of triple-digit fastballs during a dominant inning of work. Tossing 11 of 13 pitches for strikes, Pearson attacked hitters with heat and then kept them off balance with a sharp, high-80’s slider. His stuff screams closer but his solid command and effective changeup mean that he could be a No. 2 starter. Expect to see Pearson compete for a rotation spot in Toronto no later than next spring.

Sixto Sanchez (RHP, Miami) – Sanchez was the second hurler to touch triple digits and, like Pearson, went to his breaking ball to finish hitters off. Sanchez typically has very good command, but he didn’t have his usual precision in the Futures Game. At his best, he has frontline stuff which he delivers from a smooth, repeatable motion. The rebuilding Marlins have no reason to rush him to the majors, but Sanchez has the tools to eventually be a frontline starter.

Luis Patino (RHP, San Diego) – Patino closed out the game for the NL with a dominant 1.2 inning showing in which he fanned 3 of the 5 batters he faced. Patino showed a loose arm that produced upper-90’s heat, a sharp slider and a decent changeup. If he can tighten his command and find more consistency with his slider he has all the makings of a No. 2 or 3 starter. Even with his current skill set, he’s probably a top-tier late-inning guy. Only 19, he’ll be given plenty of time to develop.

Dustin May (RHP, Los Angeles Dodgers) – May’s sinking mid-90s fastball doesn’t generate lots of swings-and-misses, but it produces plenty of weak contact. May was as advertised in a solid inning of work – three batters, three groundball outs. May has a deep arsenal (fastball, cutter, curve, change), shows good command, and comes right at hitters. He doesn’t have elite stuff but has the tools to be a solid mid-rotation guy in the majors. Already in Triple-A, May is poised for a big-league opportunity later this season or in early 2020.

MacKenzie Gore (LHP, San Diego) – Gore wasn’t at his best in the Futures Game, but after walking the leadoff batter on 4 pitches, he settled in and produced a solid inning of work. Only 20, Gore is already a polished hurler with good command of four pitches. His deceptive delivery and ability to mix his offerings add to his effectiveness. Blister issues have slowed his development, but he’s an elite arm with frontline starter upside.

DL Hall (LHP, Baltimore) – Hall has had an up-and-down season at High-A this year, but he showed plus stuff during a one-inning appearance at the Futures Game. Hall has struggled with command this year, but he threw all three of his pitches for strikes while retiring the NL side in order. Hall has two plus pitches (mid-90s fastball and curve) and the makings of a third (change). He’s only 20, and he’ll need to improve his command to reach his potential, but he has the makings of a solid No. 3 starter in the majors.

Best Bats

Wander Franco (SS, Tampa Bay) – Franco is the best hitting prospect in the minors despite having just turned 18. Only 5-10, Franco generates plus power with elite bat speed and great lower half explosion. He’s also a polished hitter (35 BBs and only 20 Ks in 70 minor league games this season) and has the defensive tools to stick at shortstop. He put on a show from both sides of the plate in batting practice and then logged one hit in two at bats during the game.

Jo Adell (OF, Los Angeles Angels) – Adell was a raw, athletic talent coming out of high school, but his work ethic and maturity have helped him make steady improvements as a pro. Only 20 and already dominating at Double-A (.360 average with four HRs and four SBs in 24 games), Adell is on the fast track to big-league success. Adell wowed in batting practice as he launched moon shots into the seats in left and then reached base three times in the game. He’s still inconsistent at the plate, but he has the discipline and bat speed to potentially hit for both power and average.

Luis Robert (OF, Chicago White Sox) – Robert is finally healthy and showing the tools that made him a high-profile free agent signee out of Cuba in 2017. After an impressive stint in Double-A (.314 with eight HRs and 21 SBs in 56 games), Robert has been promoted to Triple-A and is poised to get a big-league look. He looked anxious at the plate both in batting practice and the game, but his athleticism and electric bat speed were still apparent. He’s still a work in progress, but Robert has one of the most impressive all-around games in the minors. Long-term he has legitimate 20-20 power-speed potential in the bigs.

Jarred Kelenic (OF, Seattle) – An off-season acquisition from the Mets, Kelenic has made Seattle look good with a stellar 2019 campaign. A polished hitter with plus power and the ability to drive balls to all fields, Kelenic has the upside of a 25-HR threat in the majors. Kelenic didn’t have a hit in the Futures Game, but he drove the ball hard to the opposite field and had quality at bats against some elite arms.

Royce Lewis (SS, Minnesota) – Lewis has had a rough season in High-A, but he’s become a more consistent defender and has added some strength. Before the game, Lewis told me that an overly aggressive approach had gotten him in trouble in the first half, and he was focused on being more selective. His aggressiveness was ironically on display during two plate appearances as he ripped a first-pitch fastball for a single in one at bat and then chased out of the zone for a strikeout in his second. He’ll need to refine his approach and create a more consistent swing path to reach his potential, but he has the tools to be a solid big-league middle infielder.

Alec Bohm (3B, Philadelphia) – Bohm has tremendous athleticism for a player his size and produces plus raw power through great bat speed and outstanding leverage in his swing. Bohm controls the strike zone and shows the hand-eye coordination to hit for a solid average in the majors. In batting practice, he put on an impressive power display. Then in the game, Bohm showed great hand-eye coordination as he made hard contact in three of four at bats. Bohm doesn’t show as much in-game power as he could, but eventually he should be a guy who hits for a solid average and launches 25-plus home runs per season.

Gavin Lux, (SS, Los Angeles Dodgers) – A high school draftee from a cold-weather state, Lux has taken off as a professional. After demolishing Double-A pitching (.313 average with 13 HRs and seven SBs in 64 games), Lux has been on fire in his first seven games at Triple-A. Lux showed a more compact swing in batting practice and has clearly gained strength since I saw him last season. With good balance and plus bat speed, he has the ability to hit for decent power. His solid pitch recognition and direct swing path should allow him to hit for average as well. He’s only 21, and the Dodgers don’t need to rush him, but he looks like he could produce in the bigs right now.

 

Frank Neville