MLB All-Star Weekend: Futures Game players to keep an eye on.
The MLB Futures Game in Arlington, Texas, on Saturday is the first event of MLB All-Star Week celebrations. For more casual fans, this presentation of youthful talent from several sports is a terrific way to observe baseball’s brightest prospects. In the first half of the minor league season, the ardent supporters and industry professionals utilize it as a means of assessing if they have overlooked any rising stars or falling stars.
These are the baker’s dozen prospects who I’m most excited to watch in this year’s game if you’re searching for those to pay extra attention to this year (the only reason breakout Phillies shortstop Aidan Miller isn’t on the list is that I previously located him in Florida earlier this spring).
The future ace.
Noah Schultz, LHP, Chicago White Sox
Just behind Detroit’s Jackson Jobe, Schultz is the second-best pitching prospect in the minor leagues. The Futures Game is frequently a pitching showcase, so that alone is reason enough to be on our list, but Schultz is intriguing for many other reasons as well. At six feet nine inches tall, he delivers a powerful game from a low slot that would cause casual fans to recognize names like Garrett Crochet, Chris Sale, and Madison Bumgarner. Such talent has very few historical precedents.
The major challenges to power
Samuel Basallo, C, Orioles of Baltimore
Tampa Bay Rays first baseman Xavier Isaac
Spencer Jones, New York Yankees, CF/RF
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Let’s rate baseball’s upcoming stars, starting with a major league player who is making waves.
Kiley McDaniel
Would you like to watch some large guys hit a long ball? These three, who all have plus-plus raw power from the left side, should make their debuts over the next 12 months and all slot nicely on a top-100 list. While there may be some absurd batting practice exhibitions during this game (they may even sneak in a few Titleists), these men will put on an incredible show and demonstrate why AL East teams that are competitive in the playoffs are counting on them. Basallo
The Detroit Tigers’ Max Clark (CF) and Miami Marlins’ Noble Meyer (RHP) are the 2023 draft selections.
Miami Marlins’ Thomas White, LHP
St. Louis Cardinals’ Quinn Mathews is an LHP.
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Prepare for the draft with mock drafts, prospect rankings, player analysis, draft order, and more starting on Sunday at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN.
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The group that most intrigues me is this one. Clark and Kevin McGonigle will be unfairly compared to Wyatt Langford since, in the previous season, Detroit essentially opted to split the risk between the two guys rather than select Langford, who was regarded as the best player available. I want to see if anything seems too visually different because Clark is still tracking like a possible All-Star. White and Meyer were
The ascending stars in the middle
Chicago White Sox SS Colson Montgomery
Boston Red Sox SS Marcelo Mayer
Atlanta Braves’ Drake Baldwin, C
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Even if there’s little likelihood that the top pick in this draft will play both in the majors, hitting and pitching may still help a prospect advance.
Kiley McDaniel
All of these guys are up-the-middle, close-to-the-majors defenders. Alongside Schultz, Montgomery is essential to the South Side’s reconstruction. Long term, he seems more like a third baseman, although he might be above average or even better at every position in the batter’s box. Although evaluators say Mayer seems more energetic in all phases this year, which has increased his stock, he isn’t tracking like the future star some
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