MLB Futures Game: Looking at the World Roster

One of the jewel events of the All-Star festivities takes place on the Sunday before the All-Star game, and for dynasty league owners, the Futures Game represents one of the best opportunities to see a number of top prospects in a single game. This year’s game is being held in San Diego on July 10th, and as has been the case in recent years, has a number of interesting prospects who are set to participate. The teams are divided up into a roster of U.S.-born prospects, and a roster of prospects born outside the U.S. Let’s take a look at the World roster.

Preseason Top 100 Prospects: Yoan Moncada (#4), Alex Reyes (#21), Manuel Margot (#39), Jorge Mateo (#45), Raimel Tapia (#49), Reynaldo Lopez (#57), Willy Adames (#73), Gary Sanchez (#74)

The World team could have picked from a number of the top shortstop prospects in the minors right now, so while Mateo and Adames may not have been the highest ranked among that group, it’s not like they are slouches by any stretch. Mateo has slowed slightly (on pace for 52 steals), but has also hit for more power at High-A. Adames is hitting well (.275/.365/.472 with 8 HR, 8 SB) at AA despite being just 20 years old.

Player to Watch: Alex Reyes and Reynaldo Lopez

Both pitchers are now at the AAA level with Lopez’ promotion this week, and both could be called upon by their teams down the stretch. Both pitchers also can hit triple digits with their fastballs, and have shown the potential to be elite starting pitchers in the future. Give them a short burst option like this, and it could be downright nasty what they do to the U.S. hitters.

Upcoming Offseason Top 100 Candidates: Jharel Cotton, Adalberto Mejia, Francisco Mejia, Carlos Asuaje, Jeimer Candelario, Eloy Jimenez, Tyler O’Neill

While the list of other candidates for the next top 100 isn’t as deep as the group above, you have a pair of pitchers in Cotton and Mejia who could be called upon before the end of the season as well. Candelario has forced himself back into the top prospect picture now that he has reached AAA, and currently has a 1.079 OPS in 21 games. I also wrote about Tyler O’Neill early in the month as well.

Player to Watch: Eloy Jimenez

Jimenez is currently destroying the Midwest League to the tune of a .342/.380/.549 slash line with 10 home runs and 54 RBI through 70 games. It’s even a bit of an undersell at that, as he’s hitting .366/.403/.603 with 9 of the home runs in the 50 games since the start of May. He gives the Cubs another potential trade chip at worst, and could be in line for a promotion before the end of the year.

Deeper League Names: Chih-Wei Hu, Francisco Rios, Dylan Unsworth