The Futures Game

Tomorrow, the 12th 13th annual Futures GAme will be played in Phoenix. I look forward to this event each year as it allows the top prospects in the game to face off against each other, regardless of level. It's common for players in rookie ball to face off against AA aces. The game began in 1999 at Fenway Park. I was fortunate enough to attend the 2003-2005 iterations and again in 2009. I watch each year and long to attend. Here are my rankings for the top collections of talent and some thoughts on this year's game. My rankings are based on career to date and future projection. I'm not surprised the more recent games rank higher as there have been fewer "busts" because the players are still young enough to get a shot.

1. 2004- Joe Blanton, Matt Cain, Robinson Cano, Fausto Carmona, Shin Soo Choo, John Danks, Prince Fielder, Gavin Floyd, Felix Hernandez, Aaron Hill, Justin Morneau, Tim Stauffer, BJ Upton, Rickie Weeks, David Wright, Delmon Young. Cano, Prince, Felix, and Wright headline this class. Add in Weeks, Morneau, Cain, and Choo. 

2. 2006- Ryan Braun, Billy Butler, Stephen Drew, Yunel Escobar, Yovani Gallardo, Jaime Garcia, Carlos Gonzalez, Gio Gonzalez, Alex Gordon, Phil Hughes, Howie Kendrick, Cameron Maybin, Hunter Pence, Pablo Sandoval, Kurt Suzuki, Jose Tabata, Troy Tulowitzki, Joey Votto. No surprise that the game immediately following the legendary 2005 draft is highly rated. 2005 draftees Tulowitzki and Braun would challenge for the ROY in 2007. This group has already produced an MVP and a Cy is possible with Gio, Gallardo, or Jaime. 

3. 2003- Robinson Cano, Jorge De La Rosa, Gavin Floyd, Zack Greinke, Franklin Gutierrez, Rich Harden, JJ Hardy, Ryan Howard, Edwin Jackson, Adam LaRoche, Joe Mauer, Alex Rios, Grady Sizemore, Chien Ming Wang, Kevin Youkilis. Injuries have prevented this group from being ranked #1, but it's hard to argue with the talent at the top. Mauer and Grienke had incredible 2009 seasons and are bonafide superstars. Ryan Howard is paid like a superstar. 

4. 2005- Jose Bautista, Fausto Carmona, Shin Soo Choo, Nelson Cruz, Francisco Liriano, Miguel Montero, Kendry Morales, Hanley Ramirez, Anibal Sanchez, BJ Upton, Justin Verlander, Edison Volquez, Chris Young (OF), Delmon Young. A year or two ago, this class would look completely different since Jose Bautista would be an afterthought. Now he is considered one of the best hitters in the game. 

5. 2007- Elvis Andrus, Jay Bruce, Clay Buchholz, Chris Coghlan, Jacoby Ellsbury, Carlos Gonzalez, Clayton Kershaw, Evan Longoria, Carmon Maybin, Jeff Niemann, Colby Rasmus, Geovany Soto, Justin Upton, Joey Votto. The rest of the 2005 draft- Bruce, Ellsbury, Rasmus, and Upton- make appearances along with MVP winners/candidates Joey Votto, Evan Longoria, and Carlos Gonzalez. 

6. 2009- Pedro Alvarez, Manny Banuelos, Madison Bumgarner, Starlin Castro, Jhoulys Chacin, Kyle Drabek, Danny Duffy, Danny Espinosa, Neftali Feliz, Jason Heyward, Desmond Jennings, Mat Latos, Brett Lawrie, Brian Matusz, Jesus Montero, Jarrod Parker, Carlos Santana, Mike Stanton. Two superstars upsides with Mike Stanton and Jason Heyward along with multiple all stars position players like Starlin Castro and Carlos Santana. This class still has some work to do but should climb in the rankings. 

7. 2002- Erik Bedard, Miguel Cabrera, Shin Soo Choo, Carl Crawford, Jorge De La Rosa, Corey Hart, Orlando Hudson, Francisco Liriano, Victor Martinez, Justin Morneau, Brett Myers, Brandon Phillips, Francisco Rodriguez, Adam Wainwright. Hard to find a better 1-2 than Crawford and Cabrera. 

8. 2010- Zach Britton, Domonic Brown, Lonnie Chisenhall, Danny Espinosa, Jeremy Hellickson, Eric Hosmer, Dan Hudson, Brett Jackson, Desmond Jennings, Brett Lawrie, Hak-Ju Lee, Shelby Miller, Mike Minor, Logan Morrison, Mike Moustakas, Julio Teheran, Mike Trout. This class still needs to develop but Trout, Miller, Hosmer, and Hellickson look like bonafide superstars. 

9. 1999- Rick Ankiel, Lance Berkman, AJ Burnett, Pat Burrell, Francisco Cordero, Michael Cuddyer, Rafael Furcal, Mark Mulder, Armais Ramirez, Alfonso Soriano, Vernon Wells. A couple of nice players, with Berkman being the best. This group fell off the cliff FAST. 

10. 2001- Erik Bedard, Hank Blalock, Miguel Cabrera, Adam Dunn, Adrian Gonzalez, Ryan Ludwick, Brett Myers, Carlos Pena, Chase Utley, Jose Valverde. Adrian Gonzalez, Miguel Cabrera, Chase Utley, and what? 

11. 2000- Josh Beckett, Mark Buehrle, Josh Hamilton, Carlos Pena, CC Sabathia, Ben Sheets, Vernon Wells, Barry Zito. An MVP and two Cy Youngs with some all stars.  

12. 2008- Brett Anderson, Elvis Andrus, Trevor Cahill, Andrew McCutchen, Jesus Montero, Cliff Pennington, Clayton Richard, Pablo Sandoval. The 2008 Olympics were going on at this time so many of the top prospects were playing in China.The US team in this game was the team that would represent the US in Beijing. USA Base all insisted on taking high level players like Jamie D'Antona (a former favorite prospect of mine) for "experience".  


The 2011 game should be one of the best. The US team has a loaded pitching staff and Bryce Harper. I'm looking forward to seeing Shelby Miller, Matt Moore, and Jacob Turner pitch. Matt Harvey, Kyle Gibson, Drew Pomeranz, and Tyler Skaggs aren't slouches either. Outside of Harper, the offensive side of the US team is less exciting. If Mike Trout hadn't been called up, it would be more exciting, but now the top prospects are Wil Myers, Manny Machado, and Devin Mesoraco. Grant Green, Paul Goldschmidt, Nolan Arenado, Matt Szczur, and some of the others are interesting hitters, but not elite prospects.

On the World side, as a Cardinals fan, I am looking forward to seeing Carlos Martinez in action. He has catapulted into the top 25 of Baseball America's prospects and should see more love this offseason. Besides him, the two Braves studs, Julio Teheran and Arodys Vizcaino (I saw him hit 100+ in ST) and Martin Perez are arms to watch. Offensively, Willin Rosario looks like the Rockies catcher of the future, Yonder Alonso is prime tradebait for the Reds, and Hak-Ju Lee is one of the top SS prospects in the minors. Fan favorite, Jose Altuve, is on the roster, as are low minor, high upside IF prospects Jurickson Profar and Jonathan Schoop.

The US pitching is so strong that I think it will prevail. As with most games, there is usually one big hit that blows the game open and pitching dominates the rest. Therefore, I have to give the US the edge.