The MLB Futures game provides prospects with an excellent opportunity to showcase their skills against other top prospects in front of scouts from around the league. But it won’t be long before these minor league All-Stars are playing in the big league version of the game.
Players like Grady Sizemore, Alfonso Soriano and Jose Reyes have parlayed MVP performances in the Futures Game into multiple All-Star performances later on in their career.
Here’s a look at the full rosters for the game featuring the best talent in the minor leagues along with the top candidates to be All-Stars down the road.
Rosters via MiLB.com.
U.S. Team Roster
| Player | Position | MiLB Team |
| Jesse Biddle | LHP | Reading (AA) |
| Archie Bradley | RHP | Mobile (AA) |
| Eddie Butler | RHP | Modesto (Advanced A) |
| Kyle Crick | RHP | San Jose (Advanced A) |
| A.J. Cole | RHP | Potomac (Advanced A) |
| C.J. Riefenhauser | LHP | Durham (AAA) |
| Jimmy Nelson | RHP | Nashville (AAA) |
| Anthony Ranaudo | RHP | Portland (AA) |
| Noah Syndergaard | RHP | Binghamton (AA) |
| Taijuan Walker | RHP | Tacoma (AAA) |
| Austin Hedges | C | Lake Elsinore (Advanced A) |
| James McCann | C | Erie (AA) |
| C.J. Cron | INF | Arkansas (AA) |
| Delino DeShields | INF | Lancaster (Advanced A) |
| Matt Davidson | INF | Reno (AAA) |
| Joey Gallo | INF | Hickory (Full A) |
| Brad Miller | INF | Tacoma (Advanced A) |
| Addison Russell | INF | Stockton (AAA) |
| Kolten Wong | INF | Memphis (AAA) |
| Christian Walker | INF | Frederick (Advanced A) |
| Byron Buxton | OF | Fort Myers (Advanced A) |
| Billy Hamilton | OF | Louisville (AAA) |
| Joc Pederson | OF | Chattanooga (AA) |
| George Springer | OF | Corpus Christi (AA) |
| Christian Yelich | OF | Jacksonville (AA) |
World Team Roster
| Player | Position | MiLB Team |
| Miguel Almonte | RHP | Lexington (Full A) |
| Carlos Contreras | RHP | Bakersfield (Advanced A) |
| Rafael De Paula | RHP | Tampa (Advanced A) |
| C.C. Lee | RHP | Columbus (AAA) |
| Rafael Montero | RHP | Las Vegas (AAA) |
| Andre Rienzo | RHP | Charlotte (AAA) |
| Eduardo Rodriguez | LHP | Frederick (Advanced A) |
| Enny Romero | LHP | Montgomery (AA) |
| Yordano Ventura | RHP | Omaha (AAA) |
| Michael Ynoa | RHP | Beloit (Full A) |
| Jorge Alfaro | C | Hickory (Full A) |
| Christian Bethancourt | C | Mississippi (AA) |
| A.J. Jimenez | C | New Hampshire (AA) |
| Arismendy Alcantara | INF | Tennessee (AA) |
| Xander Bogaerts | INF | Pawtucket (AAA) |
| Maikel Franco | INF | Reading (AA) |
| Dilson Herrera | INF | West Virginia (Full A) |
| Jordan Lennerton | INF | Toledo (AAA) |
| Francisco Lindor | INF | Carolina (Advanced A) |
| Miguel Sano | INF | New Britain (AA) |
| Yeison Asencio | OF | San Antonio (AA) |
| Gregory Polanco | OF | Altoona (AA) |
| Jorge Soler | OF | Dayton (Advanced A) |
| Jesus Galindo | OF | Augusta (Full A) |
| Henry Urrutia | OF | Bowie (AA) |
Byron Buxton, CF, Minnesota Twins
Buxton was drafted by the Twins with the No. 2 overall selection in the 2012 MLB draft out of Appling County High School in Baxley, Ga. Usually you’d like to slow track picks straight out of high school, but Buxton is already becoming difficult to ignore.
At just 19 years old, you never want to put too much hype on a prospect, but those who have seen him play have compared him favorably to Mike Trout, such as Jeffrey Johnson who covered both players when they were members of the Cedar Rapids Kernels.
Buxton may just be playing Advanced A ball, but the tools are there for him to be the next big thing in baseball. In one-and-a-half seasons as a teenager, he’s racked up 14 home runs while stealing 46 bases and hitting .305.
Look for his athleticism to shine in this game as he shows scouts that he’s a name to remember.
Miguel Sano, INF, Minnesota Twins
Sano will oppose Buxton for the title of best prospect involved in the game. Fortunately, for the Twins, they won’t always be competing against each other.
Minnesota is fortunate to claim both of the electric hitters as part of their farm system.
The 20-year-old Sano is an absolute slugger and promises to be the anchor of the Twins lineup for years to come. In four seasons of minor league ball, he has already hit 77 home runs.
Going against the elite pitchers on the U.S. side, he’ll have the opportunity to show off the power that will eventually make him an MLB All-Star.
Taijuan Walker, RHP, Seattle Mariners
The Futures game doesn’t just feature exciting talents at the plate. There are a few future aces that will take the hill for the minor league showcase and Walker highlights the list.
The Seattle Mariners-bound hurler was recently called up to the Triple-A ranks and has responded with a fast start. In three starts he is 2-0 with an ERA of .56 and 16 strikeouts in 16 innings.
Walker struggled last season with posting a 7-10 record and 4.69 ERA in Double-A last season. Given the incredible improvement that you can see in his numbers this season it’s clear that he’s well on his way to living up to his massive potential.
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