2014 Futures Game Rosters Announced

The Futures Game is a bit of a stock check, as hot prospects get the call. Not every top prospect goes though, since there are a limited number of spots for Shortstops, Outfielders, etc. Additionally, there aren't a ton of top Second Base prospects, so some lower level guys may make the occasional roster as well. Previous games have featured such names as: Ryan Braun, Pat Burrell, Michael Cuddyer, Prince Fielder, Arian Gonzalez, Evan Longoria, Chase Utley, Lance Berkman, Jacoby Ellsbury and Andrew McCutchen. It has also featured: some guy named Jamal Strong, Stephen Smitherman (which sounds totally fake and is probably a name he told a cop once and had to stick with the story), Val Majewski, Jason Romano and Kevin Cash. So, it's an honor, but it doesn't mean everyone's really a future star.

That said, there's reason to be excited about the Phillies prospects selected. Taken 16th overall in last year's draft J.P. Crawford has rocketed to High-A Clearwater in roughly one year of professional play and he's mostly torn through the levels on his way up. He's been struggling a bit since moving up, but his numbers look very similar to his Lakewood numbers after a late season call-up late last year. Remember that, at 19, he's really young for the level. Crawford has been one of the hottest prospects in baseball the last year and made Keith Law's Top 25 list a few short weeks ago. It would have actually been a big upset if Crawford had been left off.

The other selected from the Phillies is a little more suspect. Maikel Franco has scuffled a lot since making the jump to Triple-A, hitting at a .207/.265/.323 rate with much weaker contact than he's shown previously. Interestingly he's listed on the roster as a First Baseman (leading me to initially think he missed the cut, as he only has about a dozen games at First). It's a numbers game and presently there aren't a ton of First Base Prospects, so Franco got the nod.

A few other interesting names:

PTBNL Domingo Santana made the World roster. He's currently laying waste to Triple-A with a line of .296/.378/.493 with a .197 ISO, 26.7% K rate (way down from the lower 30's in his time with the Phillies Org.), 11.4% BB rate (well up, but has been trending that way) and a thoroughly unsustainable .389 BABiP. I hate that friggin' trade soooo much.

Julio Urias who is 17 years old and Pitching in High-A pretty darn successfully. He's walking too many guys, but he's also ~6 years too young for the league.

Five other 2014 Draftees made the cut:

Kris Bryant who was obliterating Double-A before a recent callup to Triple-A, where he's scuffled himself through a handful of games. Huge power here (The Cubs are also sending Javier Baez and those 2 have an absurd 37 HR between them so far, this season. Combine thos two with fellow slugger Jorge Soler and recent draftee Schwarber and the Cubs could be launching insane power numbers in a few years).

D.J. Peterson is playing in the most Offensive friendly environment in all of baseball, High Desert (he played his College ball in the friendliest College field too in New Mexico) and he is taking full advantage with 18 HR so far this season.

Hunter Renfroe was taken a few spots ahead of Crawford and he put up video game number in High-A with a .270 ISO. It's a shame he'll eventually end up in Petco where he'll hit a lot of really majestic, long outs.

Hunter Harvey is Pitching well in the SALLY, racking up big K numbers and fairly highish Walk numbers to match.

Braden Shipley was selected one spot ahead of Crawford. He's split his season almost evenly, thus far, between Low and High-A with solid numbers.

One 2014 Draftee that should have gotten invited is enormous Yankees prospect Aaron Judge with his .327/.425/.522 line 20.7% K rate and impressive 14.4% BB rate. True to his Stanford roots, his Line Drive rate is absurd. 25.5%.

Around the Division:

The Braves have only one rep: Light hitting Catcher Christian Bethancourt, who has an absurd arm.

The Marlins also have only one rep, Pitching prospect Domingo German

The Mets send 2 to the American Roster in Catcher Kevin Plawecki and Pitcher Noah Syndergaard

The Nationals send 2 really, really good prospects: electric Outfielder Michael Taylor (with his unsustainable BABiP and K rate) and Pitcher Lucas Giolito.