2012 FUTURES GAME ROSTERS

U.S. PITCHERS

Matt Barnes, rhp
Team: high Class A Salem (Carolina)
Organization: Red Sox.
The Scoop: Barnes, last year's 19th overall draft pick, has shown a solid changeup and curveball this season, complementing a 93-95 mph fastball that has actually shown better velocity—getting up to 95-98 mph—in later innings, blowing hitters away.

Trevor Bauer, rhp
Team: Triple-A Reno (Pacific Coast)
Organization: Diamondbacks
The Scoop: Bauer's six-pitch repertoire earned him BA College Player of the year honors last season and already has him in Triple-A this year. Still working on his game-management skills, the righthander looks to be almost big league ready.

Dylan Bundy, rhp
Team: High Class A Frederick (Carolina)
Organization: Orioles
The Scoop: Bundy got off to an astounding start this season in the South Atlantic League, not allowing an earned run through 30 innings, walking two and striking out 40, earning him a promotion to Frederick, where he is trying to find the same command.

Gerrit Cole, rhp
Team: High Class A Bradenton (Florida State)
Organization: Pirates
The Scoop: Last year's No. 1 draft pick started his first professional season in the Florida State League, and the flamethrower has already proven his worth at the high Class A level. His high-90s fastball and two other plus-plus pitches should move him quickly.

Danny Hultzen, lhp
Team: Double-A Jackson (Southern)
Organization: Mariners
The Scoop: The No. 2 overall pick in 2011, Hultzen has had very little trouble jumping to Double-A. In a 45-inning stretch for the Generals, he was 6-0, 0.40 with 45 strikeouts, combining low-90s fastball velocity with deception, location and angle to dominate.

Alex Meyer, rhp
Team: Low Class A Hagerstown (South Atlantic)
Organization: Nationals
The Scoop: Signed for $2 million in 2011, Meyer is harnessing the power stuff his 6-foot-9, 220-pound frame produces, with a mid-90s fastball and plus slider. He gets plenty of groundouts while also averaging 9.85 strikeouts per nine innings.

Jake Odorizzi, rhp
Team: Triple-A Omaha (Pacific Coast)
Organization: Royals
The Scoop: Part of the Royals' bounty from the Zack Greinke trade, the athletic Odorizzi has become the system's best pitching prospect. Just 22, he was thriving after a promotion to Triple-A, winning his first four decisions with 34 strikeouts in as many innings.

Jameson Taillon, rhp
Team: High Class A Bradenton (Florida State)
Organization: Pirates
The Scoop: The No. 2 overall pick of the 2010 draft has moved slower than the No. 1 pick that year (Bryce Harper). The Pirates remain pleased with the 20-year-old's development, taking the wraps off after limiting him to 75 pitches per start in 2011.

Taijuan Walker, rhp
Team: Double-A Jackson (Southern)
Organization: Mariners
The Scoop: Walker and Danny Hultzen challenge each other weekly in the Jackson rotation, with the former showing bigger velocity and better pure power stuff. He doesn't have Hultzen's feel for pitching, so the 19-year-old's performance has been less consistent.

Zack Wheeler, rhp
Team: Double-A Binghamton (Eastern)
Organization: Mets
The Scoop: It's been a good year for the Mets in the majors, and Wheeler—acquired from the Giants for Carlos Beltran last summer—has exceeded expectations in the minors. He ranks third in the Eastern League in ERA and in strikeouts.

CATCHERS


Travis D'Arnaud, c
Team: Triple-A Las Vegas (Pacific Coast)
Organization: Blue Jays
The Scoop: What happens in Vegas tends to stay in Vegas, including offensive numbers at Cashman Field. But d'Arnaud's offensive track record and power potential, as well as overall athletic ability, make him a good bet to be an offensive big league catcher.

Tommy Joseph, c
Team: Double-A Richmond (Eastern)
Organization: Giants
The Scoop: Joseph turns 21 just after the Futures Game, and his youth has shown at the plate in Double-A. He offers intriguing power potential as well as excellent arm strength, having thrown out 48 percent of opposing basestealers.

INFIELDERS


Nolan Arenado, 3b
Team: Double-A Tulsa (Texas)
Organization: Rockies
The Scoop: Arenado was considered a polished hitter even before being the 2011 Arizona Fall League MVP. The 21-year-old is still coming into his power but has improved defensively and figures to be playing next to Troy Tulowitzki in Denver for a long time.

Nick Castellanos, 3b
Team: Double-A Erie (Eastern)
Organization: Tigers
The Scoop: Castellanos is in a hurry to make Miguel Cabrera move back off third base in Detroit. The 2010 supplemental first-rounder tore up the Florida State League, hitting .405 to earn a promotion to Double-A as a 20-year-old.

Scooter Gennett, 2b
Team: Double-A Huntsville (Southern)
Organization: Brewers
The Scoop: Gennett is almost the opposite of the Brewers' current second sacker, lacking Rickie Weeks' physicality and power but showing feel for hitting and a short stroke. He's a grinder who can hit, with above-average speed and just enough defensive chops.

Billy Hamilton, ss
Team: High Class A Bakersfield (California)
Organization: Reds
The Scoop: The fastest player in the minors also ranks as the most exciting. Hamilton's 80 stolen bases in 66 games left him 34 bases ahead of his next-closest competitor. He has work to do defensively, but no one in the game will be more fun to watch.

Manny Machado, ss
Team: Double-A Bowie (Eastern)
Organization: Orioles
The Scoop: The third pick in 2010, Machado has moved more quickly than Jameson Taillon but also is not lighting the world on fire. He is showing solid defense at shortstop and exciting power potential while keeping his head above water as a teen in Double-A.

Mike Olt, 3b
Team: Double-A Frisco (Texas)
Organization: Rangers
The Scoop: With a big league club coming off consecutive pennants, Texas doesn't need a ton of help. But Olt's righthanded power could fit at first base sooner than later, and defensively he's shown he can handle the hot corner or move across the diamond.

Jonathan Singleton, 1b
Team: Double-A Corpus Christi (Texas)
Organization: Astros
The Scoop: Acquired from the Phillies in the Hunter Pence trade, Singleton has moved back to first base from left field. He's showing the power, feel for hitting and plate discipline that made him the centerpiece of the deal for the rebuilding Astros.

Kolten Wong, 2b
Team: Double-A Springfield (Texas)
Organization: Cardinals
The Scoop: At 5-foot-9, 190 pounds, Wong didn't have typical first-rounder size. He has atypical hitting polish, though, to go with athleticism and surprising speed. He has handled a jump from low Class A to Double-A with aplomb.

OUTFIELDERS


Tyler Austin, of
Team: Low Class A Charleston (South Atlantic)
Organization: Yankees
The Scoop: A showcase star early in his high school career, Austin lost some draft stock due to a perceived tough profile as a right/right corner bat. All he's done as a pro is rake while showing the athletic ability to handle right field and first base.

Michael Choice, of
Team: Double-A Midland (Texas)
Organization: Athletics
The Scoop: The A's need power and hope Choice can provide it. His raw juice fits the right-field profile, and he's more prototypical than fellow Texas-Arlington alumnus Hunter Pence. He'll have to make more consistent contact to tap into it.

Anthony Gose, of
Team: Triple-A Las Vegas (Pacific Coast)
Organization: Blue Jays
The Scoop: Gose may not be the fastest guy in the minors, or have the best throwing arm. But the tooled-up center fielder can do a little bit of everything and just needs a bit of polish to keep translating his tools into production.

Wil Myers, of
Team: Triple-A Omaha (Pacific Coast)
Organization: Royals
The Scoop: After a staph infection made 2011 a lost season, Myers made up for lost time in the Arizona Fall League and continued to hit this spring. The next great Royals prospect combines the hitting ability of Eric Hosmer with Mike Moustakas' raw power.

Christian Yelich, of
Team: High Class A Jupiter (Florida State)
Organization: Marlins
The Scoop: From a pure hitting standpoint, Yelich might be the best the minors currently have to offer. He's moved to center field as a pro and provides solid-average power and above-average speed to go with one of the game's prettier swings.

PITCHERS


Lisalberto Bonilla, rhp
Team: Double-A Reading (EL)
Organization: Phillies
The Scoop: Bonilla's career took off after the Phillies moved him into the Lakewood rotation in 2011. Back in the pen, he hasn't forgotten what he learned starting. He has jumped to Double-A, where he's striking out 12-plus batters per nine innings.

Edwar Cabrera, lhp
Team: Double-A Tulsa (Texas)
Organization: Rockies
The Scoop: Cabrera dethroned Matt Moore as the minors' strikeout king last year. This year he has shown that his excellent changeup and feel for pitching are just as capable of fooling Double-A hitters. His 2.97 ERA ranks second-best in the Texas League.

Jose Fernandez, rhp
Team: Low Class A Greensboro (South Atlantic)
Organization: Marlins
The Scoop: An emigree who fled Cuba with his family on a speedboat in 2008, Fernandez's advanced four-pitch mix is all based off of an at-times dominating 95-plus mph fastball. His curveball is a potentially plus pitch as well.

Kyle Lotzkar, rhp
Team: Double-A Pensacola (Southern)
Organization: Reds
The Scoop: The lone Canadian on the Futures Game roster, Lotzkar has bounced back after his previous four seasons were marred by arm injuries. Now healthy, his solid fastball and plus curveball have helped him handle the jump to Double-A with few issues.

Chris Reed, lhp
Team: Double-A Chattanooga (Southern)
Organization: Dodgers
The Scoop: A closer at Stanford, the London-born Reed has shown no problems moving to the rotation as a pro. The Dodgers have been careful with his innings, but he's already earned a promotion to Double-A with a strong first full season.

Felipe Rivero, lhp
Team: Low Class A Bowling Green (Mwl)
Organization: Rays
The Scoop: Rivero has added significant velocity since the Rays signed him, much to the chagrin of Midwest League hitters. Rivero pairs his 93-94 mph fastball with a plus curveball that gives hitters a pair of pitches to worry about at all times.

Julio Rodriguez, rhp
Team: Double-A Reading (Eastern)
Organization: Phillies
The Scoop: Rodriguez was an afterthought on the Philies' prospect-laden Clearwater rotation last year, but he has consistently produced better numbers than more highly regarded arms. Rodriguez's four-pitch mix has worked to the tune of a 2.86 career ERA.

Enny Romero, lhp
Team: High Class A Charlotte (Florida State)
Organization: Rays
The Scoop: Romero is yet another Rays' lefty who can dominate off his fastball when he's throwing strikes. Romero is still working on repeating his delivery consistently, but his stuff is good enough to work out of walk-induced jams.

Bruce Rondon, rhp
Team: High Class A Lakeland (Florida State)
Organization: Tigers
The Scoop: One of the hardest throwers in the minors, Rondon has stretches of control problems, but he has found the strike zone recently. After walking seven in his first seven innings this year, he had walked only two batters in 16 innings since.

Yordano Ventura, rhp
Team: High Class A Wilmington (Carolina)
Organization: Royals
The Scoop: One of the hardest throwers in the Futures Game this year, Ventura can touch 100 mph despite being one of the shortest pitchers in the game. He's at his most effective when he relaxes and throws an easy 94-97 mph fastball.


CATCHERS


Christian Bethancourt, c
Team: Double-A Mississippi (Southern)
Organization: Braves
The Scoop: Bethancourt was one of the Braves' stars of spring training as he showed off a special throwing arm and soft hands behind the plate. He still has work to do as a hitter, however, as he chases too many pitches out of the zone.

Yasmani Grandal, c
Team: Triple-A Tucson (Pacific Coast)
Organization: Padres
The Scoop: A trade pickup in the offseason Mat Latos trade, Grandal gives the Padres a big league-ready catcher who could produce significantly more offense than your average big league catcher. Defensively he's still working on blocking pitches better.


INFIELDERS


Jesus Aguilar, 1b
Team: High Class A Carolina (Carolina)
Organization: Indians
The Scoop: Aguilar has done a lot to prove that his strong 2011 season was a sign of things to come, not a fluke. Aguilar hasn't slowed down in a return to the Carolina League this year. He's hitting more line drives while still providing glimpses of his plus power.

Xander Bogaerts, ss
Team: High Class A Salem (Carolina)
Organization: Red Sox
The Scoop: Scouts differ over whether Bogaerts can stick at shortstop long term, but few question his athleticism or his advanced power potential. Bogaerts has built on his breakout 2011 season by showing improved plate discipline in 2012.

Wilmer Flores, 3b
Team: High Class A St. Lucie (Florida State)
Organization: Mets
The Scoop: Flores is back in the Florida State League for a third season, but he's still young for the league as a 20-year-old. The move from shortstop to third has coincided with his best season offensively—he's only one home run away from a career high.

Francisco Lindor, ss
Team: Low Class A Lake County (Midwest)
Organization: Indians
The Scoop: A first-round pick in 2011, Lindor has been the star in Lake County since the day he arrived in April. In addition to very solid defense at shortstop, Lindor has shown an advanced feel for hitting in his first full pro season.

Chih-Fang Pan, 2b
Team: Low Class A Burlington (MWL)
Organization: Athletics
The Scoop: A native of Taiwan who carries a .312 career pro batting average, Pan is a potentially plus defender at second base who sprays line drives from foul line to foul line. He doesn't have much pop, but he profiles as a potential leadoff hitter.

Jurickson Profar, ss
Team: Double-A Frisco (Texas)
Organization: Rangers
The Scoop: The best shortstop prospect in the minors, Profar is starring in the Texas League as a teenager. Gifted offensively and defensively, he ranks in the top 10 in the in league in slugging percentage, doubles and triples.

Carlos Sanchez, 3b
Team: High Class A Winston-Salem (Carolina)
Organization: White Sox
The Scoop: A third baseman early in his minor league career, Sanchez has shown this year he can also handle second base and shortstop while producing the best offensive numbers of his still very young pro career.

Jean Segura, ss/2b
Team: Double-A Arkansas (Texas)
Organization: Angels
The Scoop: A hamstring injury ruined Segura's 2011 season, but he's once again shown this year that he can be one of the most disruptive middle infielders in the minors. Segura's 25 steals are second best in the Texas League and he also has extra-base pop.


OUTFIELDERS


Oswaldo Arcia, of
Team: Double-A New Britain (Eastern)
Organization: Twins
The Scoop: Arcia might have made a Futures Game trip in 2011 if not for right elbow surgery. He has shown no ill effects this season, earning a promotion to Double-A and showing the power and polished approach that should make him a future regular.

Jae-Hoon Ha, of
Team: Double-A Tennessee (Southern)
Organization: Cubs
The Scoop: Ha was a catcher when the Cubs signed him, but he has developed into one of the best defensive outfielders in the system. Ha still has to learn to walk a little more as he doesn't have enough power to profile as a slugging outfielder.

Rymer Liriano, of
Team: High Class A Lake Elsinore (California)
Organization: Padres
The Scoop: A lithe outfielder when he signed in 2007, Liriano has grown into a physical right fielder as he has matured. He has the Padres' best set of tools with the potential to be a power hitting right fielder who can also hit for average.

Alfredo Marte, of
Team: Double-A Mobile (Southern)
Organization: Diamondbacks
The Scoop: Scouts often say that power is the last skill to develop. Marte is living proof. With 13 home runs this year, he already had hit four more home runs than he hit in any previous season, while also cutting down on his sometimes high strikeout rate.

Oscar Taveras, of
Team: Double-A Springfield (Texas)
Organization: Cardinals
The Scoop: Taveras flirted with hitting .400 last year in the Midwest League. This year, he's added to his aura by leading the Texas League in batting and ranking second in slugging while playing most of the first half as a 19-year-old.

Which prospects do you believe should have made these rosters but didn't?

For me:

Tyler Skaggs (easily my #1 pick here)
Matt Davidson
Alen Hanson
George Springer
Nick Franklin
Matt Harvey
Gary Sanchez
Mason Williams
Starling Marte

Not really sure why Machado made it. Was the O's rep last year, has been borderline bad this year, and the O's have Bundy going as well. Wish someone other than Bethancourt was the Braves rep

I wish Eddie Rosario would have made it if he didn't get injured, was having a pretty good season. Nice to see Oswaldo Arica there.

when is this game?

koal said:

when is this game?

Click to expand...

July 8th, 5pm EST. ESPN2.

Someone just reminded me of another prospect who should have made it -- Cody Buckel.


EDIT - I'd say Bowman Draft just got a bit better with all these notables on the Rosters. Their patches should look good.

I'd almost forgot about Scooter Gennett. His stats are solid in AA this year, but will there be any room in Milwaukee for him?

I wouldn't want to be a position player on the World Team......that US pitching is insanely stacked.

Jaypers said:

Which prospects do you believe should have made these rosters but didn't?

For me:

Tyler Skaggs (easily my #1 pick here)

Click to expand...

TERRIBLE that he didn't make it........

Where's Springer? Sano?

Sent from my LG-C800 using Sports Cards by Freedom Card Board.com

Sano and Sanchez.

Just announced -- Rob Brantly will replace the injured Travis d'Arnaud on the USA team.

More updates --

RHP Ariel Pena replaces Edwar Cabrera

LHP Tyler Skaggs replaces Trevor Bauer :mrgreen: :mrgreen:

Tyler Austin out of the futures game after getting beaned in the head the other night. No replacement has been named...some kid named Mason would be a good candidate.