By David Brown
The presentation of the Futures Game has never quite matched the inspired concept.
Getting the best almost-ready prospects from across the league into one game, dividing the players into a "U.S. against the World" competition, was a great idea by league exec Jimmie Lee Solomon.
A year ago, if you had attended at Busch Stadium in St. Louis or tuned your TV or satellite radio properly, you could have watched the likes of Jason Heyward, Mike Stanton, Carlos Santana, Neftali Feliz, Pedro Alvarez and Mat Latos.
Before they were stars!
IF you had tuned in, that is. But you probably didn't tune in because MLB starts the game on a Sunday afternoon before the All-Star break when, as we all know, the first half of the season is going on. And the stupid celebrity softball game seems to get as much pub.
Regardless, if I'm a Braves fan in 2009, I'm going to watch — you know — the BRAVES on Sunday afternoon, even at the expense of teen Jason Heyward.
This season, if I am a Royals fan (Do they really exist?), I am going to watch the R-R-R ... OK, maybe I tune in for Mike Moustakas, who was among the 25 players named to the U.S roster today. But they're the exception!
Until the schedulers air the Futures Game in prime time, with no actual major league games competing for attention, it will remain one of the best-kept secrets in baseball.
In order to whet your appetite for the future, here are the five top of the top prospects for whom to watch (if you happen to watch):
U.S. ROSTER
• Moustakas 3B: (.355/.421/.704 at Class AA) Just this guy's last name has "future star" written all over it. Standing 5-foot-11, weighing 230 pounds, KC's third baseman of soon would give the Royals one of the best young corner combos (with Billy Butler) in the majors. He's batting .422 with runners in scoring position. Say it with me: "Mooooooose!"
• Domonic Brown OF: (.317/.389/.585 at Class AA) Lanky, speedy and exceedingly polite, he's probably ready to replace Raul Ibañez — or Jayson Werth — if the Phillies need him.
• Jeremy Hellickson RHP: (2.33 ERA, 90 K, .234 BA against at Class AAA) The Rays' ace of tomorrow averages a strikeout per inning with great control. The Yankees and Red Sox want no part of him.
WORLD ROSTER
• Julio Teheran RHP: (1.26 ERA, 94K in 78 1/3 IP at Class A) A native of Colombia with an Iranian-sounding last name, he is having a breakthrough season for the Braves at age 19. Second-youngest player on either roster, after Los Angels Angels outfielder Mike Trout.
• Carlos Peguero OF (.301/.388/.531 in Class AA) The Mariners could use this guy in the lineup right now. I'm getting a Ruben Sierra feel from Peguero, a 6-foot-5 left-handed batter who is from Hondo Valle (Hondo? Are you KIDDING?) in the Dominican. He's got 28 extra-base hits in 256 at-bats after finishing with 66 XBHs (including 14 triples) a year ago. He's lowering his strikeout rate (had 172 last year) but he's struggling against LHP. Facially, he looks like Albert Pujols. Just turned 23.
The presentation of the Futures Game has never quite matched the inspired concept.
Getting the best almost-ready prospects from across the league into one game, dividing the players into a "U.S. against the World" competition, was a great idea by league exec Jimmie Lee Solomon.
A year ago, if you had attended at Busch Stadium in St. Louis or tuned your TV or satellite radio properly, you could have watched the likes of Jason Heyward, Mike Stanton, Carlos Santana, Neftali Feliz, Pedro Alvarez and Mat Latos.
Before they were stars!
IF you had tuned in, that is. But you probably didn't tune in because MLB starts the game on a Sunday afternoon before the All-Star break when, as we all know, the first half of the season is going on. And the stupid celebrity softball game seems to get as much pub.
Regardless, if I'm a Braves fan in 2009, I'm going to watch — you know — the BRAVES on Sunday afternoon, even at the expense of teen Jason Heyward.
This season, if I am a Royals fan (Do they really exist?), I am going to watch the R-R-R ... OK, maybe I tune in for Mike Moustakas, who was among the 25 players named to the U.S roster today. But they're the exception!
Until the schedulers air the Futures Game in prime time, with no actual major league games competing for attention, it will remain one of the best-kept secrets in baseball.
In order to whet your appetite for the future, here are the five top of the top prospects for whom to watch (if you happen to watch):
U.S. ROSTER
• Moustakas 3B: (.355/.421/.704 at Class AA) Just this guy's last name has "future star" written all over it. Standing 5-foot-11, weighing 230 pounds, KC's third baseman of soon would give the Royals one of the best young corner combos (with Billy Butler) in the majors. He's batting .422 with runners in scoring position. Say it with me: "Mooooooose!"
• Domonic Brown OF: (.317/.389/.585 at Class AA) Lanky, speedy and exceedingly polite, he's probably ready to replace Raul Ibañez — or Jayson Werth — if the Phillies need him.
• Jeremy Hellickson RHP: (2.33 ERA, 90 K, .234 BA against at Class AAA) The Rays' ace of tomorrow averages a strikeout per inning with great control. The Yankees and Red Sox want no part of him.
WORLD ROSTER
• Julio Teheran RHP: (1.26 ERA, 94K in 78 1/3 IP at Class A) A native of Colombia with an Iranian-sounding last name, he is having a breakthrough season for the Braves at age 19. Second-youngest player on either roster, after Los Angels Angels outfielder Mike Trout.
• Carlos Peguero OF (.301/.388/.531 in Class AA) The Mariners could use this guy in the lineup right now. I'm getting a Ruben Sierra feel from Peguero, a 6-foot-5 left-handed batter who is from Hondo Valle (Hondo? Are you KIDDING?) in the Dominican. He's got 28 extra-base hits in 256 at-bats after finishing with 66 XBHs (including 14 triples) a year ago. He's lowering his strikeout rate (had 172 last year) but he's struggling against LHP. Facially, he looks like Albert Pujols. Just turned 23.
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