2010 MLB Futures Game: Beyond Tomorrow

2010 MLB Futures Game

The Futures game will be played today July 11, 2010 at 6pm EST and can be seen on MLB.tv and ESPN2 (HD). The Futures Rosters have fast become a look into the future of the Major League Baseball with future stars like Alfonso Soriano, Jose Reyes, Hanley Ramirez and many, many others.

As recently as last season we got our first glimpses of Brian Matusz, Jason Heyward and Starlin Castro, who have all become household names for their respective teams in 2010.

Who are the names to watch on the 2010 rosters? Who will make a big late season splash this year? Who will be the up and coming 2011 Rookie of the Year candidates? Let’s take a look at the rosters and we’ll take it from there:

U.S. Team Roster

Zach Britton has recently been highlighted here on Baseball Instinct Orioles Chin Music and is very close to major league ready. He should be a lefty workhorse for the back of a young O’s rotation in 2011.

World Team Roster

The World Hitters

I’m not really sure why Yonder Alonso, a player who grew up in Miami is on the World Roster, but Alonso was born in Cuba. He’s blocked by Reds 1B Joey Votto right now and he’s not hitting near enough to make the Reds think about testing Votto’s athletic ability in LF. I like Yonder Alonso long term and I think he’ll hit at a very high level  in time. But if he stays in Cincinnati it will have to be at 1B. With the Reds in contention I think Alonso finds himself attached to a trade by the deadline. This is the showcase.

Brett Lawrie is only 20 years old and handling Double A like a veteran. He’s doing it all. A power/speed combo that is going to push Rickie Weeks out of Milwaukee inside of 2 years.

Alex Liddi is a 3B for the Mariners and proving that 2009 was not a fluke or a complete product of High Desert. He isn’t going to hit for elite power like he showed last year, but he’s going to be able to develop into a solid option at 3B.

Chun-Hsiu Chen is a C prospect recently highlighted in our Midwest League Breakdown. Check it out for more info.

Hak-Ju Lee is a SS prospect for the Cubs that has been highly touted. A good fielder and speedy for his size. He has shown little power and I’m not sure if he’s the elite prospect many make him out to be. Still just 19, he has time to develop the power and become a 20/20 type in the middle infield.

Francisco Peguero is a a speedster in the Giants system, but has not shown the contact skills needed to utilize his one true plus tool. He’ll be a solid OF in the majors but projects as a 4th OF in my opinion.

Carlos Peguero has long been touted as an elite power prospect and this year he’s turning the power tool into a true skill. But he’s always struck out a ton and that has not changed in 2010. After opening the season on a tear, he’s gone back to his old ways. Almost a 30% K rate will not cut it at the major league level unless you are walking a ton. Peguero does not. He’ll need to harness the strikezone control he showed in April in order to make that next leap.

Wilkin Ramirez is close to ready for the majors and has already gotten a taste of Detroit. His best tool has always been his power but he lacks true contact potential. Once considered a 20/20 type, his speed has disappeared in 2010. If he can’t utilize the speed I’m not sure he’ll ever stick in the majors as a power only hitter. He doesn’t have any other true skills as as a hitter outside of his power.

Gorkys Hernandez was a top Braves prospect traded for Nate McLouth. Hernandez has yet to show the bat that make him a top prospect for the Braves prior to the trade. He was dependent on his speed and that has become just an average tool since the trade. The Braves usually look pretty good after trading their prospects. They don’t give away the farm and it looks like the Pirates got taken advantage of here as well.

The World Pitchers

Julio Teheran has been on prospect radars for awhile now and he’s still just 19 years old. He has a mid 90s fastball with a solid curveball and above average changeup. This kid has all the making of a #2 starter and could actually add velocity as he matures. He’s one to watch today.

Liam Hendriks is going to be a player that everyone runs out and looks for information on after today. He’s highlighted a few times by Baseball Instinct including out Midwest League Breakdown Report. So yes, we like him. He does everything well and we believe he’ll be a Top 100 prospect by seasons end and maybe already.

Eduardo Sanchez is a Cardinals future reliever. He’s a true dominant strikeout closer type. Small but pumps out mid to high 90s fastballs with a solid slider. Just 21 but already in Triple A. Expect to see him this year in the bullpen in St. Louis.

Jeurys Familia is a 20 year old Mets RHP with a a mid 90s fastball and makings of a good slider and changeup. He gets a good amount of groundballs and might be a year away from being a breakout prospect.

Stolmy Pimentel has one of the best changeups in the Red Sox system and works in the low 90s with his fastball. His strikeout rate has dropped in 2010 but he has rasied his gb%. There is time to get the two to work in tandem and make Pimentel a quality starter with #3 upside.

Henderson Alvarez is another young starter on the World Roster. The 20 year old righty is in High A and continuing to be a groundball machine. He strikes out a fair amount of hitters, but his calling card is his control of 3 pitches. His fastball sits low 90s, but his changeup is a true plus pitch which he compliments with an average slider.

Simon Castro is one of the Padres top pitching prospects and given the time he could be a solid starter. I think we’ll see him before the end of the season if the Padres can hold onto contention in the NL West. Working with smoke and mirrors they’ve been able to do it so far. But their rotation might start to show its true colors. Castro could use the additional time to develop. But could be a dominant reliever as well.

Hector Noesi has been a pleasant surprise for the Yankees and you can check out our Yankees Top 21 for more on him. But he’s  a solid strikeout/groundball pitcher.

So that’s it for our breakdown of the Futures Game Rosters.

Check back with us soon for Breakdowns on some of these players.

And for the breakdowns of the players you’ll be seeing in the Futures Game in 2011, 2012 and 2013.

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