MLB Futures Game 2012 Rosters Breakdown | The U.S. Hitters

We’re coming up on mid season across the board and that means that the All Star break is right around the corner. While we love the Mid-Summer Popularity Contest it’s the Futures Game that takes place during All-Star weekend that makes us stop everything we’re doing and watch every pitch. The Game has seen the likes of Jose Reyes, Robinson Cano, Josh Beckett, Starlin Castro, Prince Fielder, Yovani Gallardo, Matt Garza, Gio Gonzalez, Adrian Gonzalez, Zack Greinke, Evan Longoria and the list goes on for days.

Most recently we’ve witnessed Jeremy Hellickson, Brett Lawrie and Jose Altuve take a bow on the national stage before taking MLB by storm. This years class is no less talented than in the past and may have some of the biggest names ever to grace the Futures Game when all is said and done. So we’re going to got through each of the rosters starting with the US and then the World roster. Here was have the US Rosters Hitters.

US - Pitchers; Hitters / World – Pitchers; Hitters

US Team Roster

CATCHERS

Travis d’Arnaud, c
Team: Triple-A Las Vegas (Pacific Coast)
Organization: Blue Jays

Our Instinct – After struggling in 2010, d’Arnaud has been excelling at every aspect of his offensive game. He’s an above average defender as well. So the ridiculous .415 wOBA and .263 IsoP, while enviornment driven in Las Vegas are still elite. He’s a rare two way catcher. He’s hit .333 with 21 doubles and 16 HR while driving in 51 in 270 AB.

UPDATE: d’Arnaud recently tore the PCL in his right knee and will be out 6-8 weeks.

Tommy Joseph, c
Team: Double-A Richmond (Eastern)
Organization: Giants

Our Instinct - Joseph has struggled in 2012. As a power hitting catcher, the .099 IsoP isn’t getting it done. While he’s been unlucky and has a .287 BABIP, his walk rate is still lacking and he needs to bounce back in the 2H or risk what will be considered a lost season of development.

INFIELDERS

Nolan Arenado, 3b
Team: Double-A Tulsa (Texas)
Organization: Rockies

Our Instinct - 21 and in Double-A, Arenado has had some growing pains. His walk rate has regressed some but his K rate remains elite. He has 17 doubles and 7 HR, but his IsoP is down year over year. He will need to settle in, raise the walk rate and get better pitches to drive before he’s ready for Colorado on an everyday basis as their 3B.

Nick Castellanos, 3b
Team: Double-A Erie (Eastern)
Organization: Tigers

Our Instinct - Castellanos hit .403 in the first half in the FSL before forcing the promotion to Double-A. His power should start to show now that he’s left the FSL. While the performance is outstanding, he’s still a year away from being ready to help in Detroit. But he’s proving to be the elite level prospect we thought he would be coming out of High School.

Scooter Gennett, 2b
Team: Double-A Huntsville (Southern)
Organization: Brewers

Our Instinct - Gennett is an undersized 2B who just refuses to stop out-performing his skill set. No matter what level he hits. This year he’s at .297 and that’s after a slow start. While he won’t hit for a lot of power he does have doubles pop and can steal double digit bases while playing above average 2b defense. I still don’t see him as an every day 2b and think he will need to take on some OF as a utility player to make a long term career. But I also believe that he’ll succeed.

Billy Hamilton, ss
Team: high Class A Bakersfield (California)
Organization: Reds

Our Instinct - Hamilton is the story of the season so far. He’s stolen more bases in 2012 so far than any player has in a season since 2003. Except him. He stole 103 last year. So the speed isn’t making me swoon. I knew he was elite on the bases. But his walk rate has jumped to12$+ and his K rate has dropped. In tandem that is serious growth. Tack on a boost in power to .100+ levels and now he has a bat that will keep OF’s true. He’s gone from excellent to elite prospect. Fun to watch play.

Manny Machado, ss
Team: Double-A Bowie (Eastern)
Organization: Orioles

Our Instinct - We though the jump to Double-A was overly aggressive and we were right on the mark. To this point, Machado has struggled to a .253 AVG. But underneath, his walk rate is solid at 10% and his K rate is solid for a kid his age in Double-A. So he’s in an adjustment period. One that could have been avoided had he taken more High-A at bats, but he’ll battle through and should see a bounce back in the 2H. BABIP is a tad unlucky which bodes well for him in the 2H as well.

Mike Olt, 3b
Team: Double-A Frisco (Texas)
Organization: Rangers

Our Instinct -Olt is a 3 outcome hitter. High walk rate. High K rate. Elite power. But right now he’s also hitting above .300 so we might be looking at an elite power bat and one that plays a well above average 3B. His K rate is still something I’m watching closely, as long as he keeps it sub 25% I think he’ll be fine. He’s a top 50 prospect right now.

Jonathan Singleton, 1b
Team: Double-A Corpus Christi (Texas)
Organization: Astros

Our Instinct - Singleton has seen his IsoP spike this year to 1B levels which is something he had been lacking in the past. However, as the power has spiked his AVG has dipped some. Hitting .269 with 13 doubles and 11 HR so far and a bb% of 15%+ which is elite. His ability to hit for AVG had never been in question. It was the power. Now the question is can he hold onto this power and regain the high hit tool? He’s a good 1B defender but will need to hold that power to profile there.

Kolten Wong, 2b
Team: Double-A Springfield (Texas)
Organization: Cardinals

Our Instinct - He’s hitting at a high level as we thought he would. Doubles, Triples, some HR and stealing bases. He’s a complete offensive player, taking walks and striking out at a low rate. He plays an above average 2B and is a hard nosed defender. He’s the 2B of the future for the Cardinals.

OUTFIELDERS

Tyler Austin, of
Team: low Class A Charleston (South Atlantic)
Organization: Yankees

Our Instinct - Austin was our #11 Yankees prospect heading into the season and has taken well to a move to the OF. His power is not a surprise although the .311 IsoP is off the charts almost. He’s walking at a 10%+ clip and K rate is 22%. With 21 doubles, 5 triples and 14 HR the power is across the board. He’s also stolen 15 bases. If you didn’t know who he was before the season. You should now.

Michael Choice, of
Team: Double-A Midland (Texas)
Organization: Athletics

Our Instinct - Elite power numbers from 2011 haven’t been evident in 2012 just yet. His IsoP is at .110 and his walk rate has dropped. He wasn’t projected as a high AVG player but the .260 AVG is making the lack of power unacceptable. He’s on the long tooth side of 22 right now and needs to get it turned around in the 2H. His power is for real and that doesn’t just disappear. Expect that to at least rebound going forward. 15+ HR in the 2H wouldn’t surprise me.

Anthony Gose, of
Team: Triple-A Las Vegas (Pacific Coast)
Organization: Blue Jays

Our Instinct - Gose is very young for Triple-A and is holding his own. The elite speed is there but the 27 SB are certainly behind the 70 he paced in 2011. The power hasn’t advanced this year but the AVG is scraping .300. He’s in a hitter haven called Las Vegas and the high .382 BABIP is certainly helping that AVG. But improvement in his K rate is a very positive sign. He’ll need to get on base to utilize his speed in order to be an above average offensive CF.

Wil Myers, of
Team: Triple-A Omaha (PCL)
Organization: Royals

Our Instinct - The #1 prospect in all of baseball. Myers raked Double-A to unrealistic numbers forcing a promotion to Triple-A. He took the unrealistic production and has bettered it. For the season he’s at .331 with 19 doubles, 4 triples and 24 HR. A .338 IsoP and his .333 BABIP in Triple-A says he’s hasn’t been all that lucky either. The bounce back from an injury plagued 2011 is going to force the Royals hand and he’ll make his debut in the 2H.

Christian Yelich, of
Team: high Class A Jupiter (FSL)
Organization: Marlins

Our Instinct - Coming out of High School, we didn’t question the hit tool. It was where will he play and will he have enough power if he’s relegated to 1B. Well the answer to the power question is yes. He has enough. In the power sapping FSL he’s 2nd in IsoP with a .229. He’s also more than capable of handling CF. While he may shift to LF in time the questions are answered and he’s a much better defender than he was scouted to be going into the draft in 2010.

The US hitters are full of very young talent and the #1 prospect in all of baseball right now. It’s a very deep roster overall and after we take a deeper look at the World Roster we’ll discuss the possible outcomes of the game.

Stick with Baseball Instinct and we’ll keep you a step ahead of the game. Check back soon for more Prospect coverage. While you’re here, check out our Baseball Instinct 360° – it’s our top 360 prospects for 2012. Also check out a friend of ours for all of your fantasy sports needs. Fantasy Rundown is updated religiously and is truly an awesome resource. Thanks for checking Baseball Instinct. We’re working hard to bring you the best of the minor leagues and make the site the best experience it can be, so don’t hesitate to tell us what you would like to read about. Email us now at mailbag@baseballinstinct.com.