2019 MLB Futures Game Breakdown: The AL Hitters
With first pitch of the annual Futures Game right around the corner, here’s a look at the young studs who will look to make an impression on the national stage. The list is replete with familiar names, but also a few folks who likely flew under many radars until now. Read on for a primer on these exciting stars of tomorrow.
CATCHERS
Ronaldo Hernandez, C, Tampa Bay Rays A+
11/11/97 Arm: 65 Power: 60
BA #46 MLB #80. TB BA #5 MLB #7
C BA #3 MLB #5
Ronaldo Hernandez was originally an infielder from Columbia who signed with the Tampa Bay Rays in 2014. After signing with the Rays he has shifted his focus to catching almost immediately and has been playing the position since 2015. In 2018 he made his full season debut and hit 21 home runs in 109 games at Low A. This year at High A, Ronaldo hasn’t hit for as much power (5 HR) as last year, and he hasn’t drawn many walks (9 walks in 56 games), but Hernandez has a great arm behind the plate and should hit for enough power to be a difference maker. If he can improve his overall hit tool, defense, and on base skills, he could be a very special player in a few years.
Sam Huff, C, Texas Rangers A+
1/14/98 Arm: 60 Power: 55 Fielding: 50
Sam Huff was drafted in the 7th round by the Texas Rangers in 2016. As a high schooler in Arizona he led the state in home runs his senior year. Huff has plenty of power but needs to refine many other parts of his game like his hitting as he is ultra aggressive and has plenty of swing and miss (31 percent strikeout rate in 2018, and this year he has 84 strikeouts and just 14 walks this year and is striking out at a rate of 30 percent). Huff will need to work hard to stick behind the plate but he has a high ceiling player who produces exit velocities that rival Joey Gallo when he was a prospect. There is definitely plenty of excitement when you think about a player who might be able to stick behind the plate with that type of exit velocity. This year he has hit .296/.341/.592 with 21 home runs and 5 stolen bases in 75 games played between Low A and High A.
Jake Rogers, C, Detroit Tigers AAA
4/18/95. Field: 70 Arm: 65 Power: 50
Jake Rogers was originally drafted by the Houston Astros but got traded to the Detroit Tigers as part of deal for Justin Verlander. Thought to be the top defensive catcher in the 2016 draft class, he has not disappointed. Last year at AA he threw out 56 percent of base stealers, and he is considered by plenty of scouts and executives as perhaps the best defensive catcher in the minors. Rogers works hard studying hitters and does a great job working with his pitching staff. Jake Rogers was the catcher who caught Casey Mize in his AA debut in which he threw a no-hitter. He has a good chance to make it to the majors by the end of the year
FIRST BASEMAN
Evan White, 1B, Seattle Mariners AA
4/26/96 Field: 70 Run: 60 Hit: 55 Arm: 55
SEA BA #5 MLB #5 1B BA #6 MLB #2
Evan White was drafted in the first round by the Seattle Mariners in 2017. In his first full season he hit .303/.375/.458 at High A Modesto and this year he has hit even better. Through 54 games at AA Arkansas he has hit .313/.373/.505 with 10 home runs. He is an outstanding fielder who scouts feel is capable of winning a gold glove as a first baseman but is athletic enough to be a solid defensive outfielder due to his plus speed. He has a good chance to make it to the majors sometime within the next year and he shows the ability to hit to all fields and has started to shown the ability to drive the ball more frequently this year.
SECOND BASEMAN
#1 Nick Madrigal, 2B, Chicago White Sox AA
3/5/97 Hit: 60 Run: 60 Field: 60 Arm: 50
BA #53 MLB #39. CHW BA #4 MLB #4
2B BA #3 MLB #4
Nick Madrigal was considered to be the best hitter in the 2018 draft class. Since his time being drafted he has hit .305/.366/.379 and he has 37 stolen bases in 115 games, even more impressive is in 433 career at bats he has only struck out 12 times. Madrigal has hit .393 since being promoted to AA in early June. He is a strong fielder as well and a great team player. In 2018 he helped Oregon State in winning the College World Series and hit .361 throughout his illustrious college career at Oregon State.
#2 Isan Diaz, 2B, Miami Marlins AAA
5/27/96 Hit: 50 Power: 50 Run: 50 Field: 50 Arm: 50
MIA BA #8 MLB #6. 2B BA #8 MLB #8
Isan Diaz was originally drafted by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the 2nd Round in 2014. Diaz was traded to the Milwaukee Brewers as part of the deal that sent Jean Segura to the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2016. In January 2018, he was traded to the Miami Marlins as part of the deal that sent Christian Yelich to the Milwaukee Brewers. While in the minors he was named the MVP of the Rookie-Level Pioneer League in 2015, and in 2016 he led the Low A Midwest League in Homeruns (20). He struggled over the next few seasons hitting only .227 between Hi A, AA, and AAA. This year however, he has looked more like the player he was in 2015 and 2016 as he has hit .298/.391/.564 with 18 home runs through 79 games. He has a good chance to make it to the majors at some point this season.
SHORTSTOPS
WANDER FRANCO, SS, Tampa Bay Rays A+
3/1/01. Hi: 70 Power: 65 Run: 55 Field: 55 Arm: 55
BA #1 MLB #1. TB BA #1 MLB #1
SS BA #1 MLB #1
If you haven’t heard the name Wander Franco by now… you soon will. Wander Franco is the top prospect in major league baseball, and he is the youngest player at this year’s futures game, making him a superstar and one of the most highly touted young prospects to participate in the Futures Game. He was the top international in 2017 and has not disappointed. He reminds many scouts and higher ups of Vladimir Guerrero Jr. at this age due to his offensive ability, but he is definitely athletic enough to stick at shortstop. He also happens to have two brothers named Wander Franco, and his uncle is former All-Star Erick Aybar. Wander Franco should be the #1 prospect to watch over the next few years, and he could possibly make it to the majors at some point next year even though he would only be 19.
ROYCE LEWIS, SS, Minnesota Twins A+
6/5/99 Run: 65 Hit: 60 Power: 55 Field: 55 Arm: 55
BA #10 MLB #7 MIN BA #1 MLB #1
SS BA #4 MLB #2
Royce Lewis was selected with the first overall pick in the 2017 MLB Draft by the Minnesota Twins. I’ve been fortunate enough to watch Royce Lewis come through my area as a player for the Under Armour All-America team and for the Cedar Rapids Kernels. There’s a lot to like with Royce as he has five tools that are above average and he has worked hard to stay at shortstop. The only concern is his offensive struggles at High A Fort Myers where in 122 games at that level he has hit .241/.297/.369
with 11 home runs and 19 stolen bases. While the numbers aren’t great for a first overall pick at that level. The Minnesota Twins still feel confident in his overall ability and that he has performed well enough to participate in the Futures game. There is a good possibility that if he performs well at the Futures Game and if he can have a solid second half of the season he might be able to make it to AA by the end of the year, who knows maybe a change of scenery might do him some good.
Jorge Mateo, SS, Oakland Athletics AAA
6/23/95 Run: 80 Arm: 60 Field: 55 Hit: 50
OAK BA #7 MLB #8
Jorge Mateo was originally signed by the New York Yankees in 2012. He was traded to the Oakland Athletics in 2017 as part of the trade that sent Sonny Gray to the New York Yankees. He has blazing speed which has allowed him to average almost 68 stolen bases per 162 games throughout his minor league career, and in 2017 after he was traded to the Athletics he hit .292/.333/.518 while playing for AA Midland. In 2018 after being promoted to AAA Nashville he struggled at the plate hitting .230/.280/.353. This year however he has come out firing hitting .310/.342/.540 with 13 home runs and 17 stolen bases looking like the player who was once considered the best prospect in the New York Yankees system. He has a good chance to make it to the majors at some point this year.
THIRD BASEMAN
Nolan Jones, 3B, Cleveland Indians A+
5/7/98 Power: 60 Arm: 60 Hit: 55 Field: 50
BA #68 MLB #43. CLE BA #2 MLB #2
3B BA #6 MLB #5
Nolan Jones was a second round pick of the Cleveland Indians in 2016 and could have gone higher had it not been for signability concerns. In 2017 the Indians started him in the New York-Penn League and he led that league with a .912 OPS. In 2018 he finished third in the Midwest League in OPS (.858). Jones has an advanced approach and isn’t afraid to draw walks either as evidenced by the fact that he is the High A Carolina League walks leader and is 2nd in the league in both OBP (.440) and OPS (.860). He has excellent plus raw power and should be able to tap into it more as he develops. He is considered to be the Cleveland Indians best position player according to both MLB Pipeline and Baseball America.
Isaac Paredes, 3B, Detroit Tigers AA
2/18/99 Hit: 60 Arm: 55 Power: 50 Field: 50
BA #99 MLB #83. DET BA #3 MLB #4
3B BA #9 MLB #7
Isaac Paredes was signed by the Chicago Cubs out of Mexico in 2015. In 2017 he was traded to the Detroit Tigers as part of the deal that sent the Cubs Alex Avila and Justin Wilson. In 2018, his first full season in the Detroit Tigers system he made the Florida State League All-Star team and made it up to AA, where he hit .321/.406/.458 over 39 games at the age of 19. This year he has moved over from shortstop to third base and despite modest numbers (.259/.349/.373) he is up near the top of the leaderboard in many offensive categories for his AA team and is still very young for that level. He is the Detroit Tigers best position player prospect in the minors.
OUTFIELDERS
Jo Adell, OF, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim AA
4/8/99 Power: 65 Run: 60 Arm: 60 Hit: 55 Field: 55
BA #2 MLB #4. LAA BA #1 MLB #1
OF BA #1 MLB #1
Jo Adell has had an incredible start to his career through 128 games in full season leagues he’s hit 27 Home Runs and Stolen 21 Bases to go along with a .308 average. Even better he has shown he can hit at the upper levels this year hitting .405/.478/.722 at AA in 22 games since returning from injuries. He is only 20 years old but is showing that he’s almost ready for the majors as he already is one of the best prospects in the game and is making a solid case to be considered the #1 prospect in baseball. He is the Angels top prospect and the best outfield prospect in the minors according to Baseball America and mlbpipeline.
Luis Robert, OF, Chicago White Sox AA
8/3/97. Run: 65 Power: 60 Field: 60 Arm: 60 Hit: 55
BA #15 MLB #5. CHW BA #1 MLB #1
OF BA #4 MLB #2
Luis Robert was one of the top international signs in 2017 and was the second highest signing ever. He struggled to stay healthy in 2018 but was still able to showcase his talent in the Arizona Fall League and showed some of the best tools there. In 2019 he has managed to stay healthy and has had one of the best seasons this year hitting .357/.409/.636 with 15 home runs and 22 stolen bases through 68 games split between High A and AA and is one of the most exciting players in the minors. He is the White Sox top prospect according to Baseball America and MLB Pipeline.
Jarred Kelenic, OF, Seattle Mariners A+
7/16/99 Hit: 60 Arm: 60 Power: 55 Run: 55 Field: 50
BA #25 MLB #24. SEA BA #1 MLB #1
OF BA #6 MLB #7
Jarred Kelenic was the 6th overall pick of the New York Mets in 2018. This past off-season Kelenic was traded to the Seattle Mariners as part of the trade that sent Robinson Cano and Edwin Diaz to the New York Mets. Kelenic has always been considered one of the best young players from his class and he was the first high school player drafted last year. Through his first 125 games in the minors he has hit .284/.364/.501 with 19 home runs and 26 stolen bases. At the end of May he got promoted from Low A West Virginia to High A Modesto. Jarred Kelenic is the Seattle Mariners top prospect according to both Baseball America and MLB Pipeline.
Jarren Duran, OF, Boston Red Sox AA
9/5/96. Run: 70 Hit: 60 Power: 50 Field: 50
BA #93 MLB #NR. BOS BA #2. MLB #9
Jarren Duran was a 7th round pick of the Boston Red Sox out of Long Beach State in 2018. Known for having outstanding speed he has been able to hit for power this year putting up a slash line of .387/.456/.543 at High A before being promoted to AA in June. Through 141 games as a pro he has hit .345 and stolen 46 bases, he is considered to be the best outfield prospect in the Red Sox system and has been one of the fastest risers. His outstanding speed and hitting ability should perform well at the top of almost any major league lineup.
Daniel Johnson, OF, Cleveland Indians AAA
7/11/95. Arm: 70 Run: 60 Field: 55 Power:50
In 2016 for New Mexico State Daniel Johnson led the Western Athletic Conference in batting (.382), homeruns (12), and steals (29) on his way to becoming the fifth round pick of the Washington Nationals. In his first full season in 2017 he hit 22 home runs and stole 22 bases showcasing his talents once again, but in 2018 he struggled while dealing with a broken hamate bone and was dealt to the Indians as part of the deal that sent Yan Gomes to the Nationals. This year through 70 games between AA and AAA he has hit .264/.353/.513 with 13 home runs and 10 stolen bases showing that he still could be a future 20-20 hitter. There is a good chance he could be playing in the majors by the end of the year.
