2014 Futures Game Thread

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2014 Futures GameThe Yankees don’t wrap up the traditional first half with the series finale against the Orioles until later tonight, so this afternoon we can all focus on the 2014 Futures Game in Target Field. Usually the Futures Game conflicts with the Yankees. This is sorta nice.

For the first time since 2010 (Austin Romine and Hector Noesi), the Yankees had two farmhands selected for the Futures Game this year. RHP Luis Severino is on the World Team roster while C/1B Peter O’Brien will suit up for Team USA. Neither is starting, but Severino is scheduled to pitch the fourth inning and O’Brien will definitely get into the game at some point. Everyone plays, even if it’s only one at-bat.

Team USA has won the last four Futures Games and they lead the all-time series 9-6. A total of 115 players have appeared in both a Futures Game and an MLB All-Star Game at some point, plus 22 players from last year’s Futures Game have already gone on to play in the big leagues. I would be surprised if O’Brien and especially Severino make it MLB within the next 12 months, however. The full rosters can be seen right here. Here are the starting lineups.

World Team (Manager: Bert Blyleven)

  1. CF Dalton Pompey, Blue Jays
  2. SS Francisco Lindor, Indians
  3. 2B Jose Peraza, Braves
  4. 1B Kennys Vargas, Twins
  5. LF Steven Moya, Tigers
  6. RF Dariel Alvarez, Orioles
  7. DH Gabby Guerrero, Mariners
  8. 3B Renato Nunez, Athletics
  9. C Jorge Alfaro, Rangers
    RHP Jose Berrios, Twins (pitching order)

Team USA (Manager: Tom Kelly)

  1. CF Michael Taylor, Nationals
  2. 2B Sean Coyle, Red Sox
  3. SS Corey Seager, Dodgers
  4. 3B Kris Bryant, Cubs
  5. DH Joey Gallo, Rangers
  6. 1B D.J. Peterson, Mariners
  7. LF Jesse Winker, Reds
  8. RF Hunter Renfroe, Padres
  9. C Kevin Plawecki, Mets
    LHP Henry Owens, Red Sox (pitching order)

It’s nice and sunny in Minneapolis with no rain in the forecast. Wonderful day for baseball. First pitch is scheduled for 5pm ET and you’ll be able to watch live on MLB Network or via the live stream below. Enjoy the game.

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Peter O’Brien, Luis Severino to represent Yankees at Future Game

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Catcher/outfielder Peter O’Brien and righty Luis Severino will represent the Yankees at the Futures Game next month, MLB announced. I thought they would take Aaron Judge over O’Brien, but nope. The game will be played at Target Field on July 13th, the Sunday before the All-Star Game. The full Team USA and World Team rosters are right here.

O’Brien, 23, is hitting .266/.308/.602 (~149 wOBA) with 25 homers in 292 plate appearances split between High-A Tampa and Double-A Trenton this year. He has spent his time at catcher, first base, and right field, and could play any of those positions in the Futures Game. The 20-year-old Severino has a 2.99 ERA (~2.60 FIP) with 78 strikeouts and only 16 walks in 72.1 innings at mostly Tampa this season. Congrats to both.

Hot .GIF Action: Rafael DePaula

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Right-hander Rafael DePaula has emerged as the Yankees top pitching prospect in his first stateside season, and on Sunday afternoon he threw a scoreless inning for the World Team in the 2013 Futures Game. He struck out the first batter he faced — Twins OF Byron Buxton, the consensus top prospect in all the land — with a 94 mph fastball on the outside corner, as you can see above.

DePaula, 22, allowed a soft line drive single up the middle on a 94 mph fastball to Cardinals 2B Kolten Wong, and he also hit Astros OF George Springer with a 79 mph breaking ball that didn’t break. He threw ten of 16 pitches for strikes, including two swings and misses. He even threw a (not good) changeup. A few more .GIFs after the jump.

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2013 Futures Game Open Thread

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Tired of watching the same old boring Major League players day after day? You’re in luck, because the 2013 Futures Game is being played this afternoon in CitiField. Just one Yankees prospect was selected to game, and that’s RHP Rafael DePaula. He’s scheduled to throw the fifth inning for the World Team. The full rosters are right here: World and Team USA. The game will be broadcast on ESPN2 at 2pm ET. Talk about the game here.

Rafael DePaula to represent Yankees at 2013 Futures Game

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RHP Rafael DePaula will represent the Yankees at the 2013 Futures Game during All-Star Weekend next month. He is the team’s only prospect named to the event, however OF Tyler Austin is part of the fan vote for the final roster spot. Click the link and give him some support. Here are the full rosters: World Team and Team USA.

DePaula, 22, has pitched to a 2.73 ERA (~2.03 FIP) in 69.1 innings this year, almost all for Low-A Charleston. His 102 strikeouts (13.2 K/9 and 37.0 K%) are the third most in the minor leagues, but he has thrown significantly fewer innings than the two guys ahead of him. The Yankees originally signed DePaula for $500k back in November 2010, but he was unable to come stateside until this year due to lengthy visa issues. At this point he is pretty clearly the best pitching prospect in the organization.

2012 Futures Game Thread

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The Homerun Derby and All-Star Game have gotten a little blah over the years, but the Futures Game remains exciting and the best way to see all of baseball’s best prospects in one place. I unofficially count 21 players from last year’s game who have since made their big league debuts, including 2012 All-Stars Mike Trout, Bryce Harper, and Jose Altuve. Someone from this year’s game will be an All-Star next year, it’s almost guaranteed.

Unfortunately, outfielder Tyler Austin suffered a concussion when he was hit in the head by a pitch earlier this week and has since been placed on the High-A DL. Not only will he not participate in the game, but the Yankees won’t even have a representative because Austin’s injury happened on such short notice. Needless to say, that is a major disappointment and this game will have little appeal to the Yankees faithful. Feel free to use this thread to talk about the game anyway, it’s still a blast to watch. Here are the lineups…

USA Team (roster)
SS Billy Hamilton (Reds)
2B Kolten Wong (Cardinals)
RF Wil Myers (Royals)
2B Mike Olt (Rangers)
1B Jonathan Singleton (Astros)
LF Michael Choice (Athletics)
DH Nick Castellanos (Tigers)
C Tommy Joseph (Giants)
CF Anthony Gose (Blue Jays)

RHP Jake Odorizzi (Royals)

World Team (roster)
2B Jean Segura (Angels)
SS Jurickson Profar (Rangers)
RF Oscar Taveras (Cardinals)
LF Alfredo Marte (Diamondbacks)
DH Xander Bogaerts (Red Sox)
3B Wilmer Flores (Mets)
1B Jesus Aguilar (Indians)
CF Jae-Hoon Ha (Cubs)
C Christian Bethancourt (Braves)

RHP Yordano Ventura (Royals)

The game will begin a little after 5pm ET and can be seen on ESPN2 and ESPN3.com. Enjoy.

Tyler Austin out of Futures Game

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Via Keith Law, outfielder Tyler Austin will not participate in the Futures Game this Sunday. He was hit in the head by a pitch earlier this week and as not played since, though a CT scan came back clean and he has not been placed on the DL. There’s no word on his replacement and it’s entirely possible he will not be replaced on such short notice. Austin was the Yankees only representative and it would be incredibly lame if they had no one there, especially since Mason Williams plays the same position and was born in the same country. Get it done, MLB.