The 2016 MLB All-Star Futures Game was one for the ages, featuring Major League quality defense, good baserunning, a couple extremely long home runs and in the end, a close game turned blow out win for the World team, their first victory since 2008.
The U.S. team had outscored the World team 49 to 15 over the past six contests, but on Sunday, it was the international group who scored seven runs in the ninth after taking a one-run lead the inning before.
Taking home the MVP in the game was Yoan Moncada of the Red Sox, who came into the 2016 season ranked the third-best prospect in baseball, according to Baseball America. Against his fellow superstar prospects, Moncada played solid defense at second, hit a single, stole a base and hit a truly massive home run to left that scored Raimel Tapia from first and gave the World team the lead in the top of the eighth.
Signing out of Cuba prior to the 2015 season, Moncada has only played 16 games in AA so far but has compiled a .328/.366/.657 triple-slash average with three doubles, two triples and five home runs in 71 plate appearances. Considering the Red Sox’s already potent offense, however, he is unlikely to break through this year.
There were, however, a few other outstanding performers in the Futures Game that could be coming to a ballpark near you very soon.
Alex Bregman – Houston
Bregman has played both third base and shortstop for Corpus Christi this year and appeared at both positions in the Futures Game, starting at the hot corner, then moving over to replace Dansby Swanson later on. He had the first hit of the game, a triple, in the first, then hit a double in the third and a single in the fourth.
The No. 42 prospect according to Baseball America, Bregman has played only eight games in AAA, but they have been impressive, with a .389/.421/.889 average, five home runs and 14 knocked in. While this kind of play is unsustainable at any level, Bergman has already shown that he is fairly competent at hitting AAA pitching.
Only 22 years old, it wouldn’t hurt Bregman if he stayed in AAA until September. Though the Astros still have Luis Valbuena at third (who’s hitting .269 with 12 homers), an early promotion could be possible. After seeing what Carlos Correa did for them last year, Houston must be antsy to see the difference another talented young hitter in the infield would make.
Clint Frazier – Cleveland
Frazier was the batter who knocked in Bregman after his third-inning double, adding a single and a steal of his own in the fourth. There is good reason he was selected to bat third for the U.S. team as Baseball America’s No. 44 prospect is hitting .287/.369/.483 in his first full season in AA. Each season, he has improved across the board at a new level and he will most likely be promoted to AAA before the month is over.
While a recently promoted AAA player in a small market would generally stay there until the next season, Indians president Chris Antonetti has already stated that Frazier could be a major part of the team this season. Given the Indians situation in the outfield, with questions about whether Lonnie Chisenhall, Tyler Naquin and Rajai Davis can continue their success and no real center fielder, there is a decent chance of that actually happening.
Carson Fulmer – Chicago White Sox
The U.S. team didn’t allow a hit over the first three innings or a run over the first five, but perhaps the most dominant pitcher was a reliever used for the seventh. Normally a starter, Fulmer struck out the first two batters he faced in a perfect inning.
Like Frazier, Fulmer is currently in AA, but has already made 17 starts and while he hasn’t been the best (4.76 ERA), he was good enough to get the attention of the league (9.3 K/9), be selected for the Futures Game and then dominate in it. Seeing as the White Sox are currently grasping at any pitchers who could possibly provide them with innings, it would make sense for them to see what they have in their own system, whether that means someone in AAA making room for Fulmer at the higher level or just Fulmer himself.
Manuel Margot – San Diego
Playing in his future home ballpark, Margot had a pretty special day. He robbed a home run, hit a single, then walked in a run in the seven-run ninth, later scoring on an Eloy Jimenez three-run home run. Margot was acquired by the Padres this offseason as part of the Craig Kimbrel trade and at the moment, they have to believe they made the right decision.
Currently in AAA El Paso, Margot is hitting .299/.349./422 with 14 doubles, eight triples and 23 steals. Margot has played almost exclusively in center field in his minor league career and having seen him roam center in one of the biggest outfields in baseball, the Padres should feel confident he can continue to do so at a high level once he reaches the majors. This was a showcase of sorts for Margot, playing in front of the home crowd, and he certainly made the most of it.
Eloy Jimenez – Chicago Cubs
Jimenez doesn’t fit the format of this article, since the A-level outfielder probably won’t even sniff the Cubs lineup for two to three years. (However, he’s batting .332 with an .899 OPS, 29 doubles, 10 homersm 58 RBI and six stolen bases.) But Jimenez deserves a special note after what he did in the Futures Game. Particularly this:
Besides that catch, however, Jimenez came into the game as the replacement right fielder in the sixth and immediately doubled, scoring Margot, then scored himself on a Ronald Guzman single. In his second at-bat, Jimenez hit a three-run home run that ended any chances the U.S. team had of coming back in the bottom of the ninth. In a game full of great defense and big home runs, Jimenez arguably had the best of both.
