The 2024 Futures Game was on Saturday, July 13, at Globe Life Park in Arlington. The game featured many Top 100 prospects, including Dylan Crews, Samuel Basallo, Max Clark, and Xavier Isaac. Full Futures Game rosters are listed here.
Game Summary
For the second consecutive season, pitching reigned supreme for the National League, leading them to a decisive 6-1 win. The NL opened the scoring when game MVP Cam Collier (CIN) hit a solo HR off Caden Dana to open the third inning. They tacked on three runs in the top of the fourth as White Sox left-hander Noah Schultz struggled with his command.
Cam Collier CRUSHED
The @Reds' No. 3 prospect (MLB No. 84) gives the NL a 1-0 lead with this 409-foot dinger. pic.twitter.com/KVdnAHMdLa
— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) July 13, 2024
Termarr Johnson (PIT) and Bryce Eldridge (SFG) had opposite-field singles off Schultz, and Padres’ top prospect Ethan Salas followed with an infield single to load the bases. Schultz then walked Druw Jones (ARZ) to make it 2-0. Following a strikeout of Collier, Schultz hit the Phillies’ Aidan Miller to bring in the second run of the inning. AJ Blubaugh (HOU) replaced Schultz. He allowed a Drake Baldwin (ATL) RBI sac-fly and got Colson Montgomery (CHW) to line out to end the inning.
The AL Futures got their lone run in the fourth inning when Guardians’ Jaison Chourio ripped an RBI single up the middle off Thomas White (MIA). White, too, struggled with his command, walking three hitters in the inning, including Spencer Jones (NYY), who scored the run. White got two outs but departed mid-inning with the bases loaded. Robby Snelling (SDP) relieved White and got Cole Young to fly to center, ending the threat.
The National League padded their lead with a Drake Baldwin solo HR in the sixth and a Deyvison De Los Santos (ARI) RBI groundout in the seventh. AL starter and Rangers’ prospect Emiliano Teodo tossed two perfect innings with one strikeout, using just 14 pitches to earn six outs.
This is the fifth season where the NL and AL have squared off in this format, with the NL holding a 3-1-1 record. Before 2019, the Futures game was Team USA vs. The World.
Hitter Spotlight
Kyle Teel (BOS): Teel was the lone player with multiple hits in the game. In the fifth, he drove a Rhett Lowder changeup to the left-centerfield gap, narrowly avoiding the reach of Druw Jones. In the bottom of the seventh, Teel doubled again, fighting off a 98-mph fastball on the inner half down the left field into the corner off Pirates’ RHP Bubba Chandler. Teel is performing well in his first pro season, hitting .298 with eight homers and six steals at Double-A Portland. There is an outside chance that Teel could debut in the big leagues this season.
Drake Baldwin (ATL): I knew very little about Drake Baldwin when he stepped to the plate in the Futures Game. He was a third-round pick in 2022 and was recently promoted to Triple-A Gwinnett. He is batting .265 on the season, adding 10 homers across two levels. Baldwin had an RBI sacrifice fly in the fourth inning and followed it up with a solo HR in the sixth. His home run, off Fernando Perez (TOR), left the bat at 107.3 mph and traveled 411 feet over the fence in left-center.
Druw Jones (ARI): Although he was hitless in the game, Jones had to feel good about his performance. The 20-year-old and former No. 2 overall pick drew three walks in the game and scored a run. Jones has battled injuries since being drafted and is finally putting together a solid season at Class-A Visalia. After a slow start, Jones has raised his season average to .275 with five homers and nine steals.
Xavier Isaac (TBR): Isaac was one of the players I was most excited to see in this game, but he finished 0-for-4 with two strikeouts. In his first at-bat, Isaac was overpowered by Noble Meyer (MIA). Meyer pumped two fastballs by Isaac and finished him with a 94-mph fastball at the knees for a called third strike. In the fifth inning, Reds pitcher Rhett Lowder got ahead of Isaac with two fastballs up in the zone. On a 1-2 pitch, Lowder snapped off a filthy slider that Isaac couldn’t touch. Despite the 0-for-4, Isaac has dominated High-A, where he’s batting .286 with 14 homers and 13 steals.
Pitcher Spotlight
Luis Morales (OAK): Morales was the most impressive pitcher of the day despite not completing his lone inning of work. Morales’ fastball sat in the upper 90s with outstanding carry that played well up in the zone. His slider was devastating and made Deyvison De Los Santos look silly when he struck him out. Morales’ other strikeout was a 97-mph fastball that blew past Dodgers’ INF Jeral Perez.
Luis Morales brings the heat 🔥
The @Athletics top pitching prospect collects two strikeouts in the #FuturesGame as his fastball touched 99 mph: pic.twitter.com/2EJOT6re9B
— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) July 13, 2024
Chase Dollander (COL): Dollander was the NL starter opposite Emiliano Teodo. He threw eight of 16 pitches for strikes and struggled with his fastball command. He worked around a one-out single by Cole Young (SEA) and a four-pitch walk to Samuel Basallo (BAL) to finish a scoreless inning. The ninth overall pick in 2023 has dominated High-A this season, pitching to a 2.83 ERA with 111 strikeouts in 70 IP.
Brandon Sproat (NYM): The Mets have two fascinating SP prospects, 20-year-old Jonah Tong and 2023 second-round pick Brandon Sproat. Sproat threw a scoreless inning for the NL, showcasing a high-velocity fastball that reached 99 mph four times. His lone baserunner was Sebastian Walcott (TEX) who reached on a fielding error. Walcott was quickly erased when Basallo grounded into a 6-4-3 double play to end the inning.
Quinn Mathews (STL): Mathews is one of the fastest risers this season among starting pitchers. His elite command (25 BB in 85 IP) and deceptive delivery have made him impossible to hit early in 2024. Mathews punched out two hitters in his lone inning, freezing Ralphy Velazquez (CLE) on a slider and blowing a 95-mph fastball by Luke Keaschall (MIN). Mathews continues to shine and should be headed to Triple-A soon.
Bubba Chandler (PIT): The Pirates’ wealth of young starting pitching continues with 21-year-old Bubba Chandler. Chandler was formerly a two-way player and now is one of the most exciting pitching prospects in the game. The 6’2″ right-hander flashed an upper-90s fastball, upper-80s slider, and a low-90s changeup with incredible arm-side run. He closed out the victory for the NL, striking out one and allowing one hit. Chandler has a 3.53 ERA on the year with 77 strikeouts to 22 walks.
News and Notes
- Several Texas Rangers alumni served as managers and coaches for the game. The AL manager was Hall of Fame 3B Adrián Béltre, while the NL was managed by seven-time All-Star Michael Young.
- In the moment that shocked me the most, MVP Cam Collier seemed unphased by the presence of the man giving him the award: Hall of Famer and baseball icon Ken Griffey Jr.
- Top prospects Max Clark (DET) and Druw Jones (ARI) were mic’d up for the game on MLB Network. Clark was a star, showing off his personality and entertaining viewers for the duration of the broadcast. Clark is an exciting prospect and has star power written all over him.
- Guardians catcher Ralphy Velazquez and Giants first baseman Bryce Eldridge were most impressive during the “batting practice HR derby.” According to reports, Eldridge hit four consecutive HRs and Velazquez hit nine total homers during their sessions.