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2025 Futures Game: Recap, Standouts, Takeaways for Dynasty Managers

Hotlanta hosted the Futures Game with some blazing outings.

Jacob Milham
Dynasty 7/17/2025

The 2025 All-Star break is not much of a break for many players around the league. Thankfully for many prospects, the time and events are front-loaded into the break, and Atlanta’s much ado was no exception. The game’s brightest selected prospect stars were on full display on Saturday, July 12, in another MLB All-Star Futures Game iteration. While injuries or availability kept some prospects off their respective leagues’ rosters, fans will rarely see 30 of MLB’s Top 100 prospects in the same game. Los Angeles Dodgers top prospect Josue De Paula was the game’s star, hitting a three-run home run and powering a 4-2 victory for the National League.

This year’s edition featured ambidextrous pitching history from Seattle Mariners prospect Jurrangelo Cijntje, a perfect inning by New York Mets pitcher Jonah Tong, a dynamic day from New York Yankees shortstop prospect George Lombard Jr., and a productive outing from Chicago Cubs outfield prospect Owen Caissie. Below, we recap the game’s key moments and standout performances that fantasy baseball dynasty managers shouldn’t overlook.

 

Konnor Griffin’s injury scare

The Pittsburgh Pirates do not have much going for them, but shortstop Konnor Griffin has been a glimmer of hope on the farm. MLB’s 13th-best prospect started the game at his natural position and plugged in second in the NL’s lineup. While he had an infield single, his day, according to the box score, was largely forgettable with a soft ground out to start his day and being caught stealing after that infield single. The worrisome moment came in the fourth inning, when Griffin left the game after being hit by a pitch. He took a 97 MPH sinker from Houston Astros pitcher Alimber Santa to the hand, flinging his bat back to the dugout, holding his forearm, and moving down to first base.

 

Thankfully, Griffin is “reportedly fine” following the incident, which is a welcome update to what could have been a moment overhanging the entire game. The 19-year-old is one of those examples of why teams draft prep shortstops. Only 19 years old, Griffin is slashing .327/.400/.521 with 13 home runs, 53 RBI, and 41 stolen bases in 75 games this season, now with the High-A Greensboro Grasshoppers. Pittsburgh drafted the Mississippi native ninth overall in the 2024 MLB Draft, and the surface-level results have been strong so far. There are a few apparent reasons Pittsburgh should be slow rolling Griffin’s promotion outlook, with a legitimate shot that he should be in Double-A before the season ends. While his making a MLB debut in 2026 seems aggressive or the best case scenario, it isn’t a massive stretch either. An injury would have derailed that, which makes avoiding such an outcome on Saturday even more valuable.

 

Cijntje proves a one-sided future.

Jurrangelo Cijntje may not be Seattle’s top prospect, but he is undoubtedly the prospect fans and managers love to talk about the most. There have been a few times when players like him have come along and been able to work effectively as a switch pitcher, and Saturday’s outing was no exception. Cijntje worked the second inning for the American League, allowing one hit and fanning two batters. He was the first switch pitcher in Futures Game history, retiring Jesús Made on an 85.5 mph breaker and Joe Mack on a fastball from the right side. The numbers notably differ for Cijntje when he switches sides, especially the fastball velocity. He touched 98.7 MPH as a rigthy but maxed out at 92.9 MPH as a southpaw. He was still effective and retired the only batter he faced as a lefty, but the stuff drops off notably when he switches sides. Cijntje’s arsenal looks projectable as a starter from the right side, but not so much from the left. Would the Mariners be wiser to push him to a traditional starter, abandoning the lefty profile? I believe so, if they want the 22-year-old in The Show sooner rather than later.

Cijntje is a good pitcher no matter what hand he uses, but his MLB outlook has to be as a righty first. There is not a standout pitch that works best from the left in his arsenal, and the game-level results show Cijntje has enough to work on as it is. He has a 4.95 ERA across 13 starts for the High-A Everett AquaSox, striking out 63 but walking 34 across 56.1 innings pitched this season. The Mississippi State product has some other physical concerns, but he is certainly one of the most unique starters in baseball today and will always enrapture fans as such.

 

The Futures Game isn’t kind to Noah Schultz 

Much like the Pirates, the Chicago White Sox don’t have much to hang their hats on in 2025. The farm system and some younger players already seeing MLB action are hopeful building blocks for the franchise turning things around after a historic decline. Their top prospect in left-handed pitcher Noah Schultz has to be a part of that picture, but his 2025 season has not been the strong stepping stone many fans and prospect evaluators hoped for. The 26th overall pick back in 2022 has had notable season-over-season improvements, ones that took him to consideration for the game’s top lefty pitching prospect following the 2024 season. But a monstrous 11.91 ERA and 33.3% HR/FB rate in Triple-A are just two marks that are not only career worst but more indicative of his steps back in 2025. His inability to contain the long ball came back to bit him on Saturday, earning the loss after De Paula hit that three-run shot off of him in the fourth inning. People can certainly chock this up as an exhibition game, noting of import, but it is another poor Futures Game performance for Schultz in as many years and unfortunately put his issues on full display.

 

Lazaro Montes still isn’t overmatched

I never root against a player, but I continue wondering when some players will hit the wall so we can see how they respond. It is a mental test for players, showing how they react or adjust if things suddenly do not go their way. Teams and leaderhsip in the dugout will usually trust the process over the results, so players need to do the same if they want solid MLB careers. One player that I have been wondering when he will stumble is Mariners outfielder Lazaro Montes. The 20-year-old has a crazy career .285/.407/.541 line, a reasonable strike-to-walk ratio, and power to dream on. He only had one trip to the plate in the Futures Game, but worked a six-pitch walk after fouling off two fastballs high and in on his hands. Sure, Washington Nationals pitcher Alex Clemmey is hardly the highest tier of competition for Montes, but the at bat was solid and showed Montes’ process. The former international free agent already has a career-high 23 home runs and .315 ISO across High-A and Double-A in 82 games this year. The 20-year-old doesn’t need to move to Triple-A this season for it to be a success, but if he handles Double-A for July and into August, a promotion might be worth a shot.

 

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