This past Sunday Major League Baseball presented the 2015 MLB Futures Game, the 17th edition of this exhibition contest and easily the most enjoyable part of the All-Star Game festivities each year. Baseball America selects the 25-man rosters for both the US Team and the World Team: as the name might suggest the US Team is comprised of players born in the United States and the World Team of players born outside the country. Each organization must have at least one representative in attendance and teams are generally extremely accommodating in sending their top prospects to participate in this event.

The setup of this game often favors the pitchers, as they typically only pitch 1 inning and thus only throw their best pitches trying to outdo one other. Nonetheless this game gives scouts and prospect-nerds a unique opportunity to watch the top pitching and hitting prospects compete against one another. Somewhat unusual for a prospect showcase, the US Team manufactured an offensive explosion in the middle innings on their way to a 10-1 victory over the World Team. These are my observations from this year’s Futures Game.

Lucas Giolito RHP Washington Nationals

The starting pitcher for the US Team despite being the youngest pitcher on the roster, this honor was bestowed on Giolito because of his current status as the top pitching prospect in baseball. And Giolito did little to disappoint Sunday, pitching 2 innings while allowing two meek hits against one strikeout over his 20 pitches and six batters faced. Giolito flashed all three of his pitches in this outing, showing his 96-98mph fastball which he commanded to the inside half of the plate, along with his devastating mid-80s curveball and impressive high-70s changeup. He was obviously eager to make an impression as a few of his first offerings sailed high and out of the strike zone, but this is a minor quibble with an otherwise excellent performance.

The Nationals have been taking their time with Giolito in his development through the minors, but his recent success and this impressive outing could force them to promote him before the end of the summer. Giolito still needs minor league refinement, but if he can stay healthy, he has a chance to be a true top-of-the-rotation pitcher perhaps as soon as late 2016.

Trea Turner SS Washington Nationals

Entering the game as a replacement for Phillies prospect J.P. Crawford, Turner immediately made an impact, ripping a double to left field in the sixth inning and hitting a stand-up triple to center in the eighth. Offensively Turner was able to flash all of his tools in these two at-bats, including his top-of-the-scale speed, above-average hit tool and surprising power from a middle infielder.

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Zach Davies RHP Baltimore Orioles

The Orioles lone representative in this contest, Davies entered the game for the US Team in the Top of the 8th and flashed a solid 89-90mph fastball with excellent command along with a devastating plus changeup. Unfortunately Davies only threw 10 pitches against the 3 batters he faced, allowing an infield single against a strikeout and a routine groundout to third base. Despite the brief appearance, I was extremely impressed with the way Davies attacked opposing hitters with his fastball and the quality of his changeup. In a farm system relatively shallow especially at the upper levels, Davies is a prospect who should receive more attention as a future backend major league starter.

Additional Scouting Notes

Chicago Cubs catching prospect Kyle Schwarber has long been known as a terrific hitter but most scouts have questioned whether his defensive skills would improve enough to be a major league quality catcher. Early in the game I was impressed with his ability to handle the elite velocity from Giolito, along with flashing a 2.00 second pop time in throwing out Ketel Marte in the 1st inning. He did look a little lazy on a passed ball in the 3rd inning off Amir Garrett, although one could argue it was a mix-up of the signals with an unfamiliar hurler. Nonetheless, Schwarber looked better and quieter defensively, showing he has made improvements thus far in 2015. Oh and he also ripped a triple to drive in two runs in the 3rd inning in route to winning the MVP award for this year’s game.

Speaking of Cincinnati’s Amir Garrett, he quickly caught my attention entering the game in the 3rd inning and flashing 93-95mph velocity from the left side. As a representative of the host city, it was obvious Garrett was pumped up to impress the fans, which hurt his command and caused him to allow three hits and a run on this outing. However, as a raw former collegiate basketball player, Garrett has the athleticism to repeat his delivery and a strong repertoire. He needs innings and experience on the mound, but this is a prospect that could blow up in the next 12-24 months, if he has not done so already.

Chicago White Sox RHP Francellis Montas appears to have won the award for largest velocity, hitting 102mph on the stadium radar gun multiple times in his appearance. He struggles with his command and with his changeup, but his velocity and solid slider could make him a future closer.

Finally Kansas City SS Raul Mondesi showed off his incredible speed, stealing an infield hit off third baseman Richie Shaffer in the 8th inning by running a 4.00 second time home to first – for the non-scouts, this is an easy “7” or double plus time. Still only 19-years-old Mondesi is holding his own at Double-A this season and projects to be a future above-average two-way shortstop in the major leagues.