Sunday represented the 2014 Sirius/XM MLB Futures Games, the 16th annual edition of this game and easily the best part of All-Star Week festivities each summer. Baseball America selects the 25-man rosters and divides them into two teams, the US team with prospects born in the United States, and the World team, comprised of players born outside the country. Each organization must be represented with at least one prospect, and teams are extremely accommodating in allowing their best prospects to participate in the game.
The setup of this event typically favors the pitchers, as they pitch 1 inning or less and thus often only throw their best pitches and try to outdo each other with the highest readings on the radar gun. Nevertheless, this light-hearted exhibition gives scouts and prospect-nerds like myself a one-of-a-kind opportunity to watch the top pitching and hitting prospects compete against one another. In a well-played contest, the US team defeated the World team 3-2 in the 16th edition of this contest. These are some of my scouting notes on the top arms in this year’s game.
Lucas Giolito RHP Washington Nationals
Lucas Giolito
Giolito was not his sharpest on Sunday in his 2/3 innings of work, struggling with the consistency of his delivery and looking rather nervous in front of the large crowd and television audience. Giolito could not command his 94-96mph fastball and lacked the feel for his 79-83mph curveball, hanging one to Javier Baez that he hit for a 2-run home run. Finally, Giolito did show a quality 82mph changeup with good arm action and movement. Even on a poor day for Giolito he showed three solid pitches and appeared to belong against some of the best prospects in baseball.
Hunter Harvey RHP Baltimore Orioles
Harvey entered for the US team in the 4th inning, and much like Giolito, he struggled a bit with his delivery and did not appear to ever get completely comfortable on the mound. Harvey has an excellent, projectable pitcher’s body and showed a solid 91-94mph fastball that he located to the outside of the plate well, in addition to a quality 75-79mph curveball, and an 81-82mph changeup that needs development. Harvey needs to continue to refine his delivery as he slows his momentum during the middle of his motion, but the repertoire and body are simply outstanding and Harvey projects as a strong #2 or #3 starter in a few seasons.
Alex Meyer RHP Minnesota Twins
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Meyer is a large man with many moving parts in his motion, which will contribute to a higher than average walk rate in the future, but his strike out ability and outstanding repertoire should allow him to be a starter in the majors.
Robert Stephenson RHP Cincinnati Reds
After hearing the Baseball Prospectus gentleman mentioned him as a potential future Ace at their DC event last month, Stephenson was appointment television Sunday afternoon. A thick, well-built athlete, I was immediately impressed by the sheer physicality of this 21-year-old Cincinnati prospect.
Stephenson only needed 11 pitches to complete his inning of work, and he showed why he is one of the top pitching prospects in baseball with 95-98mph fastball with late life, a true hammer 82mph curveball, and a firm 88mph changeup with good sink. Stephenson still needs some polish to refine his delivery, but the raw stuff and physicality portend a future as a top-of-the-rotation starter if everything comes together. This is a monster prospect who deserves more attention.
Julio Urias LHP Los Angeles Dodgers
Still only 17-years-old, Urias became the youngest ever participant in the Futures Game Sunday, needing only 14 pitches to retire the side in the 5th inning. Urias featured a 92-95mph fastball which he located to both sides of the plate, along with a sweeping 11-5 79-81mph wipeout slider, and a noteworthy 82mph changeup with natural fading action.
The same age as many rising high school seniors, Urias still has a babyface, but his skills are far more mature than virtually any teenage pitcher in recent memory. Currently more than holding his own at High-A, Urias could reach the major leagues late in 2015 before his 19th birthday. He does not possess an Ace-caliber repertoire, but Urias should have a long career as a quality mid-rotation starting pitcher.