The MLB Futures Game is an annual event that provides a unique opportunity for player evaluators from all 30 MLB front offices to scout the top talent. This year's game, taking place at Citizens Bank Park, features a National League versus American League format, with former Phillies outfielder Shane Victorino managing the NL team and former Phillies manager Larry Bowa leading the AL club. Among the top hitters to watch are Jesús Made, Eli Willits, Franklin Arias, and more. These players offer a fascinating insight into the future of MLB, and their performance at the Futures Game can provide valuable information for scouts and analysts.
Personally, I think the Futures Game is an incredible opportunity to see these young players in action. It's not just about their statistics, but also about their personalities, baseball IQ, and how they interact with each other. What makes this particularly fascinating is the ability to compare top prospects on the same field and in the same game, which can make ranking them easier. Scouts and analysts can learn so much about these players by watching them during the game and their pregame work.
One of the most exciting prospects is Jesús Made, a 19-year-old shortstop for the Milwaukee Brewers. Made is a five-tool, quick-twitch athlete with an elite hit tool, special hand-eye coordination, and plate discipline. He has already reached Double A with Biloxi in the Southern League, and his performance there has been impressive, hitting for power and average, getting on base at a good clip, and stealing plenty of bases. Made's raw power and innate internal clock make him a special talent, and his plus defense at shortstop with quick feet and above-average range to both sides only adds to his appeal.
Another player to watch is Eli Willits, an 18-year-old shortstop for the Washington Nationals. Willits was the youngest player ever taken with the No. 1 pick in MLB Draft history, and his ceiling is high. This season, he has played at two levels of A ball and has excelled at both, hitting for average, getting on base at a better than .400 clip, stealing bases at a high rate, and reaching double digits in home runs. Willits' hit tool is among the best in the 2025 draft class, and his performance at the Futures Game could further solidify his status as a future superstar.
Josue De Paula, an 21-year-old outfielder for the Los Angeles Dodgers, is also a player to watch. De Paula won the Futures Game MVP award last year, and his performance this year with Double-A Tulsa in the Texas League has been as good as advertised. He's hitting well over .300 with a better than .400 OBP and 15 home runs through Monday, and he's even been an efficient base-stealer despite not having elite speed. De Paula's offensive skills are impressive, and his best position is designated hitter, which is Shohei Ohtani's home with L.A. However, he's working to improve his defense with the hope that he can at least become adequate enough to play left field.
Leo De Vries, a 19-year-old shortstop for the Athletics, is another player to watch. Like Made, De Vries is a switch-hitter with as much raw power from the left side as he has from the right, and his bat speed and exit velocity from both sides of the plate are impressive. Defensively, he has above-average range to both sides, soft hands, and plus arm strength. De Vries' performance at the Futures Game could further solidify his status as one of the sport's top prospects.
Franklin Arias, a 20-year-old second baseman/shortstop for the Boston Red Sox, is an absolute hitting machine. Through Monday, he was hitting .329/.418/.606 with 17 homers. Arias has a tremendous eye at the plate, works counts extremely well, and doesn't chase out of the strike zone. His bat-to-ball skills are off the charts, and he has a clean, line-drive swing with good barrel manipulation. Arias' performance at the Futures Game could further solidify his status as a future star.
Walker Jenkins, a 21-year-old center fielder for the Minnesota Twins, is a player to watch despite his injury history. When healthy, Jenkins has hit for average and gotten on base at a nearly 40 percent rate, while also showing his speed on the bases. Jenkins' best tool is his hit tool, which is special with elite strike zone knowledge and plate coverage. His raw power is better than his in-game power right now, and he has the physical presence that stops you in your tracks. Jenkins' performance at the Futures Game could further solidify his status as a future star.
Charlie Condon, a 23-year-old first baseman/right fielder for the Colorado Rockies, is another player to watch. Condon was the third player taken in the 2024 draft, and his performance this season with Triple-A Albuquerque in the Pacific Coast League has been impressive. He's playing in a hitter's league and an extremely hitter-friendly home park, but the underlying data is also promising, as he's improved his walk and strikeout rates and has a max exit velocity of 112.6 mph and a 90th percentile EV of 107 mph. Condon's raw power is even more impressive than his in-game power, and one can imagine how many long balls he'll hit once he's fully developed and playing half his games at Coors Field.
Mike Sirota, a 23-year-old outfielder for the Los Angeles Dodgers, is a five-tool player who doesn't chase out of the strike zone, draws walks, and does serious damage to pitches he knows he can hammer. He can catch up to high velocity in all parts of the strike zone, handles breaking balls and changeups, and has the ability to stay back on the ball. Sirota's performance at the Futures Game could further solidify his status as a future center fielder with good reads, jumps, and routes.
Rainiel Rodriguez, a 19-year-old catcher for the St. Louis Cardinals, is the best catching prospect in the sport. He started the year in High A, where he slashed .311/.430/.519 before a promotion to the Double-A Texas League. The jump in competition hasn't phased him, as he's put up above-average numbers even after a slow start. Rodriguez has 25-home run power, makes advanced swing decisions, and his exit velocities give you goosebumps. His performance at the Futures Game could further solidify his status as a future star.
Theo Gillen, a 20-year-old outfielder for the Tampa Bay Rays, is the Rays' top prospect. He started this year in High A and slashed .342/.449/.589 with 12 homers and 28 stolen bases before a recent promotion to Double A. Gillen has a short, compact swing and solid plate discipline. He also has lightning quick hands and uses the whole field, spraying line drives from foul pole to foul pole. Gillen's performance at the Futures Game could further solidify his status as the long-term answer for the Rays in center field.
