The Futures Game rosters have been released, and there is plenty of star power on the rosters, but there are also some names that were left off.
The World roster is loaded with infield talent, but injuries might prevent some from participating. Carlos Correa is out for the year with an ankle injury, and Francisco Lindor took a bad hop off the face on Wednesday afternoon, so there may be opportunities for another player to take the roster spot. With the roster already featuring a teenage phenom in Julio Urias, so it would make sense for them to add the 18 year old Raul Mondesi to the team.
Mondesi is not having a very good year in Wilmington so far this season, but he has the type of speed that could really shine in a showcase event like the futures game, so even if he just pinch runs, he would be fun to watch.
On the mound in showcase games, it is always fun to see someone that can really light up the radar gun and strike out batters with ease, so Jon Gray should have made the USA roster. Both his fastball and slider are in the conversation, if not front-runners, for the best in baseball, and he has struck out 68 batters in 74 innings this year.
The Milwaukee Brewers farm system is not very impressive, but it does have some talent worth keeping an eye on in the lower minors. Jorge Lopez is slated to be the clubs lone participant, and he has put up respectable numbers in High-A this season, but their catcher in Low-A, Clint Coulter, should have made the roster too. He has 12 home runs this year to go with a .291 average, and he has a really strong arm.
There will always be “snubs” when it comes to a showcase event like the Futures Game, but one thing is for sure, it will be must watch TV.