How The Futures Game Works
Ninth Annual All-Star Futures Game
Site: AT&T Park, San Francisco
Date: July 8, 4 p.m. Eastern
Media Coverage: ESPN2, XM Satellite Radio
Format: United States vs. World, seven innings
Foreign Countries Represented: Australia, Canada, Colombia, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Saudi Arabia, Taiwan, Venezuela
Coaching Staffs
United States
Manager: Dave Winfield
Coaches: Dave Brundage of Triple-A Richmond (Braves), Tony Franklin of Double-A Trenton (Yankees), Frank Kremblas of Triple-A Nashville (Brewers), Don Money of Double-A Huntsville (Brewers) and Todd Steverson of Double-A Midland (Athletics). The pitching coach is Stan Kyles of Nashville.
World
Manager: Juan Marichal
Coaches: Dave Anderson of Double-A Frisco (Rangers), Tim Bogar of Double-A Akron (Indians), Tony DeFrancesco of Triple-A Sacramento (Athletics), Trent Jewett of Triple-A Indianapolis (Pirates) and John Shoemaker of Double-A Jacksonville (Dodgers). The pitching coach is Guy Hansen of Triple-A Richmond (Braves).
All-Star Futures Game: How It Works
For fans watching the Futures Game for the first time, you'll notice the game is a bit different than the major league All-Star Game.
First, the teams are based on where the players are from, rather than which league they play in. This has been the case since the inception of the Futures Game in 1999, and it emphasizes the true international influence on baseball, as the game draws talent from around the globe.
The game will also be seven innings long, regardless of the score. This is done chiefly to make sure that no undue strain is placed on the 10 pitchers selected for the game. The rest of each team's roster is made up of two catchers, five outfielders and eight infielders.
Many fans also wonder whether these are the 50 best prospects in baseball, and how the players are selected for the game. While these are 50 of the best prospects in baseball, not every top prospect can participate, based on various guidelines that are followed in selecting the rosters.
The rosters are selected by Baseball America and Major League Baseball in cooperation with the 30 major league teams. The process begins with the selection of three United States candidates and three World candidates from each major league organization.
Those lists are submitted to each major league club, which accepts or rejects the nominations. Clubs usually suggest alternates if they reject players.
While the only official limitation on the rosters is that players must be in full-season leagues, more advanced players have a better chance of playing in the game. So you'll usually see more players from Double-A and Triple-A levels in the game than you will from the Class A level.
Once the nominations are complete, the process of putting together the two 25-man rosters begins. This is like putting together a puzzle, as BA and MLB have to fill the position requirements for each roster, while making sure to represent every organization—but not selecting more than two players from any organization—and as many nations as is practical.
When the rosters are finally set, teams are notified and invitations are sent out to the 50 players. Then the real hard part begins: From the time the 50 original selections are made to the time the first pitch is thrown out, some of the original 50 will be promoted to the big leagues and others will be injured. It happens every year, to varying degrees.
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PrintNinth Annual All-Star Futures Game
Site: AT&T Park, San Francisco
Date: July 8, 4 p.m. Eastern
Media Coverage: ESPN2, XM Satellite Radio
Format: United States vs. World, seven innings
Foreign Countries Represented: Australia, Canada, Colombia, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Saudi Arabia, Taiwan, Venezuela
Coaching Staffs
United States
Manager: Dave Winfield
Coaches: Dave Brundage of Triple-A Richmond (Braves), Tony Franklin of Double-A Trenton (Yankees), Frank Kremblas of Triple-A Nashville (Brewers), Don Money of Double-A Huntsville (Brewers) and Todd Steverson of Double-A Midland (Athletics). The pitching coach is Stan Kyles of Nashville.
World
Manager: Juan Marichal
Coaches: Dave Anderson of Double-A Frisco (Rangers), Tim Bogar of Double-A Akron (Indians), Tony DeFrancesco of Triple-A Sacramento (Athletics), Trent Jewett of Triple-A Indianapolis (Pirates) and John Shoemaker of Double-A Jacksonville (Dodgers). The pitching coach is Guy Hansen of Triple-A Richmond (Braves).
All-Star Futures Game: How It Works
For fans watching the Futures Game for the first time, you'll notice the game is a bit different than the major league All-Star Game.
First, the teams are based on where the players are from, rather than which league they play in. This has been the case since the inception of the Futures Game in 1999, and it emphasizes the true international influence on baseball, as the game draws talent from around the globe.
The game will also be seven innings long, regardless of the score. This is done chiefly to make sure that no undue strain is placed on the 10 pitchers selected for the game. The rest of each team's roster is made up of two catchers, five outfielders and eight infielders.
Many fans also wonder whether these are the 50 best prospects in baseball, and how the players are selected for the game. While these are 50 of the best prospects in baseball, not every top prospect can participate, based on various guidelines that are followed in selecting the rosters.
The rosters are selected by Baseball America and Major League Baseball in cooperation with the 30 major league teams. The process begins with the selection of three United States candidates and three World candidates from each major league organization.
Those lists are submitted to each major league club, which accepts or rejects the nominations. Clubs usually suggest alternates if they reject players.
While the only official limitation on the rosters is that players must be in full-season leagues, more advanced players have a better chance of playing in the game. So you'll usually see more players from Double-A and Triple-A levels in the game than you will from the Class A level.
Once the nominations are complete, the process of putting together the two 25-man rosters begins. This is like putting together a puzzle, as BA and MLB have to fill the position requirements for each roster, while making sure to represent every organization—but not selecting more than two players from any organization—and as many nations as is practical.
When the rosters are finally set, teams are notified and invitations are sent out to the 50 players. Then the real hard part begins: From the time the 50 original selections are made to the time the first pitch is thrown out, some of the original 50 will be promoted to the big leagues and others will be injured. It happens every year, to varying degrees.
| Futures Game Results | |||
| Year | Site | Score | MVP |
| 1999 | Boston | World 7, U.S. 0 | Alfonso Soriano, Yankees |
| 2000 | Atlanta | U.S. 3, World 2 | Sean Burroughs, Padres |
| 2001 | Seattle | U.S. 5, World 1 | Toby Hall, Devil Rays |
| 2002 | Milwaukee | World 5, U.S. 1 | Jose Reyes, Mets |
| 2004 | Chicago | U.S. 3, World 2 | Grady Sizemore, Indians |
| 2005 | Houston | U.S. 4, World 3 | Aaron Hill, Blue Jays |
| 2005 | Detroit | World 4, U.S. 0 | Justin Huber, Royals |
| 2006 | Pittsburgh | U.S. 8, World 5 | Billy Butler, Royals |
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