Baseball America’s 2018 Futures Game Coverage

Image credit: Fernando Tatis Jr. (Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON D.C — Hopefully fans sitting in the outfield at Nationals Park brought their gloves. 

The United States team beat the World Team, 10-6, in a power-fueled 2018 Futures Game that filled the heart of  launch angle disciples everywhere with pure joy. The two teams combined to hit eight homers. One of them — Peter Alonso’s 415-foot swat in the seventh inning — produced an exit velocity/launch angle combination never before seen by Statcast since its inception in 2015. 

In other words, the prospects of tomorrow teamed up to deliver a game that looks strikingly similar to the MLB of today. 

The Baseball America crew was in Washington for the weekend taking it all in. Below is our takeaways from the action, as well as plenty of video from another fun Futures Game.  

Home Runs Dominate The Day

None were bigger than Peter Alonso’s blast in the seventh. Read the full recap from the United States’ 10-6 win. 

Power And Whiffs? What’s the Problem? 

J.J. Cooper opines that the 2018 Futures Game was arguably the most exciting one yet. What more could fans have asked for? 

Grading The Top Performers

Among the superlatives dished out by Baseball America staff: Best Player, Best Hitter, Best Pitcher, Best ‘Wow’ Moment and Most Underrated Prospect (for now). 

Trammell Takes Home MVP Honors

Reds fans certainly enjoyed this one. Trammell, who once played in a Florida State League record-setting game that featured 11 homers, hit one of his own and nearly had a second Sunday afternoon. 

Last Call Goes To Touki Toussaint 

Touki Toussaint’s heart dropped. A call from a Braves front office staffer? In mid-July? He braced for the worst — Atlanta was trading him. Instead he got the best news possible, validation on a breakout season via an invitation to this year’s Futures Games. 

Lewis Thorpe’s Long Road Back

Injuries and illness shelved Lewis Thorpe for two years. Now he finds himself healthy and back with the games’ brightest young players. He leads off our 2018 Futures Game notebook. 

Peter Alonso Dazzles At Batting Practice

Perhaps we should have seen Peter Alonso’s performance coming. But the ball wasn’t even jumping out of the park during BP like it has in other years. So much for that. 

Player-By-Player Scouting Reports

Updated player capsules scouting every player in the Futures Game. The United States roster can be found here. The breakdown of the World Team roster is here. 

Prospect Pad 

More than 50 of the game’s brightest prospects stopped by our Prospect Pad on Saturday — an annual Futures Game tradition. Here were some of our conversations. 

Batting Practice Video

The game wasn’t the only showcase for dingers and loud power. Futures Game batting practice often takes on an unofficial home run derby type feel. Saturday was no different. 

2018 High School Home Run Derby

PODCAST

Ben Badler and J.J. Cooper discuss the weekend on the Prospect Podcast.