2080 Baseball takes a look at the 2017 SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game, eight participants who could help their big league club in the second half (including Ryan McMahon, pictured), plus notes and video on more!
This week, I profile three prospects from the Short-Season A Connecticut Tigers in the NY-Penn League: RF Reynaldo Rivera, RHRP Wladimir Pinto, and C Joey Morgan.
Four New York Yankees highlight this week’s crop of 20 big league debuts, with one player’s debut ending in particularly heartbreaking fashion.
Dalton Kelly (1B, Rays, 38th Rd., 2015) and Mike O’Reilly (RHP, Cardinals, 27th Rd., 2016) are two recent low-round picks making names for themselves this year, while Jay Groome (LHP, Red Sox) looks to get back on track after an extended D.L. stint.
Cardinals center fielder Harrison Bader and right-hander and Luke Weaver are showing signs of big league readiness, while right-hander Chance Adams from the Yankees continues his rapid rise through the minors.
Braves RHSP Touki Toussaint’s stuff has regressed this year, while LHRP Alex Minter has the look of a future bullpen piece for Atlanta – if he can stay healthy. 3B Austin Riley and CF/RF Ray-Patrick Didder round out my views of the Braves’ High A affiliate.
High A Tampa Yankees prospects Dillon Tate (RHP), Jorge Mateo (SS), and Nick Solak (2B) are profiled after I followed their recent Florida State League series versus the Florida Fire Frogs (Braves).
Mark Zagunis gets the call to the Cubs to fill in for struggling World Series hero Kyle Schwarber, and Franklin Barreto (SS, Athletics) continues the recent parade of A’s call-ups with a solid 2-for-5 debut on June 24. Oh, and FIFTEEN other players debuted last week!
Tigers 2016 first-rounder Matt Manning gets off to a hot start in Short-Season A ball, Justus Sheffield (LHP, Yankees) has solid back-to-back outings for the Trenton Thunder, and a couple of 2017 draft picks break out of the gate strongly in their pro debuts.
I take a look at Tyler Wade (INF/OF, Yankees), who is embracing the super-utility role in Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, and also profile the Dodgers’ Alex Verdugo (OF) and Willie Calhoun (2B) out in the PCL.
