2025 MLB Futures Game Prospects
July 14, 2025
Author: 3-1Count.com
2025 Futures Game Prospects
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The Futures Game is always one of my favorite games to watch each season. It’s a great way to catch a look at the MLB’s brightest prospects. And you know the players love the experience of being selected and participating in a game with the best and brightest stars of tomorrow! This year I took notes during the game and crafted a brief write up on the participants. Hope you enjoy!
Max Clark DET led off the game, a legit exciting top of the order bat. Clark is contact oriented with plus speed and extra base pop. He uses a mild to moderate leg kick for timing and weight shift. To start the game Clark faced JR Ritchie of the Braves. Clark showed off his advanced approach early, taking a first pitch fastball 96 just above the zone in the process of working a 7 pitch walk. He then stole 2nd without a pitch even being thrown to CJ Kayfus. Clark broke and made it to 2nd before Ritchie could turn and get his throw there. Clark’s 2nd AB showed more of what we can expect as he hustled out an infield single. We are likely looking at a Jun / Jul 2026 arrival in Detroit and Clark putting down roots in CF and at the top of the Tigers lineup.
Braden Montgomery CWS swing was compared to Carlos Gonzales when he was drafted. A switch hitter, Montgomery’s career has started with a slow roll as he was recovering from a significant leg injury last season. His first AB in the Futures Game was also against Ritchie, who started him off with 2 breaking balls. The first a called strike and then Montgomery swung over the top on the 2nd. Ritchie then painted 97mp on the inside corner to freeze Montgomery on a called strike 3. All in all Montgomery’s Future Game AB’s weren’t particularly impressive and that probably sums up his season when factoring in age and experience to the High A level. Regardless though, this is a high ceiling player that is likely to be a quality everyday big leaguer at a minimum.
CJ Kayfus CLE is a patient hitter, carrying 12%+ walk rates through his minor league career. Kayfus showed this approach throughout the Futures Game, working counts and drawing a walk off of Thomas White in his 2nd AB. Kayfus will likely hit at the major league level the question is will he do enough damage to warrant a full-time role, either at at first base or a corner OF position?
Jhostynxon Garcia BOS stands close to the plate and swings with the intent of doing damage. It’s a fairly long swing, and I’m curious to see how well he can handle big league heat. Garcia struck out in both of his Futures Game AB’s and there’s likely reason for concern that his K rate could climb further against big league pitching.
JR Ritchie ATL sat 96-97 on his fastball and showed solid movement on the breaking pitches. In his one inning of Futures Game work both Max Clark and Jhostynxon Garcia worked the count against Ritchie. This drove his pitch count up to 19 yet he allowed no hits and one walk while striking out 2 in the first. Given the Braves success at developing pitchers and Ritchie’s proximity we should see him in Atlanta early-ish next season. It’s also possible (unlikely) the Braves could call Ritchie up this season given their rotation woes.
JJ Wetherholt STL was recently promoted to AAA and is now seeing time at 2B, SS, and 3B. This defensive flexibility should give the Cardinals ample options to bring Wetherholt up in early 2026. In his first at bat during the Futures Game Wetherholt took one to the opposite field for a double off of the LF wall. This came against a very good LHP in Parker Messick. I have had good live looks at Wetherholt as he came through AA this year and 100% believe we are looking at a high end major league hitter. The approach is good, the swing is tight and the ball jumps nicely off his bat.
Konnor Griffin PIT had a great spring training for the Pirates and has kept it going all season while moving levels in the minors. He’s electric on the field, just oozing with explosive athleticism. At 6’4 and 225 it’s easy to forget that Griffin is still just 19 years old. In most any other organization I would tell you we are looking at a 2026 big league debut but with the Pirates this is less likely. Through 75 games this year (across A and High A) Griffin is sitting .327/73/13/53/41. It’s pretty incredible and I suspect Griffin is on his way to being the consensus top prospect in baseball. We did have a scare in the Futures Game as Griffin took an Alimber Santa fastball off his right forearm / wrist. While he came out of the game reports after thankfully said he avoided serious injury.
Owen Caissie CHC still has a long swing, but his approach has advanced and he seems to be making better contact. His high K rate will likely always be a concern but Caissie looked good at the plate in the Futures Game. He worked the count, was willing to go opposite field and ended the day 1 for 2 with an RBI and 2 walks. It was a good showing and suggests Caissie could be the next man up when the Cubs needs OF help.
Charlie Condon COL grounded into a couple of force plays in his first two AB’s and then struck out in his 3rd. Not having seen much of Condon I took note of his hand position on set. He’s close to the plate and then drops his hands down and near the body. It suggests he can be beat with heat inside but I haven’t yet seen enough to know if this is accurate. Checking Fangraphs they have Condon with big power but a 30 hit tool. All in all, this is a profile to avoid unless something changes.
Zyhir Hope LAD packs legit power in his 5’10 build. This is a high ceiling bat who has advanced rapidly at just 20 years old. Hope was one of the younger participants in the 2024 Arizona Fall League as well as this years Futures Game. The Dodgers do not seem to be pushing Hope aggressively which is likely a positive given his K rate has climbed to 26% at High A.
Jonah Tong NYM took the mound in the 2nd. Tong has a bit unusual delivery, with parts moving all over the place. It does create deception, which adds effectiveness to a solid arsenal. Tong’s best pitches are his fastball and curve, both of which drive his K rate to over 14 per 9. Command remains a challenge and that will likely keep him from reaching the big leagues until 2026. Additionally, Brandon Sproat and Nolan McLean are ahead of him in the organization.
Harry Ford SEA still looks a lot like the player I watched for a full season in AA last year. He works the count, has a plan at the plate, and gets his hits. At least in the Futures Game Ford appeared to be looking to pull more than I recall from last season. The jury is still out on Ford as a big league catcher and it seems more likely he plays multiple positions after being dealt by the Mariners. Seattle has Cal Raleigh locked in at catcher and should look to add to the team depth at the trade deadline. Particularly, they could use an upgrade at 3B or pitching depth.
It’s cool to see how much Josue Briceno DET has had his stock rise since arriving at the AFL last season. His Fall League MVP was no fluke and Briceno has now reached AA at just 20 years old. This is a patient, dangerous hitter who still does not have a clear defensive position. It seems very unlikely Briceno is still catching when he reaches the big leagues. Not known for his wheels Briceno ripped a triple off the RF wall in his second Futures Game AB. He gets to his power easily and is going to be an impact bat in the Major Leagues soon.
Sebastian Walcott TEX looks taller than the 6’4” he’s listed at. This is a tooled up player that moves very well. Walcott showed patience in his first AB (against Tong) as he ended up grounding out to SS on a 2-2 count. Walcott was mic’d up in the 3rd, fun personality and surprised with his baseball knowledge. Particularly surprising he mentioned being a bit star struck with Braves great Dale Murphy. Walcott isn’t a finished project, he still needs development, yet the athleticism just jumps out at you on both sides of the ball.
Jesus Made MLW has flown up most prospect rankers over the last 12 months. Still just 18 years old Made sits #10 overall on Fangraphs top prospect list and he carries a 60 FV there. A switch-hitter with electric hands Made already looks stronger than the 6’1 187 he’s listed at. Made is still several years away from reaching the big leagues.
Jurrangelo Cijntje SEA pitched a full inning in the Futures Game as a RHP despite being a switch-pitching unicorn. He looked really good in his one inning of work, using a 97-98 fastball that had significant ride arm side. Cijntje has had command challenges and may spend the whole year at High A as a result. It’s going to be a treat to get a long look at Cijntje at AA next year.
LuJames Groover ARI is now at AA and continues to hit. The question with Groover is where will he play defensively. This year the DBacks have focused Groover on 3B so that may be the path. However it’s a crowded infield in Arizona, particularly with Jordan Lawler, Tommy Troy and Groover all close to graduating.
Joe Mack MIA has had ups and downs so far in his career. The swing has always looked good though, even when the results weren’t there. Mack’s stock has elevated significantly this season and he may be the Marlins catcher for most of 2026 with Augustin Ramirez shifting to mostly first base. He’s a better defensive catcher than Ramirez and will add power to the lineup. Mack isn’t yet on the 40 man but he’s Rule 5 eligible this December so expect him to be added and don’t be surprised if he gets a late 2025 call up.
Kevin McGonigle DET is a healthy stretch away from being a top 10 overall prospect. He can flat rake and has more power than you would expect from his frame. The first thing to get my attention with McGonigle was his interviews around the 2023 Draft Combine. Just 18 years old at the time McGonigle had a maturity and focus you rarely see. Add the high baseball IQ to his swing and very advanced approach and you have the ingredients for a fast riser. Which is what we have. McGonigle will be in Detroit next year playing either 2B or SS or both as needed.
Thomas White MIA is a tall LHP with a strong lower half. The delivery looks a bit short with a lack of full finish. Not surprisingly he missed several pitches arm side during the Futures Game. White’s velo is good, sitting 97+. Yet it’s going to be hard for White to have consistent control, let alone command, with his delivery as is. It’s worth noting that White seemed to have more control coming out of the stretch.
George Lombard Jr. NYY worked a walk against Thomas White, giving him a chance to show off his speed. Which he did, taking second early in Max Clark’s AB. In Lombard Jr.’s second AB he turned on a fastball, ripping it for a double to LF. The hit tool is a question mark, the athleticism is not. Promoted to AA (and struggling a bit) expect Lombard Jr. to make his big league debut in 2027.
Trey Yesavage TOR is a huge strikeout guy. His fastball runs arm side and then he’s able to drop a splitter behind it. Yesavage is just nasty on the mound and adds a bit of funk in his delivery. In the Futures Game the first and only batter he faced was JJ Wetherholt. It was a pretty impressive one batter statement from Yesavage as he showcased his arsenal quickly sending Wetherholt back to the dugout on just 4 pitches. The one thing that could slow Yesavage’s accent to the big leagues is his command issues. The quality of his pitch mix is big league ready now.
George Klassen LAA came over to the Angels from the Phillies in the Carlos Estevez trade. Klassen has taken a step forward this year, featuring two fastballs and a couple of breaking pitches. He leads with a 100 mph heater and then likes to drop the slider. Given the Angels aggressiveness promoting young players it’s almost certain we see Klassen in the big leagues in early 2026.
Marquis Grissom Jr. WAS took the bump in the 4th inning of the Futures Game, which was fun with his dad managing the NL team. A reliever for his full pro career, Grissom Jr. is now at AAA and knocking on the door. What he needs most is improved command and this will determine how effective he will be when he gets the call.
Enrique Bradfield Jr. BAL is probably ready or close to ready for a big league shot. The two big questions are will he impact the ball enough to stick and will the Orioles give him a legit sustained shot. If the Orioles were in contention Bradfield Jr. would likely be a trade candidate but as is he will compete for playing time in a organizationally crowded outfield.
Noah Schultz CWS screams Randy Johnson at 6’10” with a lanky delivery and fastballs that reach the upper 90’s. It’s really difficult to pick up the release point in Schultz’s delivery. Like so many young power pitchers Schultz struggles with command. He will be up in 2026 and is one of many exciting pieces on the way for the White Sox.
Josue De Paula LAD is considered very advanced for his age (20) and showed off the goods with a laser home run to RF. It was the only long ball of the Futures Game and making it that much more impressive it came off of Noah Schultz. He hit this off a slider and drove it out at 108 mph. It was legit impressive, and De Paula’s stock just went up again! Already a top 50 prospect you can expect De Paula to move into the top 20 soon.
Eduardo Tait PHI is an 18 year old power hitting A ball catcher. He’s had a solid campaign in 2025 with 11 home runs so far and keeping his K rate below 20%.
Alimber Santa HOU is another RHP that brings the heat but in the Futures Game he had no idea where the pitches were going. On his 3rd pitch of the game he clocked Konnor Griffin in the R wrist / forearm with a 97mph fastball that ran waaaaaay inside. The summary here is that Santa is a reliever with velo and movement, just little current command.
Trent Harris SF has gone from an undrafted free agent to the Futures game in just 3 years. A reliever his full pro career Harris is now at AAA and offers the Giants an option if they need bullpen help.
Carter Jensen KC is a rising catcher for the Royals, now at AAA. Fangraphs is high on Jensen, currently ranking him 78th overall with a 50 FV. Just 13 games into his AAA experience Jensen already has hit 6 home runs there but that also comes with a 40% K rate. Jensen is Rule 5 eligible this December and will be added to the 40 man or dealt by then.
Slade Caldwell ARI showcased his athleticism with an outstanding diving catch in CF in the 7th inning. Caldwell is just 19 years old and didn’t play a pro game until this season. This is a hit, speed, field profile with little current power.
Frank Mozzicato KC has disappointed since being selected #7 overall in 2021. The primary issues are a weak fastball and a complete lack of command. So far it’s been too much for a good curveball to overcome. As a result Mozzicato has logged just 30 AA innings despite being in his 4th pro season.
Carson Benge NYM is a lean athlete with a solid approach at the plate. A 50 FV prospect at Fangraphs Benge has notably taken a step forward after a recent promotion to AA.
We’ve discussed Lazaro Montes SEA recently given his promotion to AA with the Mariners. He’s a big guy, with really big power and I’m still not sold on the swing. It’s long and gets additional loop added to it as a result of hand and bat position at set. Cleaning this up and letting the power play naturally versus max swing effort could have a huge impact on Montes’s future. He aspires to be Yordan Alvarez yet currently could be closer to Joey Gallo in his earlier years.
Hayden Harris ATL is a rising reliever now at AAA for the Braves. His release point helps everything play up as it must feel like he is coming at you from first base when at the plate. If Harris can keep the walks down he will be a featured arm in the Braves bullpen soon. In 32.1 IP this year he has a 0.84 ERA and a 13.36 K/9.
Alex Clemmey WAS is 19 years old and has spent all of 2025 at High A. Sounding a big like a broken record, Clemmey is another power arm with command issues. This and a lack of depth in his arsenal puts a good deal of reliever risk on his profile.
Brody Hopkins TAM is a lining up as a high leverage reliever. A big RHP that sits mid 90’s and touched 99 in the Futures game.
Sal Stewart CIN was mic’d up in the 7th inning and showed a fun personality. The Reds are high on him and he’s had a good season. Conditioning is probably a question mark for Stewart and something to keep an eye on.
Alredo Duno CIN is a 19 year old catching prospect for the Reds. Fangraphs says he’s a 55 FV player and they have him ranked #25 overall. It feels really aggressive for such a young catcher who is likely 3 or more years away. The hit tool has questions, while the power is big and he runs well for his size. Duno is repeating A ball and might not see High A until 2026.
Tommy “Tanks” White ATH is a legend at LSU and the 40th overall pick last year. White came into the Futures Game as a pinch hitter and Carson Whisenhunt just wiped him out on 3 pitches. It was a bad at bat and surprising for a guy that is sitting on a 13% K rate at High A. He’s likely playing a level below where he should and that does open the question of how will he fair once promoted to AA.
Carson Whisenhunt SF is known for an elite changeup, maybe the best in the minors. He’s had OK results at AAA this year but the bigger takeaway may be that he has reduced the walk rate issues that hurt him in 2023 and 2024. He’s not yet on the 40 man roster but is on the short list to come up when the Giants need rotation help.
Welinton Herrera COL came up through the DSL as a reliever and has only pitched out of the pen stateside. A lefty with a big fastball has improved his command and been near unhittable in 37 innings across High A and AA this season.
Gage Jump ATH is a strike throwing lefty. A pronounced drop and drive delivery that adds some deception. Jump has handled both High A and AA this season and looks to be part of the Athletics rotation as soon as 2026.
Leo De Vries SD had me at hello in the Arizona Fall League last year. Still just 18 years old De Vries has played the full season at High A and performed well, yet not at a standout level necessarily. There may be a bit of prospect fatigue here driven by the ridiculous expectations set upon him when he was just 17 and hadn’t yet played a pro game. Be patient, De Vries is for real and will be a very good major league player.
Keagan Gillies BAL is a 6’8 righty out of Tulane. At 27 years old he was the oldest player on either roster for the Futures Game. A bit of a reminder of Trevor Megill in size and even delivery, Gillies will likely be up with the Orioles soon. He’s sitting on a 1.08 ERA and almost 6-1 K/BB ratio at AAA.
Esmerlyn Valdez PIT popped on to radars after a 22 home run season at A ball last year. So far this season he’s cut the K rate, hit 20 home runs already, and jumped up to AA at 21 years old. Valdez is another player that will be Rule 5 eligible this December. He’s not yet big league ready so this could put the Pirates in a tough spot.
That’s it for the Futures Game Roster rundown. If you missed the game and have access to the MLB app go back and check it out. A very high percentage of Futures Game participants make it to the big leagues!
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