Past, Present Southern Leaguers Shine in Futures Game

Former Blue Wahoo and currently single season stolen base record holder Billy Hamilton was one of many prospects put on display at Sunday's SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game at Citi Field in New York. The game, which annually showcases some of the best minor league talent in baseball, had a total of seven active, and six former Southern League players on the U.S. and World rosters.

 

Hamilton was able to use his speed and an unusual Futures Game rule to help the U.S. team. As the starting centerfielder, he was 0-for-2 with a flyout and a groundout, but even though he was removed from the game, he was able to re-enter as a pinch runner. The rules state that, for the Futures Game, one player from each team is allowed to return to the game after he has been removed. So Hamilton came on in the eighth and eventually came home on a double. This was Hamilton's second futures game, last year he was the starting shortstop in Kansas City.

 

Diamondbacks prospect and former Mobile BayBear stood out among the rest with a two-run home run in the fourth inning earning him MVP honors for the game. Joining him from the Diamondbacks were current BayBear Archie Bradley and former Bear Chris Owings.

 

Jacksonville's Christian Yelich challenged Davidson for the MVP honors with his 2-for-2 performance. He gave the U.S. a boost with his RBI double in the second inning off Montgomery's Enny Romero. That was the first run of the game for the U.S. Chattanooga's Joc Pederson represented himself well with a base hit in his only official at bat of the game.

 

For the World squad, Arismendy Alcantara stood out with a solo home run in the fourth inning as part of a 1-for-3 game as the starting second baseman. Alcantara and Davidson's home runs were the only ones in the game. The World ended up with just three hits in the pitching dominated game.

 

The Futures Game has a great track record or displaying players who will one-day end up in the Major League All-Star Game. You don't have to look any further than this year, where AL starting third baseman Manny Machado stood as a 2012 Futures Game Alumni.