In MLB, the league’s brightest stars have their time to shine in the All-Star Game, the Home Run Derby, and other midseason festivities.
Prospects, however, are also in the spotlight.
The best prospects in the game play the All-Star Futures Game every year.
From 1999 to 2018, the game featured a team of United States prospects against one with prospects from other countries.
Now, it’s American League vs. National League, regardless of the country.
Every MLB has to be represented, and each organization can send up to two players.
The Cleveland Guardians, as you can imagine from a team that has traditionally produced excellent players, will be well represented.
MLB Network posted the American League roster and there will be two Guardians prospects in the game: infielder Ralphy Velazquez and outfielder Jaison Chourio.
Here is the American League roster for the 2024 All-Star Futures Game! 🌟 pic.twitter.com/Pmt5HtsJht
— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) July 2, 2024
The players are chosen by MLB, its official website MLB.com, and specialized prospects site and network Baseball America.
Velazquez was the Guards’ first-round pick last year, when he was picked 23rd overall.
All he has done since being drafted is hit: this season, he owns an impressive .263/.379/.453 line with nine home runs and six stolen bases in 64 games in Single-A, accumulating a phenomenal 145 wRC+ (100 is considered league-average performance).
Chourio, on the other hand, is the younger brother of Milwaukee Brewers’ budding star Jackson Chourio.
He has a very impressive skillset in his own right, and has returned a .270/.393/.400 line with three homers and a shocking 24 steals in Single-A.
His wRC+ is a very solid 136.
Both are very far from the majors at the moment, but have the ceiling of true everyday contributors if things break right.
NEXT: Guardians Prospect Stays Hot In Triple-A
