CINCINNATI -- Hey, let's live blog the Futures Game between bites of Skyline chili!
FIRST INNING
Lucas Giolito starts for the USA, the consensus best pitching prospect in the minors, a big 6-foot-6 right-hander -- do they grow normal-sized pitchers any more? -- for the Washington Nationals who has 76 strikeouts in 58 innings in Class A and is probably due for a promotion soon to Double-A. He throws an upper-90s fastball and has a great curveball. He'll only pitch one inning, but it's still fun to see these kids, even if only for a few pitches.
Ketel Marte leads off the for the World team. He's a middle infielder in the Seattle Mariners system, hitting .343 with two home runs in 51 games at Triple-A. The Mariners system is probably the worst in the majors right now. Seriously, go through their minor league affiliates and check out the stats. Better yet, don't. But Marte is the one jewel. Unfortunately, the Mariners already have an All-Star second baseman for the next eight years ... wait, Robinson Cano didn't make the All-Star team?
Marte reaches on an infield single but is caught stealing as Giolito strikes out Yorman Rodriguez of the Cincinnati Reds to end the first.
The U.S. lineup includes J.P. Crawford, Kyle Schwarber, Aaron Judge, Josh Bell and Michael Conforto, leading my colleague Eric Karabell to quip, "This lineup is better than the Phillies'"
Yes, your 2015 Philadelphia Phillies, everyone!
SECOND INNING
Giolito actually comes out for the second inning. He gives up another hit but gets a double play to get out of the inning. Nice, easy delivery. You can see why the scouts love him.
Richie Shaffer of the Tampa Bay Rays flies out to deep center field. He started the season in Double-A, hit OK there, but has been on fire since moving up to Triple-A Durham, hitting .284/.364/.657 with 14 home runs in 134 at-bats. I’m thinking the Rays could use this guy. He’s a third baseman, so he’s not going to supplant Evan Longoria, but he’s a played a little first base and could DH. Shaffer flies out to the warning track in straightaway center field.
Aaron Judge is hitting sixth. New York Yankees fans are probably complaining that he’s not hitting cleanup. Talked to him before the game. He joked that he’s wearing No. 99 because “there aren’t jersey numbers left with the Yankees." Good kid. Beast of a man, 6-foot-7, big arms, more of a line-drive hitter right now who the Yankees hope grows into more power. If the Yankees try to upgrade their roster at the trade deadline, Judge is the guy everyone will ask for, but expect the Yankees to keep him. Judge strikes out against World pitcher Jarlin Garcia of the Marlins. Trade him!
