New York Well Represented at 2017 MLB Futures Game

SAN DIEGO, CA – JULY 10: Yoan Moncada /

The MLB Futures Game is at 4 pm ET on MLB Network. Baseball’s next generation of superstars will be on display in Miami today.

Before the highly anticipated Home Run Derby or the All-Star Game itself, many of the games brightest minor league stars will get a chance to play in front of a national audience in the 2017 MLB Futures Game.

The game has played host to players such as Andrew Benintendi, Gary Sanchez, and Clint Frazier, and both New York teams are well-represented in this year’s game.

Starting in 1999, the MLB Futures Game puts a team of top minor league prospects from the United States against a team of prospects from other countries around the world.

Outfielder Estevan Florial and pitcher Domingo Acevedo will represent the Yankees on the World Team, as will catcher Tomas Nido and shortstop Amed Rosario for the Mets.

Rosario, the top prospect in the Mets’ minor league system, has had a nice start to his season with the Triple-A Las Vegas 51’s. In 83 games, Rosario has 113 hits, including seven home runs and 52 RBI while hitting .327 with an .839 OPS.

He certainly looks ready to be called up, but a poor season may force the Mets to keep Rosario in Vegas if a playoff push isn’t in the cards.

Rosario figures to begin the 2018 season in Queens, however, if the Mets decide to clean house and get rid of Jose Reyes and/or Asdrubal Cabrera.

Tomas Nido is a lesser-known prospect, but the 23-year-old catcher has put together a solid season so far in Double-A Binghamton.

In 60 games with the team, Nido has 57 hits, including five home runs, 39 RBI, and a .665 OPS. His .246 average leaves something to be desired, but his two errors behind the plate this season prove that he’s a quality defender.

Travis d’Arnaud and Rene Rivera aren’t long-term answers for the Mets behind the plate, but Nido could be.

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Domingo Acevedo is one of the more intriguing pitching prospects in the Yankee system.

The 6 foot 7 inch, 250-pound Acevedo has performed well this year with the High-A Tampa Yankees, Double-A Trenton Thunder, and Triple-A Scranton Wilkes-Barre RailRiders.

In 99 innings this season, Acevedo has given up 97 hits, 34 earned runs, and six home runs. The right-hander has walked 23 batters while striking out an impressive 107.

He has a 2.72 ERA and a 1.19 WHIP and has quickly ascended the ranks this season to become one of the top prospects that the Yankees have.

The question is whether or not they’ll use him as trade bait to land a player who meets a more pressing concern once the deadline rolls around.

Estevan Florial has just begun his journey to the major leagues with the Single-A Charleston RiverDogs, but the 19-year-old centerfielder is already showing promising signs of a successful career to come.

In 74 games, Florial has 85 hits, including 11 home runs and 40 RBI with a .300 average and an .884 OPS. He’s also stolen 15 bases, and that speed has allowed him to leg out four triples and 16 doubles.

Florial, although young, has had about as much success as one can at the Class-A level and should get moved up to a higher level sooner rather than later.

Next: The Bombers Need the All-Star Break

The MLB Futures Game may not have the same draw as a Home Run Derby featuring Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton, but the game itself is filled-to-the-brim with talent and future major league stars.

The Yankees and Mets hope that the four minor leaguers representing their organizations–Acevedo, Florial, Rosario, and Nido– turn out to be just that.

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