All-Star Futures Game
The All-Star Futures Game is an annual baseball exhibition game between a team of top minor league prospects from the United States and a team of prospects from other parts of the World. It is played during the week of the Major League Baseball All-Star Game.
Origins
The Futures Game was conceived by Jimmie Lee Solomon, an Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations for Major League Baseball, looking for an event to showcase the minor leagues and round out the All-Star week festivities. Early versions of the game created marginal interest in the baseball community, but the event has drawn more interest each successive year.
Format
Rosters for the Futures Game are selected by Baseball America magazine, in conjunction with MLB and the all 30 major league teams. Every organization is represented, with no more than two players from any organization, and 25 players per team, divided into U.S. and World teams based on place of birth. (Players born in Puerto Rico are part of the "World" team despite being U.S. citizens by birth, because that territory has its own national baseball federation and national team.) Games last nine innings (seven innings prior to 2008), with two extra innings available to settle a tie after playing all regulation innings. Pitchers are limited to pitching only one inning.
Changes for 2008
Two major changes have been announced for the 2008 game:
- For the first time, the United States team will be drawn from the pool of players selected by USA Baseball for the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing.[1]
- The game will last nine innings in regulation, rather than seven.
History
| Year | Winner | Score | Ballpark | MVP | MVP Team |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | World | 7–0 | Fenway Park | Alfonso Soriano | New York Yankees |
| 2000 | U.S. | 3–2 | Turner Field | Sean Burroughs | San Diego Padres |
| 2001 | U.S. | 5–1 | Safeco Field | Toby Hall | Tampa Bay Devil Rays |
| 2002 | World | 5–1 | Miller Park | José Reyes | New York Mets |
| 2003 | U.S. | 3–2 | U.S. Cellular Field | Grady Sizemore | Cleveland Indians |
| 2004 | U.S. | 4–3 | Minute Maid Park | Aaron Hill | Toronto Blue Jays |
| 2005 | World | 4–0 | Comerica Park | Justin Huber | Kansas City Royals |
| 2006 | U.S. | 8–5 | PNC Park | Billy Butler | Kansas City Royals |
| 2007 | World | 7–2 | AT&T Park | Chin-Lung Hu | Los Angeles Dodgers |
| 2008 | World | 3–0 | Yankee Stadium | Che-Hsuan Lin | Boston Red Sox |
| 2009 | World | 7–5[2] | Busch Stadium | Rene Tosoni | Minnesota Twins |
| 2010 | Angel Stadium of Anaheim | ||||
| 2011 | Chase Field | ||||
| All-time: United States: 5 wins World: 6 wins | |||||
All-Time roster (1999–2009)
Abbreviations:
- P: Pitcher
C: Catcher
1B: First baseman
2B: Second baseman
3B: Third baseman
SS: Shortstop
IF: Infielder
OF: Outfielder
A
|
|
B
|
|
C
|
|
D
|
|
E
|
|
F
|
|
G
|
|
H
|
|
I
|
|
J
|
|
K
|
|
L
|
|
M
|
|
N
|
|
O
|
|
P
|
|
Q
|
R
|
|
S
|
|
T
|
|
U
|
|
V
|
|
W
|
|
Y
|
|
Z
|
|
References
- Major League Baseball
- Baseball America
- JS Online - Showcase to the future
- ^ Jonathan Mayo (2008-06-19). "Futures managers have New York ties". MLB.com. Retrieved 2008-06-25.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ Game shortened to seven innings after a four-hour rain delay in the first inning.