The MLB Futures Game is a showcase of the league's top prospects, and this year's edition was no exception. While the American League emerged victorious with a score of 6-1, the real star of the show was Pittsburgh Pirates prospect Seth Hernandez. His performance was nothing short of remarkable, leaving onlookers in awe and cementing his status as a rising star in the sport.
Hernandez, the No. 6 pick in the 2025 draft, displayed an impressive array of pitches during his perfect 14-pitch inning. His fastball reached speeds of 99-101 mph, and his changeup was equally as impressive, sitting at 87-88 mph. The young pitcher also threw in a curveball and a slider, showcasing his versatility and skill. What makes Hernandez's performance even more impressive is the fact that he just turned 20 years old. With his talent and potential, it's hard to imagine anything stopping him from becoming a top-of-the-rotation starter.
While Hernandez stole the show, there were other notable performances to keep an eye on. Seattle Mariners right-hander Ryan Sloan, for instance, demonstrated five different pitches during his inning of work. His four-seam fastball sat at 97-100 mph, and he also showed a two-seamer at 95 mph, along with a kick-change, sweeper, and cutter. Sloan's sweeper is usually his best pitch, but he hung one to San Francisco Giants prospect Dakota Jordan, who turned on it for a double down the left field line. Ultimately, Sloan's four-seamer and kick-change were his best weapons on the day.
Another standout performer was Kansas City Royals right-hander Kendry Chourio. At just 18 years old, Chourio was the youngest pitcher in the game for either squad, and he looked even younger than that until he started pitching. With a fastball at 98-99 mph and a 12/6 curveball, Chourio displayed exceptional command and control. His performance was so impressive that he was throwing harder than ever before.
The three college lefties who were selected in the 2025 MLB Draft also showed well. Kade Anderson of the Mariners started for the AL and displayed a fastball at 93-95 mph, along with a plus changeup and above-average slider. He allowed only a bloop single to MLB's top prospect, Jesús Made of the Milwaukee Brewers, in his inning of work. Liam Doyle of the St. Louis Cardinals was also impressive, throwing 97-99 mph with a downward-breaking slider and one splitter, getting a whiff from Boston Red Sox prospect Franklin Arias.
While some pitchers didn't look great, there were also some standout performances from hitters. Tampa Bay Rays catcher Nathan Flewelling was named the MVP after hitting the only home run of the game. Flewelling saw 96 on the first pitch from Philadelphia Phillies right-hander Wen-Hui Pan and turned on it for a homer to right that left his bat at 95 mph. Rays teammate Theo Gillen also showed his plus speed on the basepaths, nearly homering himself against San Diego Padres prospect Ethan Salas.
In the end, the Futures Game is a showcase of the league's top prospects, and this year's edition was no exception. While the American League emerged victorious, it was the individual performances that truly stood out. Seth Hernandez, Ryan Sloan, Kendry Chourio, and others all demonstrated their talent and potential, leaving onlookers in awe and eager to see what the future holds for these rising stars.
