Honeywell, U.S. bats take Futures Game
MIAMI -- A pitcher had never been named MVP in the 18-year history of the All-Star Futures Game. One dominant arm and a deep lineup made it possible on Sunday at Marlins Park.Rays No. 2 prospectBrent Honeywell Jr. struck out four over two scoreless innings, and all nine U.S. starters
MIAMI -- A pitcher had never been named MVP in the 18-year history of the All-Star Futures Game. One dominant arm and a deep lineup made it possible on Sunday at Marlins Park.
Rays No. 2 prospectBrent Honeywell Jr. struck out four over two scoreless innings, and all nine U.S. starters recorded at least one hit in a 7-6 win over the World Team. It was the seventh win in the last eight years for the American side, which improved to 12-7 since the game was started in 1999.
Gameday box score
"This is actually the coolest thing I've ever done," MLB.com's No. 22 overall prospect said. "I don't think I've ever won in my career like an MVP. I've been to some All-Star Games, but this is kinda cool."
The 22-year-old right-hander got the start facing a World lineup that featured eight Top-100 prospects, including No. 1 Yoán Moncada (No. 1) and Amed Rosario (No. 3), who were hitting in the spots corresponding to their prospect rankings. Entering the showcase as a pitcher made famous by his ability to throw a screwball, Honeywell said he went to the offering just once -- to fan Dodgers No. 2 prospectAlex Verdugo in the first for his first strikeout. After Verdugo fouled off two changeups and a 96.6 mph fastball, Honeywell knew it was time for the breaking stuff, freezing Verdugo looking on the outside corner, and then he didn't throw it again.
"With the fastball, he kinda looked like he squared it up and I had already thrown him everything, so I thought if I'm going to throw one, it's going to be right here," Honeywell said. "If it's good, it's the only one I'm going to throw, and it was a really good one."
U.S. starting catcher Chance Sisco, who's 0-for-2 with two walks and two strikeouts against Honeywell in the International League this season, tried to get his starter to throw the screwball more but was unsuccessful. Honeywell seemed content to rely on a fastball that touched 98 mph in the abbreviated outing as well as his changeup and slider to mow down the World.
"I called for it a couple times, but he shook off it most of the time," Sisco said. "I wanted it just because it's a good pitch. When something moves like that, I mean, why not? It was fun. I got to see the movement on all of his pitches and work with him. Helping guide him through the game was awesome because I've faced him. But I still didn't know entirely how he pitches, so catching him was fun."
World Team infield loaded with star power
Honeywell allowed one hit -- a first-pitch single by Rafael Devers in the second -- and was the only pitcher to last more than one frame. With the chance to pitch in a Major League stadium in front of a live national TV audience on MLB Network, the right-hander said he wanted to prove himself on the biggest stage of his career.
"Absolutely, I'm grateful for [the Rays] letting me do this," he said. "Even moreso, I appreciate [U.S. manager Charles Johnson] letting me start the game. I really, really wanted this start."
There were also some stellar performances from the U.S. relief corps. No. 2 White Sox prospect Michael Kopech threw five pitches that registered at least 100 mph during a scoreless third inning, and Tigers No. 3 prospect Beau Burrows, who touched 98, fanned both Rosario and Devers during a perfect fourth.
Perhaps the reason Honeywell was able to become the Futures Game first MVP hurler was that no U.S. batter stood among the rest but only because they were so thorough as a group coming together for just one game. Featuring seven Top-100 prospects, the entire U.S. starting lineup had at least one hit by the fourth inning. Marlins No. 3 prospect and hometown hero Brian Anderson was the only American with more than one hit, going 2-for-4 with a double and a run scored.
After building a four-run lead through three innings, the U.S. broke open the game in the fourth when singles by Brendan Rodgers and Nick Gordon were followed by an RBI double by Lewis Brinson and a two-run double by Derek Fisher. The US led, 7-0, before the game had reached its midpoint, and the sluggers could feel themselves feeding off one another in the early going.
"The inning I got the double, I was just backing up Brinson and Gordon and all these dudes that started it off," said Fisher, who was 1-for-2 with a walk and two RBIs out of the third spot in the order. "It wasn't me -- they were on base for me. They put together a good AB, and it wouldn't happen without them.
"To sit in the dugout and watch the ABs these guys are putting together, it just makes it that much easier. With the guys coming out of the bullpen and the arms that they have and the game collectively, that's something that means a lot, to have a guy like Nick leading us off, putting together good ABs and good swings and us just backing him up."
The World side made it close late, piling up six runs over the final five frames and creating a chance to tie it in the ninth against second-ranked A's prospectA.J. Puk. After the southpaw relieved Indians right-hander Triston McKenzie with one out, he walked Estevan Florial and got Vladimir Guerrero Jr. to foul out, then gave up back-to-back singles to Yordan Alvarez and Tomás Nido. Alvarez had taken second on an error by center fielder Corey Ray and scored on Nido's knock to right to make it 7-6 with two outs. Puk ended the threat by getting Mauricio Dubón to bounce out to third, though it took a nifty jump and tag by Ryan McMahon to record the final out.
Nido and Guerrero were the offensive standouts for the World side. The Mets catcher went 2-for-2 with two RBIs after entering as a substitute for Francisco Mejía in the sixth. Guerrero -- the game's youngest player at 18 -- was 2-for-4 and scored twice in what's unlikely to be his last Futures Game. After the initial onslaught, the World bullpen allowed one hit -- Anderson's single off a 99.5-mph fastball from Mariners right-hander Thyago Vieira -- over the final four frames.
Unlike Honeywell, Fisher -- who's played five games in the Majors this season -- said it might take some time before he and his teammates totally understand the importance of Sunday's contest for their careers.
"I think it's something you don't realize until you look down," he said. "This is the first time I've ever played with USA across my chest. I didn't play Team USA growing up. This was the first chance to play with my country on my chest, so being able to put up runs on the board and compete with a good at-bat, it was a lot of fun. ... This is more than just one day. We're trying to make the most out of a nine-inning game and a batting practice. So to be able to basically soak in the moment with these guys and win the game most importantly was awesome."
Sam Dykstra is a reporter for MiLB.com. Follow and interact with him on Twitter, @SamDykstraMiLB.
Minors radio legend exits the booth in Birmingham
Benjamin Hill travels the nation collecting stories about what makes Minor League Baseball unique. This excerpt from his newsletter is a mere taste of the smorgasbord of delights he offers every week. Read the full newsletter here, and subscribe to his newsletter here.
MLB's 2025 farm system rankings -- with a new No. 1
It’s time to crown a new king. After a three-year run for the Orioles atop our preseason farm system rankings, they’ve stepped off the throne, making way for the Tigers. The O’s had slipped from the top spot in our 2024 midseason rankings as they’d graduated a number of prospects
Here are the 2025 Spring Breakout rosters
Spring Breakout is back, and top prospects across all 30 organizations will once again take center stage in Arizona and Florida. The second annual edition of Spring Breakout features hundreds of the top prospects from around the league. The rosters are stacked, highlighted by 72 players on MLB Pipeline's Top
Here are the new Top 30 Prospects lists for every MLB organization
MLB Pipeline released its Top 100 Prospects list in late January, but that didn't mark the end of rankings season. With Spring Training well underway, our team-by-team Top 30s have been unveiled. Our rollout began with the AL and NL East on Monday and the Central Divisions on Tuesday. We're
With historic K's, Mitchell carved own legend
There are many legends surrounding Babe Ruth and his mighty bat, his larger-than-life persona that commanded every ballpark and every camera. But this tale is about the Great Bambino striking out and the pitcher who maybe fooled him. This is a story about a girl named Jackie.
Triple-A National Championship returns to Las Vegas in September
Minor League Baseball announced that the 2025 Triple-A National Championship Game, which will feature the winners of the International League and Pacific Coast League meeting in a single-game format, will be played on Saturday, Sept. 27 in Las Vegas. The Triple-A National Championship Game, which will follow the best-of-three League
Royals' Zobac talks spring, two-way past on podcast
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
1 prospect from every team making noise this spring
Spring Training isn’t just a warm-up for established players, it’s also a chance for prospects to showcase their skills and see how they measure up in a big league setting.
Space Potatoes? Hooch Pooches? Check out these new alternate identities
Benjamin Hill travels the nation collecting stories about what makes Minor League Baseball unique. This excerpt from his newsletter is a mere taste of the smorgasbord of delights he offers every week. Read the full newsletter here, and subscribe to his newsletter here.
Paying homage to Negro Leagues, this team is MiLB's "hoppinest"
Nicknamed “baseball’s most hoppinest team” by the local newspaper coverage at the time, the Fredericksburg Frogs were one of the Chesapeake Bay area’s more successful Negro League teams in the 1920s, standing out amid a long lineage of segregated Black teams that played in downtown Fredericksburg, Virginia, between the 1880s
The year after Jackie, Ritchey integrated PCL
A version of this story originally appeared on MiLB.com in 2018. We present it here once more as Minor League Baseball celebrates Black History Month with stories of Black baseball pioneers.
Each team's top power hitting prospect for '25
The home run is the most efficient event in sports. It’s the maximum outcome a single batter can achieve, and all it takes is one swing. One very powerful, well-timed, well-coordinated swing. It’s why power is such an important tool in prospect development and evaluation. You can put the ball
Here are the 10 best potential prospect matchups at Spring Breakout
Spring Breakout will soon offer the opportunity for the majority of baseball's top prospects to face off against each other for the second straight year. Fearsome sluggers against hard-throwing pitchers. Speedy baserunners against cannon-armed catchers. Well-rounded shortstops battling to prove who should be ranked higher. Full rosters for all 30
10 prospects at Spring Training who are lighting up Statcast
One of the best parts of Spring Training every year is getting to see the top prospects in baseball. A lot of the time, it's the first look fans get at MLB's future stars. But we also know a lot more about those prospects going into Spring Training than we
Questions plague Peeples' trailblazing story
A version of this story previously appeared on MiLB.com in 2007. We present it again as Minor League Baseball celebrates Black History Month with stories of Black baseball pioneers.
Prospects to watch this spring -- one for each team
Spring may not have arrived quite yet, but Spring Training has! Players have reported to camp and exhibition games kick off Thursday with the Cubs visiting the Dodgers in Glendale, Ariz.
8 of the best team matchups in Spring Breakout
After Spring Breakout's dynamic debut last year, the prospect showcase event returns in full force for 2025. All 30 Major League teams will field squads of top prospects to face off in 16 games from March 13-16 -- the Cubs and Nationals will play twice since there's an odd number
Fowler: A 19th-century baseball pioneer
A version of this story originally appeared on MiLB.com in 2006. We present it here once more as Minor League Baseball celebrates Black History Month with stories of Black baseball pioneers.
Everything you need to know about prospects and Spring Training
This story was excerpted from MLB Pipeline's newsletter. Subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.
Arkansas-based Mariners affiliate to honor legacy of the Little Rock Nine
The Little Rock Nine sounds like it could be the name of a baseball team playing in Arkansas' capital city, and for three nights during the 2025 season, it will be. The story behind the name transcends baseball, however. From Aug. 21-23, the Arkansas Travelers -- Seattle's Double-A affiliate --
MiLB podcast breaks down Spring Training storylines
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
Leaf Peepers? Thunder Chickens?! Coming to the Minors this year
Benjamin Hill travels the nation collecting stories about what makes Minor League Baseball unique. This excerpt from his newsletter is a mere taste of the smorgasbord of delights he offers every week. Read the full newsletter here, and subscribe to his newsletter here.
Dodgers greats Newcombe and Campanella made history as Minors teammates
A version of this story originally appeared on MiLB.com in 2006. We present it here once more as Minor League Baseball celebrates Black History Month with stories of Black baseball pioneers.
15 prospects primed for a bounceback season from injury
A lot of players will be getting a fresh start heading into the 2025 season. Prospects who missed significant time due to injury have had upwards of six months between regular-season games to return to health. Now they'll be looking to re-establish their value and maybe even reach new heights.