The MLB All-Star Futures Game is quietly one of the must-see events annually during All-Star weekend. A seven-inning game between each league’s top prospects gives organizations and fans a glimpse into what household names they may be building around or cheering on for the next decade.
Additionally, it’s a good measuring rod to see which team’s farm system is the cream of the crop.
This year’s game will be played at 12 p.m. ET on Sunday, July 12, at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, Pa. Rosters were announced on July 1, and eight of the players listed were MLBbros. Here’s the full list.
American League
- RHP Anthony Eyanson (Boston Red Sox), AA Portland Sea Dogs
- IF Kaelen Culpepper (Minnesota Twins), AAA St. Paul Saints
- IF George Lombard Jr. (New York Yankees), AAA Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders
- OF Theo Gillen (Tampa Bay Rays), A+ Bowling Green Hot Rods
National League
- RHP Miguel Sime Jr. (Washington Nationals), A+ Wilmington Blue Rocks
- IF Kayson Cunningham (Arizona Diamondbacks), A+ Hillsboro Hops
- OF Josue De Paula (Los Angeles Dodgers), AA Tulsa Drillers
- OF Dakota Jordan (San Francisco Giants), A+ Eugene Emeralds
Here’s a closer look at the group.
From High School To The Futures
Five of the eight stars from the bunch skipped college, either getting drafted or signing as international free agents at young ages of 17 and 18.
George Lombard Jr., son of six-year big leaguer George Lombard, headlines the group as the Yankees No. 1 prospect after a strong start to the 2026 season. The 21-year-old hit .312/.400/.571 in Double-A before being promoted to Triple-A at the end of April. Although he was placed on the 7-day IL in June, he’s worked his way into the conversation of being New York’s future starting shortstop. 12 of his 36 hits in Triple-A have been doubles, as he maintains a .765 OPS.
Another organization’s top prospect is returning to the Futures Game as well in Josue De Paula, who took home MVP honors last season. The lone international signing of the group, De Paula has dominated at Double-A, batting .314 with 13 home runs, 23 doubles and 60 RBIs.
The other three include Ray’s Theo Gillen, Nationals’ Miguel Sime Jr. and Diamondbacks’ Kayson Cunningham. Like Lombard, each player has been promoted in 2026 for their incredible play.
College Stars Shining
The three other players were drafted out of college and aren’t new to playing on a big stage.
Kaelen Culpepper is knocking on the door of the majors, putting together a strong campaign at the Triple-A level for the Twins. A 2024 first-round pick out of Kansas State, the 23-year-old is batting .272/.376/.492 with 14 home runs and 43 RBIs, capped off by 15 stolen bases. He hasn’t hesitated to start games off with a bang, blasting six leadoff homers on the season.
Culpepper has battled a few injuries this season, and the unexpected success of a few Minnesota players at the next level could be why he hasn’t been called up yet.
Righty Anthony Eyanson, a 2025 third-round pick, was an essential part of LSU’s national championship run last season, working as one-half of the Tigers’ one-two punch with left-hander Kade Anderson, who also made the Futures roster. Eyanson continued his dynamic run at the college level into his first professional season with a combined 1.07 ERA for the Red Sox’s A+ and Double-A affiliates.
The final spot belongs to Giant’s Dakota Jordan, a 2024 fourth-rounder out of Mississippi State, who has mashed his way into the celebratory affair, launching 26 total home runs and 33 doubles across 2025 and 2026.
The Futures Game is the perfect chance for these young players to turn heads and make national headlines, potentially speeding up the process from being a prospect to becoming a big leaguer. And now that the opportunity has presented itself for this group — for the first or second time — there’s no better way to make a lasting impression.
