On Saturday, July 8 at 7:00 p.m. ET the next generation of MLB superstars will take the field at Seattle’s T-Mobile Park for the 2023 SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game.
This game has always been a showcase of the top young talent in baseball, and many participants have gone on to superstardom.
This year’s roster is loaded with young MLBbros waiting to burst onto the major league scene.
Here is a list of some Black players participating in Saturday’s showcase.
Harry Ford – C, Seattle Mariners
The 12th overall pick in the 2021 MLB draft, Ford is the top prospect in the Mariners’ farm system. He is currently ranked as the 48th prospect in baseball by MLB pipeline and No. 64 by Baseball America. He began to turn heads when he represented Great Britain in the World Baseball Classic and will look to join fellow black backstop Bo Naylor in the Bigs soon.
A 6th round pick in the 2021 MLB draft, third baseman Justyn-Henry Mallory was in line to join several other players who were born or played their college ball in Georgia to don a Braves uniform, but with Austin Riley signed long term he was eventually shipped to the Tigers.
He has an .844 OPS with 76 hits, 13 home runs and 50 RBI on the season and is expected to join the major league squad before the season is over.
Kyren Paris – SS/2B, Los Angeles Angels
A 2nd round pick in the 2019 MLB draft, Paris is hitting .234 with 11 home runs, 29 RBI, 20 stolen bases, 39 runs scored and 42 walks so far this season for the Angels minor league affiliate. A staple in the top third of the lineup, many have projected Paris to be a second baseman by the time he is ready for the majors.
While all the talk out of Oakland has been about their pending move to Sin City, Lawrence Butler has begun to turn heads as the latest young Athletics prospect to flash big league potential. He has risen to top 10 in their farm system after posting a .829 OPS with 10 home runs, 43 RBI and 50 runs scored so far this season.
Hence recently received the call up to Double-A after posting a 2-1 record with a 2.81 ERA this season in Peoria, Illinois. Last year he posted a 1.38 ERA in 16 starts with their then Single-A affiliate out in Palm Beach. The 63rd pick in the 2020 MLB Draft, Hence will be one of nine pitchers to represent the National League on Saturday.
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Massey is another future Black ace looking to put his talents on display in Seattle. A 7th round pick in the 2022 Mob draft, Opponents have struggled to make contact against the Chicago native this season, hitting just .221 against the righty.
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Bliss may be one of the smallest prospects in stature (He’s listed at 5’ 6, 165) but he has been prolific at the plate this season for the Diamondbacks Double-A affiliate. Bliss is slashing .349/.400/.586 with 12 home runs, 22 doubles and 4 triples and 163 total bases so far. He is expected to make his MLB debut in 2024.
BJ Murray, 3B, Chicago Cubs
Known by many as simply BJ, Bertram Gerard Alfonzo Murray Jr. could potentially add to the legacy of Bahamian MLBbros like current big leaguer Jazz Chisholm Jr. has done. Murray has hit 7 home runs and 17 doubles on the season while switch hitting for the Cubs Double-A affiliate.
Justin Crawford – OF, Philadelphia Phillies
The number 3 prospect in the Phillies pipeline, Crawford has flashed that same speed that helped his father Carl become a four-time MLB All Star and Gold Glove winner. The 19-year-old is currently hitting .338 with a .388 OBP and 33 stolen bases on the season. He has yet to hit a home run but has still managed to collect 10 doubles and 88 total bases.
Victor Scott II – CF, St Louis Cardinals
Victor Scott II is another young Black prospect in the Cardinals farm system looking to make a name for himself on the biggest stage. His numbers at the plate won’t blow you away, but his 52 stolen bases this season are certainly something that will catch your attention. With the rise of stolen bases given the new rules, a player with Scott’s speed could add another threat to the Cardinals lineup.
The Seattle Mariners are in the thick of a playoff push sitting at 76-59 with the third-best record in the American League behind the Houston Astros and New York Yankees. Led by rookie slugger Julio Rodriguez and MLBbro shortstop JP Crawford things in the Pacific Northwest are looking up.
The Mariners seem to be in good position to be pretty formidable for years to come. The team’s farm system keeps producing gems. In 2021, the franchise drafted Harry Ford with their first pick of the amateur draft and 12th pick overall. Ford is a hard-hitting catcher whose skillet has been likened to that of former Houston Astros legend and Baseball Hall of Famer, Craig Biggio.
Ford has the unique distinction of being the first high school player selected during GM Jerry Diputo’s regime. Prior to the draft, Diputo, his assistant GM Justin Hollander and the team’s amateur director of scouting Scott Hunter flew to Atlanta to watch the North Cobb High School stud workout for them. Ford dazzled with an effortless swing and more than adequate throwing arm. The trio knew then he was what they wanted in the upcoming draft. When asked about the trip across the country to see Ford up close, Diputo said this.
“Very much worth it.”
“Harry is a unique five-tool player since he is a catcher. A tremendous athlete that will thrive in all areas of the game. Even though he could play centerfield or even second base we see Harry as a catcher that has a chance to impact the game with not only his bat and defense, but also with his legs as he is a plus runner. We couldn’t be more thrilled to add an athlete like this to our system.”
That was the Mariners brass displaying the excitement of drafting Ford as their future catcher. In a league where Black players are slim pickings, Black catchers are even more rare.
Ford Showed Well In Limited Action In 2021: Continued In 2022
Ford hit the road running once he joined the team for 19 games in the Arizona Complex League. While he struggled a bit, as expected he still persevered and worked out the kinks. This season he joined Low-A Modesto of the California. There he joined two other Mariners prospects in pitcher Michael Morales and shortstop Edwin Arroyo. Those three make up some of the core of the future for the Mariners. With Ford having the highest upside in most scout’s view.
While Ford missed time with a sore shoulder, when he got healthy, he hit a respectable (.272), with three home runs, 16 RBIs. He also had as many walks (21) as strikeouts (18).
— Mariners Player Development (@MsPlayerDev) June 19, 2022
Ford has plenty of time to develop as the Mariners have placed an arrival date of 2025 for their prized prospect. Over the next few seasons his development will be huge for the Mariners. Ford has all the tools to be an All-Star caliber catcher in the majors, and the belief is he will be.
Each year hundreds of amateur ball players wait to hear their names called in the Major League Baseball draft.
Sunday, the first round of the draft was held, ushering in the first wave of this next generation of stars hoping to emerge.
Some will go on to greatness, others obscurity. But, in this moment, all that lies ahead is potential.
A number of young men joined the ranks of soon-to-be MLBbros, with rounds 2-10 starting on Monday afternoon at 1:00 pm ET, and rounds 11-20 starting at noon on Wednesday.
Jordan Lawlar, SS, Jesuit HS (TX)
Jordan Lawlar, a 6’2” shortstop out of Texas, was rated as the third overall prospect in the MLB.com prospect rankings, but just as top prospect Marcelo Mayer was taken later than he expected, Lawlar lasted until the sixth pick, where he was taken by the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Lawlar had been the top ranked high school player in his class since 2020, and posted a .430 average over 64 high school games. This past season, 12 of his 34 hits went for extra bases, showing off his speed. Lawlar stole 27 bases in 28 games, and has great range as a middle infielder.
He’s been most often compared to current All-Star Carlos Correa and Hall of Famer Derek Jeter.
Arizona may have the worst record in the National League, but they just picked up possibly the best player in the draft.
Kumar Rocker, RHP, Vanderbilt
It wasn’t that long ago that Rocker was being hailed as a potential number one overall pick. The 2021 season at Vanderbilt didn’t go according to plan, with scouts worrying about inconsistent velocity, and ending with a Game 3 loss to Mississippi State in the College World Series.
Instead, Rocker was a surprise selection by the New York Mets at 10.
Rocker doesn’t have to be Jacob DeGrom to be an instant contributor for a Mets staff that has used 14 different starting pitchers this season.
Listed at 6’5” and 245 lbs, he’s built to eat innings and strike out batters, tying for the NCAA Division I lead in strikeouts with 179 in 122 innings. His top two pitchers are his fastball and his slider, but he will have to improve his control and sharpen his secondary pitchers.
With fellow MLBbros Taijuan Walker and Marcus Stroman already making major contributions this season; Rocker could give the Mets an unprecedented three Black starters in its rotation.
Harry Ford, C, North Cobb HS (GA)
Ford became the fifth catcher from the state fo Georgia to be taken in the first round in the past eight drafts when the Seattle Mariners took him with the 12th pick.
The Mariners have been consistent in their acquisition and development of Black talent over recent years, and Ford should only add to that mix.
The 5’10”, 200 pound prospect has been solid on the backstop, but could be moved to the infield or outfield as his career progresses.
While the glove is nice, Ford is a first-round selection because of his bat. Swinging from the right side of the plate, he generates incredible bat speed for his age and can crush quality pitches as well as mistakes.
Ford’s immediate future will be determined by his discipline at the plate as much as his ability behind it.
Kahlil Watson, SS, Wake Forest HS (NC)
Though he entered the draft as a top-five prospect, shortstop Kahlil Watson fell all the way to 16th and into the arms of the Miami Marlins.
Perhaps Marlins CEO Derek Jeter knows a thing or two about identifying middle infield talent. He’s already been a mentor to Jazz Chisholm, and now he has the ultra-athletic Watson in the fold.
Watson has a similar build to Chisholm, checking in at 5’9” and 178 pounds. He has power for a middle infielder and pairs good plate discipline with consistent contact.
His speed is more than adequate and Watson could be another of the young players who helps bring the stolen base back to the game. Though he has played shortstop throughout his high school career, Watson is talented enough to play any number of positions.
After being taken this late in the first round, Watson could end up being the steal of the draft.
Jay Allen, OF, John Carroll Catholic HS (FL)
The Cincinnati Reds used the 30th pick of the first round on outfielder Jay Allen. There is no doubting the raw talent that Allen has to work with. He was a three sport star for John Carroll, playing football and basketball as well as dominating on the diamond.
He’s already committed to the University of Florida on a baseball-only scholarship, but after being taken in the first round, he could be willing to reconsider that choice.
His six-foot, three-inch frame should add muscle as Allen matures, and scouts view him as a potential power-hitting right fielder for years to come.
The Reds have a hitter friendly park and Allen has time to develop. This could be a very solid match between player and organization.
Black Prospects Remaining in the MLB.com Top 100
36) Jaden Hill, RHP, LSU
44) James Wood, OF, IMG Academy (FL)
52) Christian Franklin, OF, Arkansas
66) Braden Montgomery, OF/RHP, Madison Central (MS)
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