“The future of baseball, as far as pitching goes, definitely is in good hands.”
- Koyie Hill, Dodgers prospect, to Baseball America

Despite a deceiving final score, the 2004 Futures Game should forever be remembered as a pitchers’ duel, as sixteen of the seventeen pitchers escaped without allowing an earned run. Mostly, it was bad defense that helped plate a total of seven runs, as the two squads combined for three costly errors. After jumping out to an early 4-0 lead, the United States barely held on, surrendering three seventh inning runs.

The short left field porch of Minute Maid Park had little bearing on the game, as the teams combined for only eleven hits, and an even fewer three extra-base hits. Toronto shortstop prospect Aaron Hill hit one of the three, a two-run, go-ahead double that would later earn him the MVP award. But, there is no question the game belonged to the pitchers, who awed hitters and fans alike with their Major League readiness.

Joe Blanton, perhaps the pitcher closest to the Majors, started on the mound, allowing a walk and a hit in his scoreless inning. Blanton labored a bit, throwing nineteen pitches, what would be the third highest total of the day. Considered the best player from the Moneyball draft, Blanton was uninspiring, throwing mostly fastballs between 91-94 mph, using his mid-70s curve as a set-up pitch more than an out pitch. Justin Morneau was the only big name he faced, causing the equally-ready first basemen to ground into a fielder’s choice.

In the bottom half of the inning, my seventh ranked prospect Jeff Francis took the mound for the World team, facing the formidable trio of Chris Burke, B.J. Upton and Dallas McPherson. The Canadian southpaw was up for the challenge, striking out Upton and McPherson to end a 1-2-3 inning. Francis seemed to impress the announcing crew of Tony Gwynn and Peter Gammons more than any other pitcher, showing three Major League pitches in his inning of work. At 6-5, the 23-year-old’s 89-91 mph fastball was deceiving on hitters, and he also showcased a high-70s change up and low-80s slider. I was worried that Francis might rely too much on the fastball after throwing it often early, but he retired McPherson on three straight off speed pitches.

Tim Stauffer, the Padres fourth overall selection last year, threw a 1-2-3 top half of the second inning, showing as much dominance as the man that preceded him. Stauffer seemed the most ready of any pitcher, throwing three pitches in the ten-pitch inning that included strikeouts of Tony Blanco and Jose Cortes. Stauffer was between 90-91 with the fastball, also showing a low-80s change and high-70s, impressive curve. It seemed the United States had the benefit of facing a worse group of hitters, seeing as though none of their starting lineup was a top 40 prospect (Morneau would be), compared to seven for the U.S.

There was nothing nearly as exciting as watching Felix Hernandez, my top ranked pitching prospect, as he pitched to hitters nearly six years older than him. The 18-year-old seemed to have a strut walking around the mound, showing extreme confidence despite having to face Prince Fielder and David Wright to lead off the inning. Felix led off the inning with a two mid-90s fastballs, though the Milwaukee first basemen took the second one the other way for a single. Hernandez than went to a 82-84 mph, jaw-dropping curveball on three of the next four pitches, eliminating David Wright in quick order. Koyie Hill led off his at-bat taking a Hernandez fastball to second, where Ruben Gotay and Joel Guzman turned an impressive 4-6-3 double play.

After two innings, the quality of play seemed to drop, as the third inning would host two of the least impressive pitching performances. I had high hopes for John Danks, a 19-year-old Rangers prospect, who would need 33 pitches to escape a bases loaded jam. Danks surely wasn’t helped by three questionable plays by David Wright, who I had heard was a dependable fielder. After a rather unimpressive at-bat by Joel Guzman ended in a single, Wright made an error, and ten two plays later tagged out Guzman running to third rather than turning a 5-4-3 double play. Last year’s ninth overall selection, Danks pitched slower than some reports had him, throwing between 89-92, and showcasing a curveball he left up quite often. It’s hard to blame the kid, he’s only weeks away from the Midwest League, which hasn’t exactly been a prospect’s paradise this year.

A Rule V pick last year, Wil Ledezma helped the U.S. break up a scoreless game, though Mariners outfield prospect Shin-Soo Choo is mostly to blame. Ledezma, who some scouts have compared to Johan Santana, showed little else other than a good fastball, giving up singles to Jason Kubel and Burke. With two outs, B.J. Upton popped up to right field, though Choo would lose track of the ball, allowing Kubel and Burke to score before throwing out a confused Upton.

Clint Everts needed only eight pitches to retire the side, striking out one on a very impressive curve. It seems the Expos top prospect has fallen in love with the pitch, as he threw it on five of his eight pitches. His fastball was only about 86-88, a little too close to his 80 mph curve to be really impressive as he moves up the chain. The same wasn’t true by Jose Capellan, the Braves prospect that seemed to dominate his inning despite allowing a hit to Wright. Capellan threw his fastball from 95-98, using it on thirteen of his fifteen total pitches. His curve was rather unimpressive, and though this might depress Braves’ fans, Capellan reminded me of a younger Kyle Farnsworth.

Why Bill Murphy made the Futures Game roster I don’t know, and despite a two-strikeout, scoreless inning, I still didn’t know at inning’s end. Murphy walked Cubs’ prospect Felix Pie in his second at-bat, something he’s done 53 times in the Southern League so far this season. Still, Murphy threw mostly fastballs, really only trying to use his breaking ball as an out pitch, which worked one of the three times. Also unimpressive was Arnie Munoz, the White Sox southpaw that has struggled since a terrible spot start, that is lucky to have the runs he allowed go as ‘unearned’.

After rising prospect Conor Jackson smoked a double to left field, Jason Kubel reached base for the second time thanks to an Andy Marte error. While not the most gracious call by the scorer, Marte should have made the play moving to his left. Munoz forced Oriole outfielder Val Majewski to hit into a fielder’s choice before Fernando Valenzuela brought in Yusmeiro Petit to try and close the inning. Petit’s first batter was Rickie Weeks, last year’s second pick, that hit an unsuccessful infield fly to third. And then came the Hill at-bat, where Petit hung a curve to see Hill smoke a two-run double to left. Petit wasn’t two impressive, throwing only a 89-90 mph fastball, along with an 80-82 mph curveball that he left up a little too much. The numbers were jaw-dropping in the Sally League, sure, but don’t be too quick to put him in your top ten, readers.

Joke. That is what I thought of Brian Bullington, the former first overall pick that pitched the top half of the sixth inning. But, Bullington impressed me, throwing a low-90s sinker and a very good curve that he can throw strikes with. Maybe he will end up in the bullpen, but Bullington did a nice job against Marte, Choo and Jesus Cota.

El Mago threw the bottom half, throwing one of the easiest mid-90s fastballs that I have ever seen. It didn’t look like Valdez was laboring at all, and he also threw a change and curve in his eight pitch stint. After retiring Fielder and Wright, Valdez was taken out to let the fans see Jairo Garcia, the A’s reliever that just finished storming threw the Midwest League. For a reliever with an ERA under 1.00, I wasn’t too blown away by Garcia, although the slider he struck Jeff Mathis on was disgusting. Garcia threw a 94-95 mph fastball, and a slider ten miles per hour slower, throwing one of his three well.

It seemed a sure bet that after six innings the U.S. would win 4-0, considering they were prepared to throw Matt Cain, Gavin Floyd and Kyle Sleeth at the World to end the game. But, the Americans decided to make things interesting, as Cain loaded the bases before registering an out, putting Gavin Floyd in quite the predicament. A Felix Pie single, Robinson Cano sac, and a wild pitch later, it was a one-run game. But, Floyd would strike out Justin Morneau, and Kyle Sleeth would retire Andy Marte to close out the game.

Watching a game like this, I grow appreciation for scouts, as it was very difficult to get a good read on the makeup of a hitter. I didn’t have a great problem seeing which pitchers I liked and which I didn’t, but adding anything to previous position player scouting reports would be difficult for me. But, I thought the pitching was fantastic in the game, and it definitely provides a good glimpse of the future.

My breakdown of the game will slow down my next prospect ranking (41-75), which should be on the site late Wednesday night. But, for your viewing pleasure, I’ll give you a glimpse of the next installment, presenting prospects 41-50 without comment:

41. Ian Stewart- Colorado Rockies- 3B
42. Joel Guzman- Los Angeles Dodgers- SS
43. Jake Stevens- Atlanta Braves- SP
44. Rickie Weeks- Milwaukee Brewers- 2B
45. Guillermo Quiroz- Toronto Blue Jays- C
46. Chris Burke- Houston Astros- 2B
47. Kyle Davies- Atlanta Braves- SP
48. Dioner Navarro- New York Yankees- C
49. John Van Benschoten- Pittsburgh Pirates- SP
50. Ryan Howard- Philadelphia Phillies- 1B

Drop any Futures Game comments below, and check back on Thursday for a detailed report of my rankings.