MLB Futures Game 2012: Best Performers in This Year's Prospect Showcase

The 2012 Major League Baseball All-Star Futures Game was supposed to be all about the pitching. Instead, the offenses turned around and put up 22 total runs, with the U.S. scoring 17 of them. 

It was a rather sloppy game, particularly from the World, but as always there were a number of players who stood out in at least one facet of the game. 

This game, which only gives you a small glimpse into what these players can really do, is hardly the be-all and end-all way to evaluate them. But it is always great to see so many elite players in one spot, going up against each other. 

Keeping that in mind, here is a look at the most notable performers from the Futures Game.

Position Players

Oscar Taveras, OF, St. Louis Cardinals

While we all knew Taveras could hit—he is currently batting .322/.372/.596 as a 20-year-old at Double-A Springfield—but his batting practice session was as impressive as anyone at the Futures Game. 

There is a lot of violence in his swing, and he is not the most patient hitter, but because he has such great bat control and gets the barrel on the ball with great frequency, Taveras should have little problem hitting in the big leagues. 

He always had power potential, but Taveras is just now starting to show what he is truly capable of. His 17 home runs this season equal his total the previous three years combined. 

Rymer Liriano, OF, San Diego Padres

After leading the Midwest League in hitting last year, Liriano finally started to translate his tools into results on the field. He won the league's MVP award in 2011 after hitting .319/.383/.499 in 116 games with the Fort Wayne Tincaps. 

Liriano has worked his up two levels this season, currently playing at Double A San Antonio. He showed why the sky is still the limit for him, putting on a show in batting practice. He was launching balls out with a short, smooth stroke. 

There is at least 25-30 home run potential in his bat, if not more, as he continues to make adjustments. 

Mike Olt, 3B, Texas Rangers

Like Taveras and Liriano, Olt put on a show before the game started. He was launching balls out of Kaufmann Stadium with ease during batting practice. 

During the game, Olt only had one hit, but it was one of the best swings of the day. He waited back on a pitch from Ariel Pena, the late Angels replacement who had a game to forget, and took it out to center field. 

Nick Castellanos, 3B, Detroit Tigers

Unlike the first two names on the list, Castellanos made his presence felt during the game with a three-run home run to center field. He also added two singles and a walk for a 3-for-4 day, en route to winning the Futures Game MVP. 

Castellanos continues to get rave reviews for his hitting, with a great approach, bat speed and power in his arsenal, it is no wonder there is a clamoring from Tigers fans to get Miguel Cabrera in the DH spot full-time so Castellanos will be able to play. 

Given that Castellanos is just 20 years old, there is no rush to bring him up. Of course, the Tigers have never been shy about being aggressive with their top prospects. 

Billy Hamilton, SS, Cincinnati Reds

If there was one player everyone was looking forward to seeing in this game, it was Hamilton. His 104 stolen bases through 82 games this season has become all the rage. 

While he did not have an opportunity to steal a base in this game, sadly, Hamilton did show off his speed after a line drive hit to center field was misplayed. I didn't start timing him until he really ran, which was about halfway down the first baseline, but he made it all the way to third in less than nine seconds. 

The news was not all great, as he did show some of the problems he has had in the field, particularly with his throwing arm, but just in terms of showing off your best attribute, Hamilton delivered. 

Shortstops

I did talk about Hamilton earlier, but I am making this a different category, because I don't think he ultimately stays at shortstop. 

Don't go crying for the position, as Jurickson Profar (Texas), Manny Machado (Baltimore) and Francisco Lindor (Cleveland) are the next wave of great shortstops. 

Profar was on his way to winning the MVP of the Futures Game, before the World team's pitching imploded and Castellanos did what he did. With Trout and Harper in the big leagues, he is probably the best position player prospect in the game right now. 

Machado may eventually outgrow the position, but he continues to show good range, instincts and footwork to go along with a strong arm. 

Lindor was given an aggressive assignment by the Indians in his first season, but just continues to impress. He didn't have a chance to do much in this game, offensively or defensively, though he is making a lot of noise for his maturity and natural feel for shortstop. 

Wil Myers, OF, Kansas City Royals

In a lot of ways, this game was built around Myers. He played the entire game in the stadium that he will soon call home. The crowd went nuts for him whenever he stepped up to the plate, and with two hits and three RBIs, Myers did not disappoint. 4

Myers swing starts open, before he closes his lead leg and uses his hips to explode through the zone. He generates a lot of torque and power without a lot of moving parts. 

His future in Kansas City is going to begin sooner rather than later. 

Anthony Gose, OF, Toronto Blue Jays

Gose may have had the most exciting play of the entire day, showing off his defensive skills in center field to rob Oscar Taveras of an extra base hit.

Gose broke in on the ball but was able to use his blazing speed to cover a ton of ground in center and make a diving catch. If that wasn't good enough, he threw a laser to first to nearly turn a double play. 

Pitchers

Alex Meyer, RHP, Washington Nationals

It was not a banner day for either pitching staff, but there were a few singular moments that really stood out. 

Meyer provided one of the best in his 2/3 innings of work, showing an explosive 99 mph fastball with movement. He also proved he has more guts than brains, as he threw a wipeout slider to Carlos Sanchez, who was hitting from the left side of the plate. 

Bruce Rondon, RHP, Detroit Tigers

Rondon is one of the hardest throwers in the minors, and he proved that in this game hitting 102 in the ninth inning. He does not have a good delivery, as there is a lot of effort and stress on his arm, but as a one-inning reliever he can afford to get away with it. 

Taijuan Walker, RHP, Seattle Mariners

There has been some concern over Walker's performance in Double-A this season, though it is important to remember he is just 19 years old and it takes time for the results to catch up to the stuff. 

On this stage, Walker showed there is nothing wrong with his stuff. He was easily sitting in the mid-90s during his one inning of work. He is still trying to refine his command but any concerns about his results are being overblown. 

Yordano Ventura, RHP, Kansas City Royals

Jake Odorizzi is the best starting prospect the Royals have in their system, but Ventura has the most exciting arm. 

Starting the game for the World team, Ventura hit 100 with his fastball. He is probably a reliever in the future due to his frame and lack of plane, but he can be a dominant one in the back of the bullpen.

Tyler Skaggs, LHP, Arizona Diamondbacks

Taking the place of fellow Arizona pitcher Trevor Bauer, Skaggs made quick work of the world team in his inning of work. He doesn't have the big velocity that a lot of the pitchers do, at least not yet, but his fastball command continues to impress. 

He only needed eight pitches to get through the fifth inning. He still offers some projection, and could easily join Bauer in Arizona later this year if the Diamondbacks have an opening in the rotation. 

Follow @adamwells1985