Predicting MLB Arrival Date of Each Top Prospect in the All-Star Futures Game

On Sunday, July 12, Major League Baseball's future will descend on Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati.

In a sense, anyway. That's when baseball will hold its annual Futures Game, and as per usual, all the best prospects have been invited.

Now you know where you can see them in an all-star exhibition game. But if you want to know when you might see them in the majors, that's what we're here to discuss.

A total of 50 players were selected to play in this year's Futures Game, and each one of them is intriguing in his own way. But we're going to focus on the 15 most intriguing prospects and predict when they'll arrive in the majors. We'll base our guesses on things like where they are now and how hard they're pushing to make it to the majors.

One thing, though: We're ignoring players who have already made it to the majors. So, don't expect to see Kyle Schwarber's name here.

We'll go in order from latest to arrive to soonest to arrive. Step into the box whenever you're ready.

15. Rafael Devers, 3B, Boston Red Sox

Red Sox fans who are looking for a bit of hope at the hot corner should look away from Pablo Sandoval and at this guy.

Signed for $1.5 million in 2013, Rafael Devers put himself on the top-prospect radar with a .322 average and .910 OPS in his first taste of pro ball in 2014. That performance made him a consensus top-100 prospect, and he's refused to fall from grace in 2015.

Devers has spent the season at Single-A, where he's hit .305 with a .784 OPS in 58 games. In the process, ESPN.com's Keith Law writes that he's shown off "explosive bat speed and power" that project him as a middle-of-the-order bat.

However, don't expect to see Devers anytime soon. He's only 18 years old, and he's still filling in his 6'0" frame. He'll have to work to stay at third base as he does so, and he also has some holes to plug in his approach.

All the same, Devers is one of the fastest-rising prospects in the minor leagues. Whereas a target date as late as 2019 seemed sensible at the start of the year, now 2017 seems realistic.

ETA: Late 2017

14. Raul Adalberto Mondesi, SS, Kansas City Royals

The elder Raul Mondesi was a stocky outfielder with a power bat. So, of course his son is a slender middle infielder with quick feet and a slick glove.

That's mainly what the Royals paid for when they signed the young Mondesi for $2 million in 2011. He made his pro debut at just 16 years of age in 2012 and is now a 19-year-old playing at Double-A.

He could be doing better offensively. Mondesi is hitting just .270 and showing virtually no patience with just four walks in 32 games. Beyond limiting his hitting potential, this also limits his capacity to get on base and show off his speed.

The bright side is that Mondesi is a sight to behold on defense. According to Baseball Prospectus, he shows "flash and substance with the leather" when playing shortstop. That's the main reason why he was a consensus top-40 prospect at the start of the year, as he'll be something special if his bat develops.

However, Mondesi needs more time for that. Though he's already advanced as far as Double-A, it's a good bet he won't see the majors for at least another two years.

ETA: Mid-2017

13. Alex Reyes, RHP, St. Louis Cardinals

You've heard this one before: A power-pitching prospect in the Cardinals organization seems only to be getting better.

St. Louis does seem to specialize in those, and Alex Reyes is the next in line. The 20-year-old right-hander came into the year ranked as a top-60 prospect by Baseball America and Baseball Prospectus and has only opened more eyes with his work since.

Reyes owns a 2.08 ERA in 12 starts at High-A, notably striking out a staggering 90 batters in just 60.2 innings. ESPN Insider Keith Law says this is no accident: "Reyes has seen his stuff tick up this spring in a big way; he's now sitting in the upper 90s as a starter, his curveball is more consistently plus, and he has a developing changeup."

The catch is that Reyes has also walked 30 batters in 30.2 innings. That calls to mind Carlos Martinez's early career in St. Louis' system, as he also had to get over some control issues before moving on to bigger and better things.

If Reyes follows the same pattern, he'll see ample time in Double-A and Triple-A and a call-up no sooner than he's ready. But while a good guess at the start of the season would have involved 2017, his accelerated development makes an earlier call-up a realistic possibility.

ETA: Late 2016

12. Manuel Margot, CF, Boston Red Sox

In Mookie Betts, the Red Sox already have a center fielder with plenty of athleticism and surprising pop for a guy his size. In Manuel Margot, they have another of those coming through the pipeline.

After signing for less than $1 million in 2011, Margot has since established himself as a consensus top-100 prospect. In MLB.com's opinion, he's the "best all-around athlete in the Red Sox system." That shows up in the 113 steals he has in four seasons, and he showed off some good power in 2014 with 12 home runs.

Margot was in High-A to begin 2015 and recently earned a promotion to Double-A by hitting .282 with a .741 OPS, three homers and 20 steals in 46 games.

What comes next at Double-A will obviously be Margot's biggest test to date. But if he sticks to his pattern of advancing more quickly than expected, he could end up in Triple-A by early 2016 and knock on the door to the majors sometime next summer.

The catch is that Betts' presence means Reyes won't be needed in center field. But with Boston's supply of capable outfielders having all but disappeared, that doesn't mean there won't be a spot for him.

ETA: Late 2016

11. Josh Bell, 1B/OF, Pittsburgh Pirates

The Pirates seemed to draft an unsignable player when they took Josh Bell in the second round of the 2011 draft. But surprisingly, they managed to sign him, prompting everyone to get all excited.

The excitement has died down a bit since then, but Bell still entered 2015 as a consensus top-100 prospect. And after struggling with his first introduction to Double-A ball in 2014, he's handled it a lot better this year. In 66 games, he's hitting .318 with an .828 OPS and more walks than strikeouts.

Things haven't been perfect, however. Bell is supposed to be a power-hitting prospect, and he's so far hit only three home runs. This is something that David Manel of Bucs Dugout reports is of no concern to the Pirates, but here's thinking they'd like to see that aspect of Bell's game develop before putting him on a fast track to the majors.

As it is, there's no obvious place for Bell to play anyway. Pittsburgh's outfield is already loaded with talent, and Pedro Alvarez is holding it down at first base. 

Though there's a possibility the Pirates could call up Bell for a cup of coffee this September, it seems more likely they will wait until he's safely past 2016's Super Two cutoff.

ETA: Mid-2016

10. J.P. Crawford, SS, Philadelphia Phillies

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The Phillies drafted J.P. Crawford No. 16 overall in 2013 with the belief that he could one day be a do-it-all shortstop. And the way he's playing, that idea may come to fruition sooner than expected.

Crawford easily made the grade as a top-100 prospect coming into 2015, but he was especially well-liked by Baseball America at No. 14 overall. It looks like that site nailed it, as Crawford destroyed High-A with a .932 OPS in 21 games and now has an .825 OPS in 24 games at Double-A.

One guy who's seen enough is Keith Law. He has the 20-year-old shortstop as the No. 4 prospect in MLB and praised him like so: "He's an elite defender with tremendous bat-to-ball skill who profiles as a true leadoff type with his ability to hit for average, get on base and run a little."

None of this means Crawford's arrival is imminent, mind you. He could finish out the year at Double-A and begin 2016 at Triple-A.

But with only Freddy Galvis blocking Crawford at the major league level, the Phillies likely won't hesitate to call on Crawford as soon as he's ready. And the way he's going, that could be within one year.

ETA: Mid-2016

9. Orlando Arcia, SS, Milwaukee Brewers

Michael Spooneybarger/Associated Press

If he was anything like his older brother, Oswaldo, Orlando Arcia would be an outfielder with power and, well, not much else to offer.

Instead, the 20-year-old Arcia is a slender shortstop with a solid glove and a bat that was good enough to put him in top-100 prospect territory coming into the year. In the days since, that bat has only begun to look better.

Arcia has spent the entire season at Double-A, where he's hit .307 with a .789 OPS in 65 games. The big improvement has been in his power, as he's slugging .436 after slugging only .392 in 2014. Just as encouraging is how he hasn't had to sacrifice any contact to get more pop, as his 10.3 percent strikeout rate is just fine.

In a season that's long since turned into a lost cause, there's no need for the Brewers to rush Arcia straight from Double-A to the majors. But with Jean Segura having fallen far from his early-career high, Arcia should be and probably is on Milwaukee's radar for next season.

ETA: Mid-2016

8. Brandon Nimmo, OF, New York Mets

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For the record, yes, the Mets do have players in their system besides power pitchers. They also have two good outfielders in Michael Conforto (who will also be at the Futures Game) and Brandon Nimmo.

And of the two, Nimmo looks especially good.

The Mets drafted the 22-year-old center fielder with the No. 13 pick in 2011, and he came into 2015 as a consensus top-100 prospect after tearing it up in 2014. The only catch was that he slowed down once he got to Double-A, but he's overcome that by hitting .317 with an .812 OPS at that level this season.

That must sound like music to the ears of Mets fans who have had to suffer one of MLB's least productive outfields. And with Juan Lagares doing basically nothing of value in center field, Nimmo has probably never looked more attractive.

But he doesn't look like a finished product. Though his offensive numbers at Double-A are strong, he's posting an uncharacteristically low 7.1 percent walk rate and has also seen his power decline. 

Given that, it seems unlikely that the Mets will rush to promote Nimmo straight to the big leagues. Some playing time at Triple-A is in order first, which puts him more in line for a 2016 debut.

ETA: Mid-2016

7. Aaron Judge, OF, New York Yankees

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The Yankees landed an impressive specimen when they picked the 6'7" and 275-pound Aaron Judge with the No. 32 pick in 2013. But they also seemed to land a guy who would need a fair amount of polishing.

But Judge is progressing quickly. He hit .308 with a .905 OPS across two levels in 2014 and recently earned a promotion to Triple-A after hitting .284 with an .866 OPS at Double-A. The 23-year-old right fielder is now one step from the majors.

And at first glance, it looks like an opportunity for a quick promotion is there. The Yankees have Carlos Beltran in right field, and he's neither productive nor durable.

However, it won't be a surprise if Judge's apparent fast track to the majors slows down. The move from Single-A to High-A last year saw his OPS drop by more than 100 points. And at Double-A this year, his walk rate fell from the high teens to just 8.6, while his strikeout rate remained steady in the mid-20s.

Ask Keith Law, and he'll say that both he and scouts agree that Judge is going to close the gaps that remain in his plate coverage. But it's a good bet that will take time and that the Yankees won't promote him until it happens. That could be this September, but next year is a safer bet.

ETA: Early 2016

6. Lucas Giolito, RHP, Washington Nationals

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In Lucas Giolito, the Nationals might just have the best pitching prospect in baseball.

He was coming off Tommy John surgery when the Nationals drafted him 16th overall in 2012, and their gamble has paid off. The 20-year-old right-hander came into the year as a top-10 prospect, and everyone is in love with his stuff—especially Baseball Prospectus, which sees his hard fastball and power curveball as 80-grade pitches.

The catch with Giolito is that he's only advanced as far as High-A, where he has a 3.71 ERA in eight starts. And though he's struck out 57 batters in 43.2 innings, he's also allowed 51 hits.

As such, it's a stretch to say that he is pounding on the door to the majors. The soonest he could arrive is in a September call-up, but it's more likely that the Nationals have 2016 in mind for his arrival.

Certainly, that would be convenient with the Nationals possibly losing Jordan Zimmermann and Doug Fister to free agency this winter. Assuming they don't re-sign both of them, Giolito being ready for 2016 would be all too perfect.

ETA: Early 2016

5. Trea Turner, SS, Washington Nationals

Trea Turner might best be known as the guy who was hypothetically a member of the Nationals but couldn't officially be a member of the Nationals and finally became a member of the Nationals recently.

Beyond that, the 21-year-old is also known for being one of the more talented shortstop prospects in the minors. The San Diego Padres drafted him 13th overall last summer, and he came into 2015 ranked as a top-65 prospect by Baseball America and MLB.com.

Those rankings now look like an undersell. In 68 games at Double-A, Turner is hitting .327 with five homers and an .860 OPS. He also has 15 steals, but his stolen base potential is a lot bigger than that. He might have 80-grade speed, a rare thing indeed.

This is not to say Turner looks like a finished product. For a guy who projects as a leadoff man, his 8.5 percent walk rate is a bit too low, and his 19 percent strikeout rate is a bit too high. These point to holes in his approach that must be fixed.

But regarding his MLB arrival date, this may be moot. With Denard Span and Ian Desmond set for free agency this winter, the Nationals could soon need both a new leadoff man and a new shortstop.

You can expect Turner to get a chance to earn both jobs, giving him a real shot at breaking cap with the Nats next spring.

ETA: Early 2016

4. Nomar Mazara, OF, Texas Rangers

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The last good hitter named Nomar was a guy who played shortstop for the Boston Red Sox. The next one could soon play right field for the Rangers.

Nomar Mazara was signed to a then-record $4.95 million bonus back in 2011, and he's now looking like he could be worth every penny. The 20-year-old lefty swinger made himself a top-100 prospect for 2015 with a dominant performance at Double-A in 2014, and he hasn't let up in 2015. In 69 games, he's hitting .289 with an .826 OPS and nine home runs.

Mazara's power projects to be even better in the long run, but what's most intriguing is how he seems to have fewer holes than the typical power hitter. This season has seen him drop both his walk and strikeout rates from where they were last season, helping to convince Keith Law to rank Mazara as baseball's No. 12 prospect.

Regarding his major league future, one present complication is that there's nowhere for him to play in Texas. Shin-Soo Choo is in right field, and not even Joey Gallo may be able to stay in left field once Josh Hamilton returns from injury.

So if Mazara is going to debut in 2015, it'll probably be as a September call-up. 

ETA: Late 2015

3. Jose Berrios, RHP, Minnesota Twins

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The Twins are known for having two of baseball's best position player prospects in center fielder Byron Buxton and third baseman Miguel Sano. But don't forget about Jose Berrios.

A No. 32 pick in 2012, the 21-year-old right-hander came into 2015 ranked as a consensus top-50 prospect and is having no trouble authoring a worthy follow-up to his strong 2014 season. In 14 starts at Double-A, he owns a 3.23 ERA with 86 strikeouts and 23 walks in 83.2 innings.

Berrios does all this with a fastball that sits in the low 90s and a changeup and breaking ball that both grade as above average. He also has good command and, in MLB.com's opinion, the "kind of confidence you like to see in a young starter."

All this makes for an appealing package of talent, and it's easy to imagine the Twins calling on it before the end of the year. Buxton just made the jump from Double-A when a need arose, and Berrios could do the same if a need arises in a Twins rotation that looks both solid and shaky at once.

If he's not in the majors sooner, it's safe to at least expect a September call-up.

ETA: Late 2015

2. Mark Appel, RHP, Houston Astros

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When Mark Appel takes the hill at the Futures Game, baseball fans are going to be looking at one of the most perplexing prospects around.

The No. 1 overall pick in the draft in 2013 and a consensus top-35 prospect coming into 2015, the 23-year-old right-hander packs ace-level stuff in a mid-90s fastball and two secondaries that grade as plus in his changeup and slider. And after honing his craft at Stanford, Appel also has an idea how to pitch.

And yet, he has not dominated the minor leagues. He owns just a 5.36 ERA for his career and has authored just a 4.26 ERA at Double-A this year.

Despite that, things are looking up for Appel. He just got the call to Triple-A this week, and Astros general manager Jeff Luhnow seems to be champing at the bit to promote him to the majors.

“He’s on his way," Luhnow told Evan Drellich of the Houston Chronicle. "He’s got the stuff to pitch up here. And now it’s a matter of demonstrating, continuing to demonstrate that he can execute and us having an opportunity for him here.”

If Appel does demonstrate that he belongs in the majors, making the call won't be hard for the Astros. Apart from Dallas Keuchel and Lance McCullers Jr., their rotation has been shaky lately. All told, chances are good that Appel will be in the majors soon.

ETA: August 2015

1. Aaron Nola, RHP, Philadelphia Phillies

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It's barely been more than a year since the Phillies drafted Aaron Nola out of LSU with the No. 7 overall pick. Normally, that means a long wait for a major league debut.

But not with Nola. He entered the year as a top-40 prospect in the eyes of Baseball America and MLB.com and has been on a fast track to the majors ever since. He was recently promoted from Double-A to Triple-A, and Philadelphia general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. seems to be counting the days to his arrival.

"He earned his spot and earned his opportunity to get to Triple-A," said Amaro, via Randy Miller of NJ.com. "We'll see how he goes there and I fully expect him to be in the big leagues at some point this year."

The 22-year-old Nola making his MLB debut before the end of the year is not far-fetched. He dominated Double-A to the tune of a 1.88 ERA in 12 starts and has allowed just three runs with 14 strikeouts and two walks in 12.2 innings in his two starts at Triple-A.

Beyond the numbers, Nola has the goods. He has a quality three-pitch mix in his fastball, slider and changeup, and MLB.com is of the mind he has "tremendous command" of these pitches.

Stuff and command make up a good combination for the majors. That's exactly where you can expect to see Nola soon.

ETA: August 2015

Note: Stats courtesy of Baseball-Reference.com and FanGraphs unless otherwise noted/linked and are current through play on Wednesday, June 24.