MLB Futures Game 2015: Rosters, Top Players to Watch and Prediction

There are a number of purists who complain loudly about nearly every aspect of All-Star week.

The home run contest is just a made-for-TV exhibition that is just for children. The game itself means nothing, as the rivalry between the two leagues has all but disappeared. Giving the winning league home-field advantage to the team that wins the All-Star Game is simply a ludicrous idea.

You've heard all of them before and will undoubtedly hear those complaints again. However, there are no complaints about the Futures Game that will be played on Sunday at Great American Ball Park. This game allows the best young prospects in the world to show off their talents. The game takes the best of the young players born in the United States against the best from outside the U.S. borders.

They have been playing this game since 1999, and some of the best alumni from this game include Jose Bautista, Josh Beckett, Kris Bryant, Miguel Cabrera, Gerrit Cole, Jacoby Ellsbury, Prince Fielder, Bryce Harper, Manny Machado, Joe Mauer, CC Sabathia, Pablo Sandoval, Mike Trout, Chase Utley, Joey Votto and Kevin Youkilis.

The 2015 game features many soon-to-be famous major leaguers, and in this piece, we will look at several of the best players in the game, as well as make a prediction on the outcome.

Player	Position	Major League Affiliation
Jose Berrios	P	Minnesota Twins
Edwin Diaz	P	Seattle Mariners
Jarlin Garcia	P	Miami Marlins
Juan Gonzalez	P	Los Angeles Dodgers
Wei-Chieh Huang	P	Arizona Diamondbacks
Joe Jimenez	P	Detroit Tigers
Jairo Labourt	P	Toronto Blue Jays
Keury Mella	P	San Francisco Giants
Frankie Montas	P	Chicago White Sox
Alex Reyes	P	St. Louis Cardinals
Elias Diaz	C	Pittsburgh Pirates
Gary Sanchez	C	N.Y. Yankees
Ozhaino Albies	IF	Atlanta Braves
Orlando Arcia	IF	Milwaukee Brewers
Cheslor Cuthbert	IF	Kansas City Royals
Rafael Devers	IF	Boston Red Sox
Max Kepler	IF	Minnesota Twins
Ketel Marte	IF	Seattle Mariners
Raul Mondesi	IF	Kansas City Royals
Renato Nunez	IF	Oakland A's
Socrates Brito	OF	Arizona Diamondbacks
Manuel Margot	OF	Boston Red Sox
Nomar Mazara	OF	Texas Rangers
Yorman Rodriguez	OF	Cincinnati Reds
Raimel Tapia	OF	Colorado Rockies

World Team

3B Rafael Devers, Boston Red Sox, Dominican Republic

Devers may be the fastest-rising star in all of the minor leagues. This 18-year-old tore up the rookie league last year, and he is playing for Class A Greenville. Devers has a .289/.318/.439 slash line with seven home runs and 42 RBI. Devers has a few problems defensively, but he has excellent hand-eye coordination and could turn out to be a game-changing hitter.

Jamie Squire/Getty Images

SS Raul Adalberto Mondesi, Kansas City Royals, Dominican Republic

If the name sounds familiar, that's because he is the son of former major league outfielder Raul Mondesi, who played 13 years in the big leagues and had his best seasons with the Los Angeles Dodgers. The younger Mondesi is still developing as a hitter and a fielder, but he has the tools to make it to the major leagues and become an impact player. He has a .264/.281/.411 slash line with four homers and 22 RBI at the AA level.

Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

OF Yorman Rodriguez, Cincinnati Reds, Venezuela

Rodriguez has the great tools to become a consistent star, but he has not yet put it together. He has shown improvement after a rough start to his career, and he has nine home runs and 40 RBI so far this season for Triple-A Louisville. Rodriguez could be in a position to put on a show before his future home fans.

P Edwin Diaz, Seattle Mariners, Puerto Rico

This 21-year-old is the top pitching prospect in the Mariners' system, and if he can fill out his 6'3", 165-pound frame, he could turn out to be a star.

Diaz does not have overly impressive numbers—5-6, 3.50 ERA, 1.13 WHIP—but he has excellent stuff. If he can develop a consistent changeup, he could be a starter in the major leagues. If not, he will almost certainly be a dependable reliever.

Player	Position	Major League Affiliation
Mark Appel	P	Houston Astros
Tyler Beede	P	San Francisco Giants
Zach Davies	P	Baltimore Orioles
Carl Edwards Jr.	P	Chicago Cubs
Amir Garrett	P	Cincinnati Reds
Lucas Giolito	P	Washington Nationals
Sean Newcomb	P	Los Angeles Angels
Aaron Nola	P	Philadelphia Phillies
Colin Rea	P	San Diego Padres
Blake Snell	P	Tampa Bay Rays
Kyle Schwarber	C	Chicago Cubs
Kyle Farmer	C	Los Angeles Dodgers
Josh Bell	IF	Pittsburgh Pirates
J.P. Crawford	IF	Philadelphia Phillies
Tony Kemp	IF	Houston Astros
Matt Olson	IF	Oakland A's
Richie Shaffer	IF	Tampa Bay Rays
Trevor Story	IF	Colorado Rockies
Trea Turner	IF	Washington Nationals
Michael Conforto	OF	N.Y. Mets
Aaron Judge	OF	N.Y. Yankees
Brandon Nimmo	OF	N.Y. Mets
Kyle Waldrop	OF	Cincinnati Reds
Nick Williams	OF	Texas Rangers
Bradley Zimmer	OF	Cleveland Indians

Team USA

2B Tony Kemp, Houston Astros, Vanderbilt University

Kemp has a future in the big leagues, but it may not come with the Astros. This second baseman may be used in a trade by the surging 'Stros because they have the top second baseman in the American League in Jose Altuve.

However, Kemp has a .299/.344/.385 slash line that includes two homers and 15 RBI since he was moved up to Triple-A Fresno in the Pacifiic Coast League. Kemp has hit at every level in the pro ranks since 2013, and it's just a matter of time before he is doing it at the major league level.

Jeff Roberson/Associated Press

SS J.P. Crawford, Philadelphia Phillies, Lakewood (HS), Lakewood, CA

The Phillies are struggling quite a bit at the major league level, but they are hoping that young players like Crawford can get them moving in the right direction.

Crawford looks to be an excellent all-around shortstop who does everything well in the field and at the bat. He has a .278/.377/.411 at Double-A Reading, and it would not be a shock to see the 16th pick in the 2013 draft playing with the Phillies some time during the 2016 season.

Mark Ylen/Associated Press

LF Michael Conforto, N.Y. Mets, Oregon State 

The Mets need hitting badly to complement their excellent pitching, and there is a good chance that Conforto could at least serve as a partial answer to their problems. Conforto belted seven homers and knocked in 28 runs at St. Lucie with an .811 OPS to earn a promotion to Double-A Binghamton.

He has continued to progress with a .308/.391/.481 slash line at that level, and he is also slugging .872. If he continues to progress like that, he will be up with the Mets fairly soon.

P Carl Edwards Jr., Chicago Cubs, Mid-Carolina (HS), Prosperity, SC

Edwards is not a typical phenom because he was selected in the 48th round in 2011 by the Texas Rangers, and the Cubs acquired him when they traded Matt Garza to the Rangers.

Edwards is rail-thin at 6'3" and 170 pounds, but he has developed into one of the top pitching prospects in the organization. Edwards throws with excellent velocity and his ball also moves quite well. The Cubs are not sure whether he will be a starter or a reliever, but he appears to have a big league future. In four-plus minor league seasons, Edwards has a 2.02 ERA and 1.002 WHIP.

Prediction: Team USA 6, World 3

After a strong run by the World team that saw them win three games in a row from 2007 through 2009, Team USA has won the last five games in a row. Look for that beat to go on, as the Americans have too much talent and depth.