MLB’s top prospects gathered on Saturday for the league’s annual Futures Game. The biggest hero of the day came in the form of one of the lesser-known prospects.
Miami Marlins prospect Nasim Nuñez earned MVP honors with an RBI double by punting in the fifth inning to put the game out of reach in a 5-0 National League victory. Nuñez then used his top speed to steal third base.
Nuñez, ranked the 20th prospect in the Miami system by MLB Pipeline, was playing in the game a year after the death of his grandfather, one of his biggest fans. Asked about it after the match, he made it simple:
“He’s smiling, that’s all that matters,” Nuñez said.
The NL got its other runs on a Milwaukee Brewers RBI single catching prospect Jeferson Quero, baseball’s No. 76 prospect, according to MLB Pipeline.
Meanwhile, Philadelphia Phillies No. 44 prospect Mick Abel started a shutout for the NL, whose pitchers combined to strike out 12 in the seven-inning game.
In total, the game featured appearances from six of baseball’s top 10 prospects, including No. 1 prospect Jackson Holliday of the Baltimore Orioles, No. 3 prospect Jackson Chourio of the Milwaukee Brewers and No. 4 prospect Marcelo. Mayer of the Boston Red Sox. Elly De La Cruz, number 2, was busy doing other things.
The Futures Game kicked off the week of MLB All-Star events in Seattle. Fittingly, the Futures Game coaching staff was made up of former Mariners players, including managers Harold Reynolds and Raul Ibañez and pitching coaches Félix Hernández and Jamie Moyer.
Coming up this week are the first two rounds of the MLB Draft on Sunday, the Home Run Derby on Monday and the All-Star Game itself on Tuesday.