The best of MLB’s farm systems came together on Saturday for the league’s 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 away in a 5-0 National League win. He 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.”
The NL got its other runs on a Milwaukee Brewers RBI single catching prospect Jeferson Quero, the No. 76 baseball 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.