The 2024 MLB All-Star Futures Game will feature ten of the Cape Cod Baseball League’s top alumni. The rosters are composed of the best Minor League players from around the league, and many of them have spent part of a recent summer playing in the Cape League. Each and every player went through the draft process, climbed through the ranks in the Minor Leagues, and are now being recognized as some of Minor League Baseball’s best. These are the ten Cape alumni that will suit up for the annual Futures Game on Saturday, July 13 at Globe Life Field.
Beginning with the American League, Brooks Lee (Y-D ‘22) was selected to the Futures Game representing the Minnesota Twins. The switch hitter was slashing .350/.412/.585 on the season in Triple-A St. Paul and got called up just a day after his selection; Lee likely won’t appear in the game now. Selected 8th overall out of Cal Poly in 2022, Lee has ascended the the top of the Twins prospect rankings over the last few years. He’s a disciplined hitter, and his power tool has really emerged this season.
All-Star weekend will mark one year since Boston Red Sox catcher Kyle Teel (Harwich ‘22) was drafted 14th overall from Virginia. In under a year, Teel has solidified himself as one of the best catching prospects in baseball. Teel is on pace to break personal records for almost every offensive category in a single season. His bat paired with his innate ability to call games behind the dish have made him a valuable asset in Boston’s pipeline, and all signs point to a promotion after the break.
Gavin Cross (Brewster ‘21), a Virginia Tech outfield product, has taken a massive step forward in 2024. Culminating in a Futures Game selection, Cross was one of the best hitters in Double-A over the first half of the season. There were many questions concerning what type of player he’ll end up being for the last two years, Cross has gotten back to his old self. His level of play has been what the Royals hoped for when he was drafted 9th overall in 2022.
‘Patience’ has been the name of the game in all conversations surrounding Yankees top prospect Spencer Jones (Brewster ‘21). Fans will have another chance to watch Jones on the national stage though, as he makes his second Futures Game appearance. The power hitting lefty made waves in the Cape League two years ago, where he posted a .904 OPS with the Whitecaps. Vanderbilt’s 2022 25th overall draft selection will showcase his skills once again on MiLB’s biggest stage.
Speed is the name of the game for Tampa Bay Rays 2022 2nd round pick Chandler Simpson (Cotuit ‘22). Through 65 games in the Minor Leagues this year, he’s stolen a league leading 58 bags across High-A and Double-A. Not only has his quickness come to prominence, but he’s swinging the bat better than he ever has as well. The former Georgia Tech infielder turned Rays outfielder has a 137 wRC+ this year, and a .374 wOBA since making the jump to Double-A Montgomery. Simpson will be one to watch in his Futures Game debut.
WATCH: No Biscuits baseball tonight because of rain, so here’s outfielder Chandler Simpson on his selection to play in the MLB All-Star Futures Game on July 13 in Arlington! @BiscuitBaseball @wsfa12news @wsfa12sports pic.twitter.com/LQRm3epTSs
— Davis Baker (@DavisBakerTV) July 6, 2024
The sole Cape League alumni on the American League’s pitching staff is Wisconsin-Milwaukee’s A.J. Blubaugh (Orleans ‘22). The Firebirds, known for their elite pitching pipeline, will have another one of their own pitch in the Futures Game. Blubaugh is in the midst of a career year, where he’s pitched to the tune of a 3.46 ERA and 72 strikeouts. In eight appearances in the Cape League, Blubaugh allowed just two hits. Now, he’s risen to be the Houston Astros’ top young arm; additionally, Balubaugh is being recognized as one of the best pitchers in the Minor Leagues.
The National League will feature four Cape League alumni, two infielders and two pitchers. Cam Collier (Cotuit ‘22), Chipola Junior College’s most recent 1st round pick and first since 1984, has been one of the best players in High-A this year. Collier sits inside the top ten in RBIs with 48, and has crushed 13 home runs so far. Cotuit’s former third baseman has been attracting more and more attention this season, and is heralded as one of the Cincinnati Reds top prospects.
A few years ago, the Cardinals found themselves in a deficit regarding pitching prospects. Now with the emergence of young pitchers like Quinn Mathews (Cotuit ‘21), the pipeline is back on track. The 4th round pick from Stanford has a 2.04 ERA on the season, and by far leads the organization in Minor League strikeouts at 113. He’s even surpassed his former career high K/9 11.4 with Cotuit, posting a 12.8 mark this season. He’s progressed through two levels already, and just made his Double-A debut in Springfield. With a big second half, Mathews could end up as the Cardinals top prospect.
Our Minor League Pitcher of the Month is LHP Quinn Mathews!
Mathews, 23, posted a 3-0 record with a 2.10 ERA and made 4 straight quality starts before his promotion to Double-A, where he allowed one hit over 5.1 IP.
He was named to the NL All-Star Futures Game roster on July 2. pic.twitter.com/qtYPwwdbf0
— Cardinals Player Development (@CardsPlayerDev) July 5, 2024
The Cape League’s Pat Sorenti Most Valuable Player in 2022, Matt Shaw (Bourne ‘22), will also be making his Futures Game debut just a year after being drafted 13th overall. The Chicago Cubs five-tool prospect posted a 1.004 OPS and led the Cape League in batting average, and now in Double-A Tennessee he’s cemented himself as an elite, versatile infielder that can play third or second base. Since being drafted from Maryland, Shaw has comfortably placed himself inside MLB’s top 100 prospect list.
One of the quickest rising prospects is Mets right-handed pitcher Brandon Sproat (Chatham ‘21). In his forts Minor League season, Sproat has pitched 73.2 innings with a 1.71 ERA. The Florida alum and 3rd round pick last year has risen all the way inside the Mets top 10 prospects. With his 0.95 WHIP, Sproat is demonstrating his elite command and feel for the zone. Watching Sproat in the Futures Game will be rewarding for Mets fans, as they have a pitching prospect to be really excited about entering the second half of play.
Adam Greene is a student UMass Amherst's Isenberg School of Management. He currently writes for the Cape Cod Baseball League and UMass Athletics. From Longmeadow, MA, Adam is a huge Red Sox fan and has been following the team his whole life and he's spent the last few years covering their farm system. Follow him on Twitter at @aj_greene1015 and Instagram at the same handle.
Leave a Reply