2017 Southern League All-Star Roster

As all-star rosters are announced, we’ll provide full details and a look at which prospects are most worthy of your attention.

Southern League All-Star Game

When: June 20.

Where: Blue Wahoos Stadium, Pensacola, Fla.

Prospects To Watch:

Michael Kopech, rhp, Birmingham (White Sox): One of the prizes in the deal that sent Chris Sale to Boston, Kopech hasn’t disappointed thus far with his new club. In 58.1 innings this season, the righthander has whiffed 80 and allowed just 33 hits. Thirty-six walks in that time indicates that he still needs to iron out issues with control, but the raw stuff is still as intriguing as ever.

Nick Gordon, ss, Chattanooga (Twins): After a boffo 2016 season that included a terrific turn in the Arizona Fall League, Gordon has turned it up even more in Double-A this season. His strikeouts are up a little bit this year (a 20.7 percent rate so far as compared to 17.6 last year) but his walk rate has nearly doubled. The results are a .305/.377/.474 slash line so far, with 16 doubles and four home runs.

Kolby Allard, lhp, Mississippi (Braves): Part of the M-Braves’ super trio, Allard jumped over high Class A Florida after just 11 starts at low Class A Rome last season and the southpaw hasn’t missed a beat. He’s 4-3, 2.87 with 51 strikeouts in 63.2 innings. Pretty impressive for a 19-year-old who doesn’t turn 20 until August.

Mike Soroka, rhp, Mississippi (Braves): Like Allard, Soroka was skipped over high Class A and is thriving. Selected out of high school in Canada in the first round two years ago, Soroka has shown both feel to pitch as well as dynamic stuff. Those two elements have led him to a 7-3, 2.73 record with 60 strikeouts and 15 walks (a 4-to-1 strikeout-to-walk ratio) in 62.2 innings. He’s surrendered just 49 hits in that time, and vaulted himself into the conversation regarding the best pitching prospects in the game.

Ronald Acuna, of, Mississippi (Braves): Acuna didn’t skip high Class A, but he didn’t stay there very long. Acuna is one of the biggest risers in the game, and has garnered high praise from nearly every evaluator who’s seen him. He’s a true five-tool player. In a month in Double-A, the 19-year-old is hitting an astonishing .365/.422/.567 with four home runs and 13 stolen bases. He’s a potential impact player at the plate and in the field.