Five Players Who Could Star In The 2025 Futures Game
Image credit: (Photo/Tom DiPace)
With the 2024 Futures Game in the past, it’s time to turn our attention to 2025, when the all-star festivities will shift to Atlanta. Last year, Baseball America selected five young prospects whose stock was pointing up that we believed had a shot to land on this year’s rosters for the sport’s premier prospect showcase.
Our picks back then were: Sebastian Walcott (Rangers), Ethan Salas (Padres), Noah Schultz (White Sox), Samuel Basallo (Orioles) and Roman Anthony (Red Sox).
A year later, all five players are Futures Gamers. This year’s predictions include potential five-tool players from the Phillies and Dodgers, a high-end righthander from the Rays and pure hitters from Tigers and D-backs.
Check this space in a year to see how we did.
Gary Gill Hill, RHP, Rays
Gill Hill is one of the biggest up-arrow pitching prospects of the season. After showing flashes of upside in his draft year, he entered 2024 with more muscle and the corresponding amplified pitch mix. The results have been loud. His fastball in particular has jumped, with an average velocity of roughly 94 mph and a max of 98 mph. The heater is at the head of a five-pitch mix. Even with a disaster outing on his ledge, Gill Hill’s 2.92 ERA was third in the Carolina League, and his 1.10 WHIP was fourth on the circuit. The righthander has a sky-high ceiling, and his next stop might be Atlanta a year from now.
Starlyn Caba, SS, Phillies
After a pro debut in the DSL shortened by injury, Caba has opened eyes after moving stateside in the Florida Complex League. The shortstop has the potential to be a truly elite defender, an 80-grade gloveman who could change a game with his play in the field. But wait, there’s more. If defense were his only strong suit, he’d make the big leagues and hit toward the bottom of a lineup. Caba has plenty of offensive skills, too. He’s shown strong plate discipline, bat-to-ball skills and hints of power in the FCL, with plus footspeed as well. In a few years, he could be a fixture in the leadoff spot at Citizens Bank Park.
Eduardo Quintero, OF, Dodgers
The Dodgers have a pack of talented, high-ceiling prospects lurking at the lower levels of their system. Quintero might have the biggest upside of the group. The 18-year-old outfielder is near the top of many of the Arizona Complex League’s offensive categories and has a chance to stick in center field. That’s impressive for any player, but it’s doubly notable considering Quintero is a converted catcher. He has a solid hit tool with hints of power and speed that borders on above-average. If it all clicks, Quintero could be a true five-tool player who hits in the upper third of a lineup.
Demetrio Crisantes, 2B, D-backs
Crisantes was selected in the seventh round of the 2022 draft out of high school in Arizona. Since then, he’s done nothing but hit. The infielder comes equipped with a short, quick swing that produces loud line drives by the bushel. He moved to Low-A earlier this summer and hit the ground running, with an early output that includes a walk-off three-run home run on the Fourth of July. Crisantes has a chance to settle in as an offensive-minded infielder who moves around the diamond while providing most of his value in the batter’s box.
Kevin McGonigle, SS/2B, Tigers
At the top of the 2023 draft, Detroit opened with a pair of high schoolers: Max Clark and McGonigle. The former went No. 3 overall. The latter went 34 picks later out of high school in Pennsylvania. Since arriving in the Florida State League, the lefty swinger has proved himself as one of the league’s finest hitters. His swing is simple and geared for peppering line drives to every sector of the diamond. Defensively, he should stick up the middle but might fit better at second base instead of shortstop. No matter where he lands, his bat should pair with Clark’s to form a ferocious 1-2 punch at the top of an order that already includes budding star Riley Greene as part of a long-term core in the motor city.
