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All-Star Futures Game 2015: Past game MVPs who would become All-Stars

By CM Towle

Jul 13, 2014; Minneapolis, MN, USA; USA player Joey Gallo (left) celebrates with his teammates after defeating the World during the All Star Futures Game at Target Field. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 13, 2014; Minneapolis, MN, USA; USA player Joey Gallo (left) celebrates with his teammates after defeating the World during the All Star Futures Game at Target Field. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports /
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The All-Star Futures Game is part of the MLB All-Star Game festivities and highlights top minor-league prospects.

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To answer that question of MLB stars who have come out of the Futures Game, one only need take a look at the list of MVPs to come from the event. Ever since the first contest in 1999 there have been 16 MVPs, and of those, five went on to become MLB All-Stars. Even if there are a few players largely forgotten on that list, several have at least become notable in MLB.

Most recently Joey Gallo for the Texas Rangers received the MVP in the Futures Game. Though he’s not an All-Star this year, he came up to replace the injured Adrian Beltre for the Rangers and promptly hit five home runs while looking like a natural at third. However, it became apparent his skills were still rather raw, even with time in left field. It’s obvious that he has promise, and you have to imagine he’ll live up to that Futures MVP award eventually.

The most recent Futures MVP to be an All-Star was Billy Butler. Currently playing for the A’s, and previously on the World Series runners-up Royals in 2014, Butler won the Futures MVP for the US side in 2006. He went 2-for-3 in the game, including a home run and two RBI. Butler has gone on to be an offensive powerhouse in the MLB, having hit 134 home runs in his career and 669 RBI so far.

Before Butler, there was Aaron Hill in 2004. Hill currently plays for the Arizona Diamondbacks, but was drafted by the Blue Jays. His claim to fame just might be that in 2012 he hit for the cycle twice in one season. In the 2004 Futures Game he won the MVP for the U.S. by driving in a pair of runs, which led to a 4-3 victory.

Grady Sizemore, Jose Reyes and Alfonso Soriano are the other Futures MVPs to eventually become MLB All-Stars. As for the most recent Futures MVPs, well, most of them are recognizable names. You have Nick Castellanos for the Tigers, who won it in 2012. He was named the Rookie of the Year by the Detroit Sports Broadcasters Association in 2014. Hank Conger was a familiar face for the Angels for four years before being traded to the Astros last year. He won the MVP in 2010.

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