All-Star Futures Game 2016: Past MLB Stars who shined

Looking at past MLB stars that were standouts at the All-Star Futures Game

There are many reasons to get excited about the MLB All-Star festivities and rightfully so. The Home Run Derby is always a blast as the best power hitters just tee off again and again while the All-Star Game itself is a great time as well with the best players in the world (save for those injured) taking the field and showing off what they’re able to do. However, perhaps the most important event is the All-Star Futures Game.

It’s true that the All-Star Futures Game may not have much meaning outside of the festivities, but it’s always interesting to see the players being essentially billed as the next big stars of the league put into this type of high-profile environment and seeing how they perform. We’ve seen plenty of talent come and go over the years.

And while there have been many players who have come and gone and many players who went on to have big-time MLB careers after playing in the Futures Game, there have been a select few players that have truly shined in the Futures Game before going on to great careers.

In fact, there have only been five players to win the All-Star Futures Game MVP honors that went on to become MLB All-Stars. Those players are Alfonso Soriano who won Futures Game MVP in 1999, Jose Reyes (2002), Grady Sizemore (2003), Aaron Hill (2004), and then Billy Butler (2006).

What’s interesting is that no player to win Futures Game MVP has gone on to be an MLB All-Star since Butler. However, last year’s Futures Game MVP in Kyle Schwarber of the Chicago Cubs might be the one to change that once he recovers from his injuries this season and can get back to his dominant ways on the diamond.

Will someone from the 2016 All-Star Futures Game buck the trend as well? That will all start on Sunday night.

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