Highlight-reel plays and big-time talent were on full display Saturday as some of baseball’s most impressive prospects took center stage at the 2025 MLB Futures Game.
The Dodgers’ Josue De Paula earned MVP honors after launching a go-ahead home run in the bottom of the fourth inning, propelling the National League to a 4-2 win over the American League.
With De Paula’s blast setting the tone, here’s a quick rundown of the top players and tools on display from Saturday’s action.
Best Player: George Lombard, SS, Yankees
Josue De Paula had the best hitting performance and won MVP for his game-winning home run, but Lombard was the best all-around player in the game. He made several heady plays in the field, showing range as well. At the plate, he went 1-for-2 with a double and a walk. Lombard’s double was hit 104.4 mph off Trent Harris, while he drew a walk in his first at-bat against Marlins LHP Thomas White.
Best Hitter: Josue De Paula, OF, Dodgers
This year’s game only had four extra-base hits and all others paled in comparison to De Paula’s big fly. The Dodgers outfield prospect connected on a hanging slider from Noah Schultz, hitting it 108.5 mph and depositing the ball in the right field bleachers. The shot gave the National League the lead in the bottom of the fourth.
Best Power: JJ Wetherholt, SS, Cardinals
Wetherholt just missed a homer in the opening at-bat for the NL squad, instead putting it off the center field wall at 105.9 mph. He hit a second ball 102.4 mph on a lineout. Wetherholt was the only player in this year’s Futures Game with multiple balls in play above 100 mph.
Best Batting Practice: Carter Jensen, C, Royals
Jensen had one of the better Futures Game batting practices we’ve seen and led all players with 10 homers. Jensen was in control during each round, backspinning balls all over the field. In his final round, he decided to pocket the pullside power stroke, instead hitting lined shots up the middle of the field. Jensen commanded every round of BP and was the biggest standout from this year’s pregame work.
Best Defensive Play: Slade Caldwell, OF, D-Backs
Caldwell made the defensive play of the game when snagged a falling liner off George Lombard Jr.’s bat in center field in the top of the seventh inning. This was clearly the best defensive play of this year’s Futures Game, and was a relief for Caldwell who struck out in his one at-bat.
Best Fastball: Jonah Tong, RHP, Mets
Tong pitched the second inning for the National League and dominated. A native of Canada, Tong attended high school at Georgia Premier Academy and showed well in his return to his old stomping grounds. Tong was one of two pitchers on the day to generate multiple whiffs against his fastball. Tong’s fastball sat 95-97 mph on the day, touching 97.4 mph at peak. He averaged between 17-18 inches of induced vertical break with heavy cut. Other pitchers threw a little harder, but no one paired movement and power quite like Tong.
Best Breaking Ball: JR Ritchie, RHP, Braves
While there were plenty of well-executed breaking balls throughout the game, Ritchie’s sweeper to strike out Red Sox prospect Jhostynxon Garcia to end the first inning stood out as the best of the day. Ritchie ripped the slider at 83.5 mph, generating one inch of vertical drop and 13 inches of horizontal sweep. Few things give hitters more trouble than a well-executed breaking ball. This was exactly that.
Best Changeup: Parker Messick, LHP, Guardians
Carson Whisenhunt’s cambio entered the day as the favorite for this superlative, but Messick ultimately took home the honors. He threw six changeups, generating two outs and one called strike. The 84.1 mph called strike to Zyhir Hope might have been the best of the bunch, as it featured one inch of induced vertical break and 16 inches of armside run.
Biggest Surprise: Josue Briceño, C, Tigers
The Tigers’ big-bodied slugger is known for his light-tower power and feel to hit, not his speed. But in this year’s Futures Game, Briceño legged out a triple, something he’s done just five times in his professional career. He crushed a ball off the right field wall that was misplayed by Owen Caissie, giving Briceño the chance to cruise into third with a stand-up triple.
Worst Moment: Konnor Griffin, SS, Pirates
In the scariest moment of the game, Pirates’ shortstop Konnor Griffin took a 97 mph sinker from Alimber Santa off of his hand. Griffin walked toward first base but was removed from the game by the medical staff. Luckily, Griffin said after the game he avoided injury.