THE FUTURES GAME
The 2025 All-Star Futures Game, which will mark the 26th edition of the showcase, features the top Minor League prospects competing as part of All-Star Saturday. The contest will once again feature a NL vs. AL format, which was introduced in 2019 following 20 years of U.S. vs. World matchups. The game, scheduled for seven innings, will begin at 4:10 p.m. (ET).
I have to tell you honestly: in the first 25 seasons of the Futures Game, the only one I have ever seen is the one I attended. It just seems that 4 pm on a Saturday is a miserable way to market the future of baseball. I guess it’s better than 4 am, but I’m not sure.
Here’s the complete coaching staff for the AL and NL Futures Teams. I wish All-Star Saturday would feature an Old-Timers game, in which we could see a number of these guys play.
NL Futures Team Manager & Coaches
Chipper Jones Manager (HOF; 1999 NL MVP; 1995 WS Champion; 8-time All-Star; 468 career HR; .303 career hitter)
Mark DeRosa Bench Coach (MLB Network Analyst; 2023 & 2026 Team USA Manager; 16 MLB seasons, 7 seasons with ATL)
Andruw Jones Hitting Coach (5-time All-Star; 10-time Gold Glove winner; 17 MLB seasons; 12 seasons with ATL; 434 career HR)
Tim Hudson Pitching Coach (4-time All-Star; 17 MLB seasons; 9 seasons with ATL; 222 career wins)
Tyler Flowers 1B Coach (12 MLB seasons; 5 seasons with ATL; 111 career 2B; 86 career HR)
Kanekoa Texeira 3B Coach (Manager, Gwinnett Stripers – ATL Triple-A affiliate; 2 MLB seasons; 49 career G; 67.2 IP)
Nick Markakis Coach (2018 All-Star; 3-time Gold Glove winner; 15 MLB seasons; 6 seasons with ATL; 514 career 2B)
Peter Moylan Bullpen Coach (12 MLB seasons; 9 seasons with ATL; 24 career wins; 4 saves; 3.10 ERA; 324 SO in 418.2 IP)
AL Futures Team Manager & Coaches
Marquis Grissom Manager (2-time All-Star; 1995 WS Champion; 4-time Gold Glove winner; 17 MLB seasons; 2 seasons with ATL)
Jerry Manuel Bench Coach (MLB Baseball Development Consultant; 704 career managerial wins)
Fred McGriff Hitting Coach (HOF; 5-time All-Star; 1995 WS Champion; 19 MLB seasons; 5 seasons with ATL; 493 career HR)
Marvin Freeman Pitching Coach (10 MLB seasons; 4 seasons with ATL; 35 career wins; 5 saves; 383 SO in 593.2 IP)
Dale Murphy 1B Coach (2-time MVP; 7-time All-Star; 5-time GG winner; 4-time SS winner; 18 MLB seasons; 15 seasons with ATL)
Brian Hunter 3B Coach (9 MLB seasons; 5 seasons with ATL; 699 career games; 364 career hits; 67 career HR)
Ryan Klesko Coach (2001 All-Star; 1995 WS Champion; 16 MLB seasons; 8 seasons with ATL; 278 career HR; 343 career 2B)
Johnny Estrada Bullpen Coach (2004 All-Star; 8 MLB seasons; 3 seasons with ATL; 612 career games; 576 career hits)
THE FUTURES GAME MVPs
I’m including this, just so you can see that some All-Stars showed their prowess in this exhibition (but not a lot). Baseball does a horrible job of marketing the sport, and there has to be a way to make this fun and interesting.
FUTURE TECHNOLOGY IS COMING. JUST TELL US THE CALL ALREADY
Yesterday, Major League Baseball started an experiment in which they will use the Hawk-Eye system to challenge checked swing calls in the Class A Florida State League. A checked swing call can be challenged by either the team at bat or on defense.
The decision will be made based on whether the bat head is ahead of the knob by more than 45 degrees — matching the first-base line for a right-handed hitter and the third-base line for a left-handed hitter. Short of 45 degrees will be called a no swing. A video of the Hawk-Eye determination of the maximum bat angle will be shown on the ballpark video board.
JUST TELL US ALREADY
A team will be allowed to make a challenge until it has one unsuccessful challenge. My goodness, can’t the home plate, first base, or third base umpire be notified, and the correct call be made? Why must this always be a limited challenge situation in which subsequent poor calls must be accepted?
ONE RUN GAMES, TWO RUN GAMES
I’ve been thinking about one-run and two-run games a lot lately, and I’ve been wondering what they tell us about the quality of bullpens, the quality of teams, and whether the results tell us anything about future performance for the teams. Let’s work on this together.
Here are the results in these close games, with the bullpen ERA in these games. Write to me and give me your conclusions. I am struck by how poorly the Yankees have played in close games. The Angels are effective in these tight games. I wonder what that portends. The Dodgers are 12th in one-run games and 12th in two-run games. Look how good the Rangers and Mariners pitching is in these games. Notice how not-so-good the Diamondbacks and Nationals pitching is in these games.
None of this may mean anything other than you are more educated than people who have not read today’s column.
THE FUTURE’S SO BRIGHT
Especially for readers of Billy-Ball each week.