A Cool Moment in Futures Game

Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports

The MLB Futures Game features the top Minor League prospects from both the United States and around the world. Each Major League ball club is represented in this  annual exhibition game. This year the Baltimore Orioles were represented by Hunter Harvey (Delmarva Shorebirds) and Dariel Alvarez (Bowie Baysox).

It is a true honor to be named to either the U.S. or World roster as many of the elite players in the MLB at the moment have played in this game. In addition to be an honor, if any player were to perform well in this game, it would be a big way to get themselves noticed by their respective Major League team.

Unfortunately, neither Alvarez nor Harvey had the kind of performance that would make their names stick out like the Rangers’ Minor Leaguer, Joey Gallo who hit a go-ahead, two-run homer in the sixth inning.

Alvarez went 0-2 from the plate, leaving two men on base. And Harvey pitched one complete inning; striking out two batters and not allowing any runs to score. Neither had a memorable game, but they did have a memorable moment (even if it was just memorable for the two of them).

In the fourth inning, Harvey was on the mound for the U.S. Futures and after surrendering a double and a walk to put runners on first and second with two outs, Alvarez stepped into the batter’s box for the World Futures.

After Alvarez worked the count to 3-1, Harvey gave him a four-seam fastball that Alvarez could not lay off. The Futures right fielder hit a weak ground ball to second base where the United States recorded the third and final out of the inning, and Harvey got out of the jam.

In this instance, the Orioles’ No. 3 prospect got the best of the Baysox star.

The Futures Game aside, both of these players are having great years so far this season. Harvey is 6-4 with a 3.01 ERA in 15 starts over a total of 77 2/3 innings pitched. Alvarez is batting .309 with a .332 on-base percentage, 14 home runs, and 68 RBIs.

The fact that Harvey and Alvarez were named to the Futures Game just go to show that the Orioles have future stars that are developing and rapidly moving up in the Minors. It will be just a matter of time before these two make it up to the “big leagues” and start showing Baltimore why they are the future stars of the team.