Which Twins are involved? Here's a quick breakdown of which familiar names will be playing for US Team manager Tom Kelly and World Team manager Bert Blyleven.
Alex Meyer, RHP, US Team
Age: 24 | Level: Triple-A | Previous Futures Game: 2012 | ETA: July/August 2014
GS: 18 IP: 89.1 ERA: 3.43 K: 103 BB: 43 H: 75 HR: 7
By taking Trevor May's spot on the roster, Meyer makes his second Futures Game appearance but his first as a member of the Twins organization. Meyer possesses the stuff of an ace, including a very good fastball-slider combination and velocity that teams dream about. Command looks like something that will at times be his undoing, but his velocity, stuff, and makeup mean he still profiles as a strong number two/borderline number one. Meyer could very well develop into the ace that Minnesota has needed for years.
Kennys Vargas, 1B, World Team
Age: 24 | Level: Double-A | Previous Futures Game: None | ETA: Late 2015
G: 83 AB: 306 H: 89 2B: 13 HR: 15 RBI: 58 BB: 35 K: 54 .291/.364/.480
Vargas has slumped big time since being named to the Futures Game, but did hit his first home run in three weeks in his last game before the break. As a player without a position, since saying Vargas "plays" first base is more accurate than saying he "fields" first base, Vargas' status as a prospect was entirely dependent on his ability to show that he could hit at Double-A. While he production has plateaued over the last month he's still put together a very good season, and it's feasible seeing the Twins giving him a look late next year provided that in 2015 he proves he can handle Triple-A pitching. Vargas' power, on a 20-80 scale, is a firm 60 if not a 65.
Jose Berrios, RHP, World Team
Age: 20 | Level: Double-A | Previous Futures Game: None | ETA: Late 2015
GS: 17 IP: 101.1 ERA: 2.31 K: 113 BB: 26 H: 81 HR: 6
Berrios blew the Florida State League out of the water in the first half of the year and, as the leagues most successful young pitcher, was promoted to Double-A just before the break. With an advanced feel for pitching, plus stuff and a moxie of a pitcher many years his senior, Berrios may have overtaken both Alex Meyer and 2013 first round pick Kohl Stewart for the best pitcher in the system. A late 2015 debut may be an aggressive estimation, but so was Double-A coming into 2014. The upside for Berrios, right now, almost seems untapped.
Lineups
World
Daldon Pompey, CF (TOR)
Francisco Lindor, SS (CLE)
Jose Peraza, 2B (ATL)
Kennys Vargas, 1B (MIN)
Steven Moya, LF (DET)
Dariel Alvarez, RF (BAL)
Gabby Guerrero, DH (SEA)
Renato Nunez, 3B (OAK)
Jorge Alfaro, C (TEX)
Jose Berrios, P (MIN)
US
Michael Taylor, CF (WSH)
Sean Coyle, 2B (BOS)
Corey Seager, SS (LAD)
Kris Bryant, 3B (CHC)
Joey Gallo, DH (TEX)
D.J. Peterson, 1B (SEA)
Jesse Winker, LF (CIN)
Hunter Renfroe, RF (SD)
Kevin Plawecki, C (NYM)
Henry Owens, P (BOS)