Best of the best: Top prospect tools on display in Futures Game

July 7th, 2017

The SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game annually showcases many of the best prospects and best tools in the Minor Leagues. Last year in San Diego, demonstrated his prowess at the plate with three hits, and Eloy Jimenez showed off their power with 400-plus-foot homers, reached over the fence to rob of a homer and delivered triple-digit fastballs.
We're in for a similar treat at this year's Futures Game, which will be played at Marlins Park at 4 p.m. ET on Sunday and broadcast live on MLB Network. Twenty-seven of MLBPipeline.com's Top 100 Prospects will take the field, and these are the loudest tools that will be flaunted by each squad.
:: 2017 Futures Game coverage ::
Best hitter
U.S.: Nick Senzel, 3B, Reds
Senzel went No. 2 overall in the 2016 Draft because he was the purest college hitter available, and he has lived up to that reputation by batting .305 in his first 144 pro games while reaching Double-A 12 months after he signed.
World: , C, Indians
A year after establishing a modern Minor League record with a 50-game hitting streak, Mejia tops the Double-A Eastern League with a .338 batting average.
Best power
U.S.: Rhys Hoskins, 1B, Phillies
Hoskins is tied for fourth place in the Minors with 20 homers this year after finishing second with 38 a year ago, pairing his considerable pop with an advanced approach at the plate.
World: Rafael Devers, 3B, Red Sox
The youngest regular in the Eastern League at age 20, Devers already has established a career high for homers with 18 this season.

Fastest runner
U.S.: , OF, Brewers
Brinson's plus speed is just part of a package of what might be the best all-around tools in the Minors, as he also has plenty of raw power, impressive range and a strong arm.
World: Lucius Fox, SS, Rays
Signed out of the Bahamas for a record $6 million by the Giants in 2015 and included in the Matt Moore trade a year later, Fox has well above-average speed and leads the low Class A Midwest League with 25 steals.
Best defender
U.S.: Brinson
Brinson covers plenty of ground in center field and has a good enough arm to play right field if needed.
World: , SS, Mets
Rosario is a potential Gold Glove shortstop with the range and arm to make highlight plays, giving him the edge here over Nationals center fielder Victor Robles.

Strongest arm
U.S.: Brian Anderson, 3B, Marlins
Drafted as a second baseman, Anderson moved to the hot corner midway through his 2014 pro debut and has the plus arm to make all the throws required there.
World: Mejia
Though Mejia earns 70 and 80 grades on the 20-80 scouting scale for his sheer arm strength, it has yet to translate into high caught-stealing rates in the Minors (29.3 percent this year).
Best fastball
U.S.: , RHP, White Sox
Kopech has stuff if not the same control, starting with a fastball that reportedly hit 105 mph last July and routinely operates at 96-98 and tops out at 100 or higher.
World: , RHP, Mariners
Vieira opened eyes by reaching 103 mph in the Arizona Fall League last offseason and consistently fires 97-100 mph heat coming out of the bullpen.

Best curveball
U.S.: Triston McKenzie, RHP, Indians
Still just a teenager, McKenzie has precocious feel for spin that translates into a wicked curveball -- a major reason why he ranks second in the Minors in strikeouts (115 in 89 2/3 innings).
World: Mike Soroka, RHP, Braves
Soroka has had no difficulty skipping a level to Double-A at age 19 because he has feel for three quality pitches, the best of which may be his plus curve.
Best slider
U.S.: A.J. Puk, LHP, Athletics
In his first full pro season, Puk has reached Double-A and paces the Minors in strikeout rate (13.3 per nine innings), registering many of those whiffs with an upper-80s slider with nasty bite.
World: Yadier Alvarez, RHP, Dodgers
Alvarez has taken his lumps in high Class A this year but still has the best arsenal on the World team and one of the best in the Minors, headlined by a mid-90s fastball and a mid-80s slider than can be unhittable when it's on.

Best changeup
U.S.: Jack Flaherty, RHP, Cardinals
Flaherty's trademark pitch is his changeup, which grades as well above-average at times and has helped fuel his breakout 2017 season.
World: Cal Quantrill, RHP, Padres
Quantrill has the best changeup in the 2016 Draft, one of the reasons San Diego selected him eighth overall even though he sat out the entire spring at Stanford while recovering from Tommy John surgery.
Best control
U.S.: Flaherty
The athleticism that also made Flaherty an intriguing third-base prospect as an amateur helps him repeat his delivery and pound the strike zone.
World: Jaime Barria, RHP, Angels
He may not have a true plus pitch, but Barria's stuff plays up because he locates it well, averaging 1.5 walks per nine innings in five pro seasons.