All-Star Futures Game
The All-Star Futures Game is an annual baseball exhibition game hosted by Major League Baseball. Started in 1999, a team of Minor League Baseball prospects from the United States and a team of prospects from other countries in the world compete against each other. It is played as part of the festivities of the Major League Baseball All-Star Game.
Origins
The Futures Game was conceived by Jimmie Lee Solomon, an Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations for Major League Baseball, looking for an event to showcase the minor leagues and round out the All-Star week festivities. Early versions of the game created marginal interest in the baseball community, but the event has attracted more attention in later years.Format
Rosters are selected by a joint committee consisting of people from Major League Baseball, MLB.com, and Baseball America magazine. All 30 MLB organizations are represented, with up to two players from any organisation and 25 players per team. One team is made up of prospects from American League organizations and the other of National League prospects. From 1999 to 2018, teams were divided into U.S. and World teams based on place of birth. Any player selected to the All-Star Futures Game but promoted to the majors prior to the game is replaced.Players born in Puerto Rico are part of the World team despite being U.S. citizens by birth, because that territory has its own national baseball federation and national team.
The game is played by the same rules listed in the Official Baseball Rules published by Major League Baseball. Exceptions are game duration and the handling of tie games. From 2008 through 2018, games lasted 9 innings. From 1999 to 2007 & since 2019, games last seven innings. Through 2018, up to two extra innings were available to settle a tie after playing all regulation innings. Since 2019, one extra inning is played, and each half-inning begins with a runner at second base. The home team wins if they take the lead in the 7th or 8th inning; the visitors win if they hang on in either inning; the game is over if it is tied after eight.
Changes in 2008
Two major changes took place in the 2008 game:- For the first time, the United States team was drawn from the pool of players selected by USA Baseball for the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing.
- The game lasted nine innings in regulation, rather than seven.
Changes in 2019
- The teams are now called the National League and American League. Players for each are drawn from affiliates of MLB teams in the corresponding MLB leagues.
- The regulation game is now seven innings. If the game is tied after seven, one additional inning is played, with each batting team starting its half with a runner on second base. The 2019 game was tied 2-all after seven innings of regulation, and no runs were scored in the eighth inning; that was how the game ended.
Larry Doby Award
Six of the award winners to date have later become MLB All-Stars: Alfonso Soriano, José Reyes, Grady Sizemore, Aaron Hill, Billy Butler, and Joey Gallo.
Results
| Year | Winner | Score | Ballpark | MVP | MVP organization | |
| 1999 | World | Fenway Park | New York Yankees | |||
| 2000 | U.S. | Turner Field | San Diego Padres | |||
| 2001 | U.S. | Safeco Field | Tampa Bay Devil Rays | |||
| 2002 | World | Miller Park | New York Mets | |||
| 2003 | U.S. | U.S. Cellular Field | Cleveland Indians | |||
| 2004 | U.S. | Minute Maid Park | Toronto Blue Jays | |||
| 2005 | World | Comerica Park | Kansas City Royals | |||
| 2006 | U.S. | PNC Park | Kansas City Royals | |||
| 2007 | World | AT&T Park | Los Angeles Dodgers | |||
| 2008 | World | Yankee Stadium | Boston Red Sox | |||
| 2009 | World | Busch Stadium | Minnesota Twins | |||
| 2010 | U.S. | Angel Stadium of Anaheim | Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim | |||
| 2011 | U.S. | Chase Field | Oakland Athletics | |||
| 2012 | U.S. | Kauffman Stadium | Detroit Tigers | |||
| 2013 | U.S. | Citi Field | Arizona Diamondbacks | |||
| 2014 | U.S. | Target Field | Texas Rangers | |||
| 2015 | U.S. | Great American Ball Park | Chicago Cubs | |||
| 2016 | World | Petco Park | Boston Red Sox | |||
| 2017 | U.S. | Marlins Park | Tampa Bay Rays | |||
| 2018 | U.S. | Nationals Park | Cincinnati Reds | |||
| 2019 | tie | Progressive Field | Texas Rangers | |||
| 2020 | — | — | Dodger Stadium | — | — |