Major League Baseball announced the 2017 Futures Game roster today and the Colorado Rockies are sending two representatives. Brendan Rodgers (no. 1 PuRP) and Ryan McMahon (no. 7 PuRP) who are both having phenomenal years that have resulted in them being promoted a level already will play on the U.S. squad.
Brendan Rodgers started the season the disabled list for the High-A Lancaster JetHawks. After coming off the DL, Rodgers proceeded to destroy the Cal League to the tune of .400/.419/.700 slash line. His 1.119 OPS was by far the highest in the league and resulted in him being promoted to the Double-A Hartford Yard Goats immediately after his appearance in the Cal League All-Star game. So far for the Yard Goats, Rodgers is 7-27 and has yet to record an extra-base hit as he adjust to the higher level of competition.
After a rough 2016 season, Ryan McMahon started 2017 repeating Double-A. He quickly dispatched any concerns that his prospect status had faded hitting .326/.390/.536 in 49 games for the Yard Goats. A promotion to the Triple-A Albuquerque Isotopes didn’t slow him down at all as he’s lit the PCL on fire with a .440/.467/.734 line.
The Futures Game is an exhibition game featuring the top prospects in baseball and is part of the All-Star festivities. The game will be played on Sunday, July 9. This will be the 19th time the game has been played after being started in 1999.
Last year, the Rockies had three representatives as David Dahl joined Raimel Tapia and Jeff Hoffman on the roster as a replacement for a prospect who had been promoted to the majors and was no longer eligible.