Brent Honeywell

The bats were rolling early for Team U.S.A. in the 2017 MLB Futures Game, but dominant work on the mound by a U.S. pitcher is what decided the games MVP.

Baseball Factory Alum Brent Honeywell won MVP honors, becoming the first pitcher to do so after tossing two shutout innings, striking out four batters and only allowed one hit, a single, as the starting pitcher for the United States, and on the offensive side, all nine starters recorded at least one hit in the 7-6 victory.

Honeywell, the Tampa Bay Rays number two ranked prospect, was a 2013 Pre-Season All America Selection with Baseball Factory, and also attended a National Tryout in Atlanta, GA, back in 2011.

Game Recap: U.S.A. Team Defeats World Team, 7-6

Lewis Brinson

Team U.S.A. scored the first seven runs of the game, for either team, in the first four innings. This is all they would need, as Team World pulled within one run but were stopped there.

In the first inning, Houston Astros outfield prospect Derek Fisher drew a walk and later scored the first run of the ballgame. An inning later, two Baseball Factory alums delivered, as Baltimore Orioles catching prospect, Chance Sisco (2010 College PREP event in Azusa, CA) roped an RBI triple over the center fielders head to push the lead to 2-0. Sisco later scored on a sacrifice fly by Colorado Rockies shortstop prospect Brendan Rodgers (2013 Under Armour Futures Series event in Jupiter, FL & 2014 Under Armour All-America Game) which pushed the lead to 3-0.

With the World team being shut down through the first two innings by Honeywell, the 3-0 lead by Team U.S. rose once again in the third inning. Houston Astros prospect, Kyle Tucker (2014 Under Armour All-America Game) another Baseball Factory Alum, delivered an RBI double that pushed the lead to 4-0 through three innings.

In the fourth inning, the U.S. bats stayed hot for another three runs, as two more Baseball Factory Alumni did all the damage and pushed across what would end up being the game clinching runs. Milwaukee Brewers prospect, Lewis Brinson (2011 Under Armour All-America Game) provided an RBI double, followed by another double from Fisher, which pushed another two runs across the plate for the U.S., amounting to a 7-0 lead.

The World Team finally got the bats going in the fifth inning, scoring four runs between the fifth inning and the seventh inning to make the game close again. Three Team World Baseball Factory Alumni helped lead the comeback. San Diego Padres first base prospect, Josh Naylor (2014 Under Armour All-America Game) had an RBI single in the fifth to end the shutout. Later, Tampa Bay Rays shortstop prospect, Lucius Fox (2012 National Tryout in Delray Beach, FL & 2014 Under Armour Team One Showcase) had an RBI groundout in the sixth, and New York Mets catching prospect, Tomas Nido (2011 Under Armour All-America Pre-Season Tournament, 2011 Under Armour All-America Game) delivered an RBI single in the seventh, closing the gap to 7-4.

After a scoreless eighth inning for both teams, the World team put the pressure on in the ninth, tallying two more runs to close the gap to 7-6. Nido came through again with another RBI single in the frame, but it was not enough as the U.S. bullpen was able to pitch out of trouble and end the game.

Other Notable Baseball Factory Alumni Appearances:

Team U.S.A. Pitchers: Michael Kopech (Chicago White Sox – 1.o IP, 1K), Beau Burrows (Detroit Tigers – 1.0 IP, 2K), Foster Griffin (Kansas City Royals – 0.2 IP, 1K), Jimmy Herget (Cincinnati Reds – 1 IP), Triston McKenzie (Cleveland Indians – 0.1 IP).

Team U.S.A. Position Players: Nick Gordon (Minnesota Twins – 1 H, 1 R), Bo Bichette (Toronto Blue Jays – 2 AB), Corey Ray (Milwaukee Brewers – 2 AB), Bryan Reynolds (San Francisco Giants –  1 PA, 1BB), Nick Collins (Chicago White Sox – 1 AB).

Team World: Alex Verdugo (Los Angeles Dodgers – 2 AB).