Touki Toussaint First From Loaded 2012 Futures Event To Reach Majors
Touki Toussaint at the 2013 Under Armour All-America Game
Touki Toussaint got the win in his Major League debut on Monday, pitching six strong innings while allowing only one run and two hits. The former Under Armour All-American was a 1st round pick of the Diamondbacks before the Braves acquired him via trade during the 2015 season and promoted him to start the first game of the double-header against the Miami Marlins.
Prior to Touki’s selection in the 2014 MLB Draft, and his appearance at Wrigley Field in the 2013 Under Armour All-America Game, he attended the Baseball Factory UA Futures Showcase in Jupiter, Florida on September 22, 2012. His performance at that event, where he featured his low 90s fastball and sharp-breaking curve, earned him the invitation to Chicago.
While Toussaint becomes the first from that 2012 Futures Showcase to reach the Major Leagues, he certainly won’t be the last. That small event was invite-only and had just 41 players, but six of them went on to become 1st round selections. One of those, Nick Gordon, could be the next Major Leaguer from the group. He currently sits in Triple-A for the Twins awaiting his Major League call-up. Also in Triple-A is RHP Spencer Adams. Adams impressed on the mound back in 2012 and had a big senior spring helping him become a 2nd round selection in the 2014 draft by the Chicago White Sox. He should also make his debut at some point this season.
Other players in attendance who were selected near the top of the draft were 1st rounders: Daz Cameron, Grant Holmes, Pavin Smith and Jonathan India. India was a member of the University of Florida’s National Championship Team in 2017 with Dalton Guthrie and Mike Rivera who were also participants in the UA Futures Showcase. All three chose the college route and are currently playing in the minor leagues. Add in 2nd rounders Joe Gatto and Greg Deichmann and 3rd rounder Brian Gonzalez and the level of talent in Jupiter that day comes into focus.
Some of the other attendees chose to attend a high-level college first and have begun their professional careers in the last year or two.
Hunter Williams and Zack Gahagan were part of some talented UNC teams and now are in Class A and Rookie Ball respectively. RHPs Cobi Johnson and Andrew Karp produced well at Florida State before being selected this past June, and Jon Littell impressed with the bat back in 2012 and was selected by the Dodgers in the 2018 MLB Draft after an outstanding run at Oklahoma State. Two other participants, Dale Burdick and Lane Thomas both sit on the doorstep of the Big Leagues playing at the AAA level this year, after signing out of high school in 2014.
That Baseball Factory Under Armour Futures event was filled with talented players, and now the time has come to look for that next group of elite athletes. This year’s UA Futures event in Florida will be held, once again, in Jupiter on Sept 15th. We’ll be looking for future Under Armour All-Americans and future Major Leaguers, hoping that the talent level will equal that impressive 2012 group.
To be considered for an invitation, email Steve Bernhardt at [email protected].
