The 26th annual All-Star Futures Game is coming this weekend to Truist Park, and a number of future stars seemed to be gearing up for the showcase on Wednesday. In his Triple-A debut, JJ Wetherholt (MLB No. 19) launched a homer, raced for a triple and added a double for good measure. Max Clark (MLB No. 12) became the first of the highly touted Tigers trio that just moved up to Double-A to go yard, and Nolan McLean (MLB No. 76) racked up a career-high 10 strikeouts for the second straight start at the Minors' top level.
JJ Wetherholt, SS, Memphis (STL No. 1/MLB No. 19)
The seventh overall pick in last year’s Draft slashed .300/.425/.466 at Double-A Springfield before earning a promotion to Triple-A Memphis this week. After a rainout Tuesday, Wetherholt homered and tripled in the opener before doubling in his final at-bat in the nightcap in Wednesday’s doubleheader for his first three hits at the highest level of the Minors. Riding an 11-game on-base streak, Wetherholt's last five knocks have all gone for extra bases. He homered twice in his Double-A finale on Sunday. Gameday
Max Clark, OF, Erie (DET No. 2/MLB No. 12)
Clark joined Erie this week, moving up to Double-A with fellow top Tigers Kevin McGonigle and Josue Briceño and has quickly made his presence felt. The dynamic outfielder became the first of the trio to homer at the new level, crushing a 1-0 fastball up in the zone in the third inning. Although Clark is just starting to adjust to Eastern League pitching, the third overall pick in last year’s Draft has showcased strong discipline and contact skills in his sophomore campaign, posting a 65-to-57 walk-to-strikeout ratio. Gameday
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Braden Montgomery, OF, Winston-Salem (CWS No. 3/MLB No. 32)
The switch-hitting 2024 first-rounder has been punishing left-handed pitching all season across two levels. Montgomery -- who sports a 60-grade power tool -- launched a first-inning homer off a southpaw for the High-A Dash. Despite a .308 OBP vs. lefties, the 22-year-old has tallied 11 extra-base hits against them -- including six homers -- for a .594 slugging percentage (.902 OPS). Flipping to the left side in the seventh, Montgomery added a two-out RBI single. Gameday
Carter Jensen, C, Omaha (KC No. 3/MLB No. 73)
July has already been a good month for the 22-year-old backstop, and that momentum continued in his last outing. Not only that but Jensen powered the Triple-A Storm Chasers with a three-hit night that included a homer and five RBIs. The All-Star Futures Game selection has tallied nine extra-base hits -- five homers and four doubles -- in just 25 at-bats this month, good for an eye-popping 1.821 OPS. Gameday
Jackson Ferris, LHP, Tulsa (LAD No. 4/MLB No. 69)
Ferris’ season has been about bouncing back, and this start was another example of that. After allowing a run on three hits in the first frame, the 6-foot-4 left-hander retired the next 14 batters he faced, rattling off five scoreless innings of one-hit ball to end his outing. In total, Ferris finished with seven punchouts over six innings (95 pitches, 67 for strikes). The 2022 second-round pick has a 1.74 ERA and a 10.5 K/9 ratio over his past four starts for the Double-A Drillers. Gameday
Nolan McLean, RHP, Syracuse (NYM No. 4/MLB No. 76)
Just six days after notching a career-high 10 strikeouts over five innings for the Triple-A Mets, McLean toed the rubber for his 16th appearance of the season and bested his previous performances. New York's 2023 third-rounder matched his professional best in strikeouts from the previous outing while scattering three hits over six scoreless innings. The outing was McLean’s sixth start of the season in which he didn't allow a run and lowered his ERA to 2.17 across two levels. Gameday