Image: San Francisco Giants
About This Quiz
The game is moving into the last inning, and the score is tied. It's been a back-and-forth contest all day, and the smallest mistake can win or lose a game. This is the moment when stars are made because not only do they not lose a game but they also make the big play to secure a victory. That's where the minor leagues come in: to give players an early opportunity to prove their stardom is on the rise in these crucial moments.
Of course, it might also be hard to identify stars in the minors. After all, minor league players are still developing their game as they prepare for their arrival in the majors, but that doesn't mean stars don't arise on minor league teams. Quite a few minor league players have one or two skills to finish developing before they are huge stars on the next level. For some players, it's just working on their consistency, while others need to add a little muscle before a major league team comes calling.
Do you know where each minor league star awaited their call up to the majors, where they could really display their talent? These are the players that teams and fans have been anticipating for years. Now, see if you can match them to their team by taking a swing at this quiz.
Bees
Stone Crabs
Despite being much younger than the players he competed against, Wander Franco was a star from the moment he hit the minors. He even won the Rookie-level Appalachian League's MVP Award after making his pro debut in 2018.
Shorebirds
Bisons
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SeaWolves
Blue Wahoos
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Knights
Luis Robert had so much hype coming into the pros that he was signed with a $26 million bonus. Injuries kept him from making an immediate impact, but once he was healthy, Robert worked his way up to Triple-A, where he was added to the Charlotte Knights.
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Sod Poodles
MacKenzie Gore was touted as a high-level prospect during his time in high school in North Carolina. As a senior, he even went undefeated, earning him 2017 Gatorade National Player of the Year honors.
RockHounds
Keys
Spinners
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Hops
Bees
Scouts were worried about Jo Adell's hitting ability coming into the minors, but those concerns were quickly put to rest. Though he still gets slightly over-aggressive at the plate, Adell can place the ball all over the field when he does read a pitch correctly and makes contact.
Cardinals
ValleyCats
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Shorebirds
Before entering the pros, Adley Rutschman attended college at Oregon State, where he hoped to improve his game. He did just that by further developing his batting ability while also winning the College World Series with the Beavers.
Muckdogs
Dragons
LumberKings
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Shuckers
Biscuits
RockHounds
SeaWolves
Casey Mize was taken with the first overall pick in the 2018 MLB Draft, signing a $7.5 million bonus. Though there were initially some concerns about his durability, he proved his doubters wrong in two years in the minors, working his way through each level to find himself on the Erie SeaWolves.
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Raptors
Vibes
Royals
Coming into the pros, Bobby Witt Jr. was considered a five-tool player, meaning he could do it all on the field on both offense and defense. With these skills, he probably won't stay on the AZL Royals for very long as he works his way from the minors to the majors.
Canadians
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Snappers
Blue Wahoos
Royce Lewis is a gifted offensive talent makes up for his below-average power by being smart at the plate. Once he's on base, Lewis is a danger to steal any chance he gets because of his unique speed.
Lugnuts
Chiefs
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Tortugas
Keys
Bisons
One of the most impressive elements of Nate Pearson's pitching arsenal is his fastball, which is consistently in the high 90s. However, he's shown signs that he can throw it up to 104 mph, an ability that separates him from most other pitchers in the minors.
Giants
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RubberDucks
Barons
Yard Goats
Travelers
Jarred Kelenic has raw power at the plate that can't be taught. His power combined with his base running give the Arkansas Travelers some serious offensive production, though he probably won't be with the team long as he continues to move up.
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Curve
Blue Wahoos
With batting skills that rival anyone in the minors, Alex Kirilloff is projected to reach the majors in 2020. However, much of that depends on if he can continue his progression after having Tommy John surgery right out of high school.
Jumbo Shrimp
Grizzlies
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Express
After bring drafted in 2016, Forrest Whitley fell a little behind schedule but is expected to reach the majors in 2020. Even though he has lacked consistency, Whitley still has a lethal arm with a fastball that cuts naturally at the plate.
River Cats
Tides
Mud Hens
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Clippers
Mud Hens
Rainiers
Flying Squirrels
Instead of going to the pros when he could have been drafted in 2015, Joey Bart decided to attend Georgia Tech. His time in college significantly improved his draft stock, as he was selected with the second pick in the 2018 MLB Draft.
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Dash
When Andrew Vaughn finally reaches the pros, his contributions will primarily come as a batter. That's because he lacks the speed to be a great defensive asset, but if he can bat over .300, that lack of speed won't matter as much.
JetHawks
Ports
Flying Tigers
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Rawhide
Stripers
The Atlanta Braves have primarily been focusing on drafting and developing pitchers in their minor league ball clubs. However, Drew Waters is an outfielder playing for the Gwinnett Stripers who the Braves are also excited about because of his fielding ability, making him a valuable asset for the franchise moving forward.
Wind Surge
Aces
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IronPigs
Storm Chasers
Redbirds
Dylan Carlson's switch-hitting skills are what really make him valuable at the plate. Though he has shown to be better on the right side of the plate, Carlson can use his power from either side, and he'll only get better as he continues to develop.
Sounds
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Hillcats
Pelicans
Hammerheads
Nuts
At only 19 years old, it's the size of Julio Rodriguez that has everyone excited about his potential. Rodriguez stands 6 feet, 4 inches tall, and his frame continues to fill out as he ages, meaning he should be adding plenty of power to his bat.
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Curve
SeaWolves
A right-handed pitcher, Matt Manning's fastball is his calling card, as he has shown the ability to throw it in the mid-90s. However, his arsenal also includes a curveball and a changeup, making Manning a balanced threat from the mound.
Sod Poodles
Drillers
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Sod Poodles
The 2018 Future Games really helped turn Taylor Trammell into a star in the minor leagues. In the game, he took home the MVP after hitting both a home run and a triple while also showing off his incredible speed.
Smokies
Jumbo Shrimp
Fightin Phils
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Storm
Fire Frogs
Hammerheads
Before entering the 2019 MLB Draft, where he was taken with the fourth overall pick, J.J. Bleday played college baseball at Vanderbilt. He immediately made an impact in college, starting his freshman season only to get better every year before he went to the pros.
Mighty Mussels
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Hooks
Rumble Ponies
Sod Poodles
Luis Patino has four pitches in his arsenal that make him such a bright young star: a fastball, a curveball, a slider and a changeup. His control is his biggest issue, but that should only get better as he continues to move up through the minors.
Senators
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Stripers
The Atlanta Braves took Ian Anderson with the third pick in the 2016 MLB Draft because of his potential at the top of a pitching rotation. He hasn't quite realized that potential as of 2019, but is projected to hit the majors in 2020.
Knights
Aviators
Bats
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Blue Wahoos
Fightin Phils
Alec Bohm has all the tools to be an elite batter at the major league level. However, his defensive agility and speed have come into question as he tries to find a home at third base, so he'll have to work on those skills if he wants to be a balanced star in the league.
Fisher Cats
Trash Pandas
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Thunder
Biscuits
Lookouts
RubberDucks
Nolan Jones is patient at the plate and knows how to play the pitch count to get the best ball possible. Whenever he does finally connect with the ball, Jones has the ability to place it anywhere on the field.
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Blue Jays
Cardinals
Nolan Gorman is a little aggressive at the plate, which often results in strikeouts. However, considering he has immense power to push the ball over the back fence, he just needs to calm down a little to be a talented batter in the majors.
Mudcats
Woodpeckers
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Sounds
Dodgers
Missions
Knights
When Nick Madrigal was drafted with the fourth pick in the 2018 MLB Draft, he became the second-highest second baseman ever drafted. The only second baseman to be drafted higher was Rickie Weeks in 2003.
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Hot Rods
As a left-handed pitcher, Matthew Liberatore has the ability to flip the field, especially against batters who aren't prepared for the change in direction. His curveball is his most developed pitch, and he throws it with great touch to increase the spin rate.
Bees
Suns
Grasshoppers
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Cannon Ballers
Power
Shorebirds
Grayson Rodriquez hit many scouts' radars as a junior in high school when he won the 3A state championship in Texas. He improved his strength his senior season and decided to go to the pros rather than play college baseball at Texas A&M, where he had previously committed.
Timber Rattlers
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TinCaps
One of the youngest stars in the minors, C.J. Abrams has already shown why he's such a threat at the plate for the Fort Wayne TinCaps. It's not his power that makes him a threat, however, as he relies more on his instincts to hit grounders and bunts to get on base.
BlueClaws
River Bandits
Cubs
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Tourists
GreenJackets
Whitecaps
Even from his time in high school, scouts knew Riley Greene was going to be something special in the pros. After all, he did win the Gatorade Player of the Year Award with a .422 batting average that included eight home runs as a senior before being drafted by the Detroit Tigers in the 2019 MLB Draft.
Fireflies
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Ports
Rawhide
Mets
Travelers
Though he has some skill with breaking balls and a changeup, it's the fastball thrown by Logan Gilbert that makes him such a valuable player for the Arkansas Travelers. At the moment, he can throw in the high 90s, but has the potential to reach the low 100s as his strength develops.
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Storm
Tortugas
One of the most exciting parts of Hunter Greene's game is his repeatable delivery. Considering the delivery of his fastball rests around 100 mph, he just needs to improve a few other pitches in his arsenal to really be dominant from the mound.
Mudcats
Tarpons
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Isotopes
Flying Squirrels
Thanks to his speed, Heliot Ramos has primarily been a center fielder during his time in the pros. However, as his instincts develop, he could be moved to right field, where his powerful arm can benefit his team.
Storm Chasers
RailRiders
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Sod Poodles
Lookouts
Naturals
Brady Singer throws one of the best sliders of any minor league pitcher. He's great at manipulating the speed of the ball, but he's even better when he's changing the depth at which the ball breaks.
Yard Goats
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Crawdads
Despite lacking natural speed, Josh Jung is an above-average defender in the minors because of his instincts and arm strength. The position that best suits him is third base, as he can easily get the ball across the field after fielding balls that come his way.
Loons
Legends
Suns
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You Got:
/35
