The Detroit Tigers will be sending three prospects to Atlanta in a few weeks. What past players have made it?

MLB announced on Monday morning the rosters for the 2025 MLB Futures Game that will be taking place in Atlanta on Saturday, July 12pm at 4pm.  The game will be airing on MLB Network.

The Detroit Tigers will be sending three prospects, tied with Seattle, for most prospects that will be participating. Max Clark (TMLR #2 Top 39), Josue Briceńo (TMLR #4) and Kevin McGonigle (TMLR #1) 

These three have been a part of one of the best West Michigan Whitecaps teams ever assembled that already has 52 wins and clinched a 1st half playoff spot. So it got us thinking, how did the past futures All-Stars fair in their careers?

1999 – Javier Cardona, Francisco Cordero

• Javier Cardona: The catcher was drafted in the 23rd round in the 1994 MLB Draft. Played in 72 games with Detroit, making his MLB debut on May 31st, 2000. Then he played 15 games with San Diego and bounced around the minors and was out of baseball by 2005.

• Cordero: The answer to the “What players were traded to acquire outfielder Juan Gonzalez”, Cordero ended up being a three-time All-Star closer with a long career (1999-2012) for multiple teams, including Texas, Milwaukee, and Cincinnati. In some ways, he was one of the first big international right-handed relivers that the Tigers would start putting into their pipeline. Cordero put himself among the top Tigers prospects with an impressive 1997 season with West Michigan, posting an ERA of 0.99, striking out 67 in 54.1 innings of work.

2000 – Eric Munson, Brandon Inge

• Munson: After being drafted 3rd overall out of USC in 1999, Munson played parts of seven MLB seasons, primarily with Detroit, finishing with a .214 average and 49 HR.

• Inge: Drafted originally as a catcher, in the 2nd round in the 1998 MLB Draft, Brandon was an All-Star in 2009 and put up a 18.6 WAR in a Tigers uniform from 2001-2012 then would finish his career playing in Oakland and Pittsburgh.

2001 – Nate Cornejo, Mike Rivera

• Cornejo: Nate was drafted 34th overall in the 1st round in the 1998 draft. After going 16-3 in between Erie and Toledo in 2001, he made his major league debut on August 8, 2001, against the Rangers, in which the Tigers scored 19 runs. He went 12-29 in a Tigers uniform with an ERA of 5.41 in 56 starts.

• Rivera: I remember spring training 2002 in which Rivera had a huge spring and made the team as the Opening Day catcher in 2002. Ironic enough, he was traded to San Diego in November 2002 for outfielder Gene Kingsale, who also would make the Opening Day roster as the team’s starting centerfielder, only to disappear as quickly as Rivera Backup catcher for Milwaukee and a few other teams over 2001-2011.

2002 – Franklyn German, Omar Infante, Andres Torres

• German: Acquired in the 3-team deal that would send Jeff Weaver to the Yankees, via the A’s, he was a reliever for Detroit, Florida, and Texas (2002-2008).

• Infante: 15-year MLB career, All-Star in 2010 with Atlanta, World Series appearances with Detroit and Kansas City. One of the first international players the Tigers signed and developed.

• Torres: Key outfielder for 2010 Giants World Series team after a long minor league journey.

2003 – Preston Larrison

• Never reached MLB due to injuries.

2004 – Wil Ledezma, Kyle Sleeth

• Ledezma: MLB reliever from 2003-2011 for six teams.

• Sleeth: Top prospect whose career ended prematurely due to arm injuries.

2005 – Justin Verlander, Joel Zumaya

• Verlander: Future Hall of Famer, 3-time Cy Young winner, MVP, and World Series champion. Must see JV, you know the story.

• Zumaya: Zumaya was a key part of the 2006 World Series squad (2006-2010) before injuries shortened career.

2006 – Cameron Maybin, Humberto Sanchez

• Maybin: 14-year MLB career with multiple teams, including Tigers and Yankees, now a broadcaster.

• Sanchez: Brief MLB appearance with Yankees, career derailed by injuries.

2007 – Gorkys Hernandez, Cameron Maybin

• Hernandez: MLB outfielder (2012-2018) with Giants, Marlins, Red Sox.

• Maybin: (see above).

2008-2009 – Wilkin Ramirez, Scott Sizemore

• Ramirez: MLB outfielder (2009, 2011-2013).

• Sizemore: MLB infielder for Detroit and Oakland before injuries. He was the alternative to the Tigers not signing Plácido Polanco when he made the Opening Day roster in 2010.

2010 – Andy Oliver

• Pitched in MLB for Detroit briefly in 2010-2011. Later transitioned to independent ball.

2011 – Francisco Martinez, Jacob Turner

• Martinez: Never reached MLB.

• Turner: MLB starter and reliever (2011-2018) for multiple teams.

2012 – Rob Brantly, Nick Castellanos, Bruce Rondon

• Brantly: Backup MLB catcher from 2012-present, last seen with Yankees in 2022.

• Castellanos: All-Star outfielder with Tigers, Cubs, Reds, and now Phillies.

• Rondon: Tigers reliever (2013-2017).

2013 – Jordan Lennerton, James McCann

• Lennerton: Never reached MLB.

• McCann: MLB All-Star catcher with Tigers, is currently with the Diamondbacks.

2014 – Steven Moya, Jake Thompson

• Moya: Brief MLB stint (2014-2016), then NPB in Japan.

• Thompson: Pitched for Phillies 2016-2018, now in international/independent leagues. He is on the same time as another former Tigers prospect, which you will see in a moment.

2015-2016 – Joe Jimenez, Christin Stewart

• Jimenez: All-Star reliever with Detroit, now pitching for Atlanta Braves.

• Stewart: Outfielder for Tigers (2018-2020), was playing for the Toros de Tijuana but is currently out of baseball.

2017 – Beau Burrows, Jairo Labourt

• Burrows: Brief MLB stints with Detroit and Twins, currently in minors with Double-A Altoona after spending time in the Mexican League.

• Labourt: Pitched for Tigers in 2017, out of MLB system since. Originally came over with Daniel Norris and Matt Boyd in exchange for David Price.

2018 – Dawel Lugo, Matt Manning

• Lugo: Ah yes, this name may bring a bad reaction to Tigers fans. Dawel came over in the J.D. Martinez deal, played for Detroit (2018-2020), now in Mexican League playing for Durgano.

• Manning: Currently in Toledo as a reliever.

2019 – Matt Manning, Isaac Paredes, Jake Rogers

• Manning: (see above).

• Paredes: Traded to Tampa Bay, now plays in Houston.

• Rogers: Tigers backup catcher.

2020 – No Game

2021 – Riley Greene, Spencer Torkelson

• Greene: Making his case to make a 2nd All-Star appearance.

• Torkelson: Tigers 1B, power hitter despite inconsistency.

2022 – Dillon Dingler, Wilmer Flores

• Dingler: Has taken over as the Detroit Tigers starting catcher, just had his 13th multi-hit game on Sunday against the Twins.

• Flores: Currently on the IL.

2023 – Colt Keith, Justyn-Henry Malloy

• Keith: Back to the position he was drafted at, at 3rd base.

• Malloy: Tigers OF/DH, MLB debut in 2024, currently in Toledo.

2024 – Max Clark, Hao-Yu Lee

• Clark: Currently on a seven-game hitting streak.

• Lee: Currently in a middle of a slump, batting ,231/.400/.513 over his last 10 games but has an OPS of .913 during that stretch with three home runs.

Hey Detroit Tigers fans! If you enjoy Tigers Minor League Report and want to help us keep bringing you the latest updates and in-depth analysis, consider contributing to our efforts. We operate entirely on a volunteer basis, and every bit of support goes a long way. You can donate to us directly via our GoFundMe or become a valued member by subscribing to our YouTube channel. Or take your fandom to the next level by joining our Patreon community. Additionally, you can shop for some awesome gear at our TMLR store. Your support helps us continue our mission to provide you with quality content on all things Tigers Minor League. Thank you!