Top 2 A’s prospects get ‘great opportunity’ to compete in All-Star Futures Game
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- Leo De Vries and Jamie Arnold will compete in the July 12 Futures Game.
- Leo De Vries is the A’s No.1 prospect and ranked No.2 overall.
- Jamie Arnold was the No.11 overall first‑round pick in 2025 and has a 4.24 ERA.
The Athletics’ two highest-ranked prospects, including the No. 2 prospect in all of baseball, will compete in the annual Futures Game over the All-Star weekend later this month, Major League Baseball announced Wednesday morning.
Shortstop Leo De Vries (No. 1 in A’s organization, No. 2 in MLB), who made an appearance in last year’s Futures Game, and left-handed pitcher Jamie Arnold (No. 2 A’s, No. 26 overall) are among the 50 top prospects who will compete in the July 12 game. Both currently play for the A’s Double-A affiliate Midland RockHounds.
De Vries, 19, was acquired in a 2025 trade deadline blockbuster as the key piece in a prospect group sent the A’s way in exchange for star closer Mason Miller, who went to the San Diego Padres alongside starter JP Sears. De Vries was initially signed by the Padres during the 2024 International Signing Period out of the Dominican Republic.
Arnold, 22, is in his first full professional season after being drafted by the A’s in the first round at No. 11 overall in the 2025 draft.
“It’s a great opportunity for both of them,” A’s manager Mark Kotsay said ahead of Wednesday’s game against the Los Angeles Dodgers.
How are De Vries, Arnold doing?
Despite being just 19, De Vries has put together a strong 2026 season for Midland, having the third-most stolen bases in the Texas League with 28. De Vries is slashing .283/.375/.426 so far this season with 10 doubles and nine home runs in over 300 plate appearances over 66 games.
The A’s promoted De Vries to Double-A near the end of last season at just 18 years old after he had 97 games in High-A ball between the A’s and Padres organizations.
“Another nice accolade for Leo, and I hope to continue to push him a little bit,” Kotsay said. “He’s young, and the patience word I’ve used in the past is probably present today.”
Especially with multiple injuries to the A’s infield — All-Star shortstop Jacob Wilson and infield utility Zack Gelof are both on the injured list — fans have speculated over a potential call-up for the top prospect.
Asked what De Vries needed to prove to get the call-up, Kotsay said hitting more consistent exit velocities and growing stronger could lead to the anticipated roster move.
“When he matures, and we feel the time is right to challenge him with that, I think that’s when that move will take place,” Kotsay said.
Arnold has had ups and downs in 14 starts with Midland, posting a 4.24 ERA across 70 innings, with a stellar 73 strikeouts. The lefty, who is in his first minor league season, is known for his arm slot — reminiscent of Atlanta Braves ace Chris Sale, and an electric slider.
“It’s a challenge to start out in Double-A,” Kotsay said of Arnold’s 2026 results thus far. “We challenged Jamie, he’s going to be fine … and he’s going to pitch in the Futures Game, so that says a lot.”
What is the Futures Game?
Like the All-Star Game that will take place two days later, the exhibition Futures Game is split up with teams representing the National League and American League.
Managers typically make an effort to get most if not all of the prospects one each roster in the game, often limiting pitchers to one inning or less of work with hitters often getting pinch hit for at some point.
Many of MLB’s current stars competed in the game previously, including multiple players on the A’s active roster.
In 2022, Athletics catcher Shea Langeliers, then the No. 1 prospect in the A’s organization and No. 31 overall in MLB, was the game’s MVP after hitting a home run and throwing out a runner attempting to steal.
About a month later, Langeliers made his debut and has become one of the team’s most consistent players since. As of Wednesday morning, Langeliers, now 28, led the race to start the 2026 All-Star Game at catcher with 65% of the vote, according to MLB.com.
Langeliers on Wednesday called the game a “really cool experience,” and said he got to meet Hall of Famers Ken Griffey Jr. and Adrian Beltre during his appearance.
“Just go out there and be yourself,” Langeliers said, when asked to give advice to De Vries and Arnold. “Have fun, enjoy the moment.”
Starter Gage Jump, the A’s No. 3 prospect who has established himself as a key member of the A’s rotation with a 2.93 earned run average in seven starts this season, pitched in last year’s Futures Game, retiring both batters he faced and striking out De Vries, who was still in the Padres organization at the time.
“When I faced him, he was the guy on the other team that I really wanted to get out the most,” Jump said of De Vries. “So that speaks for itself. He’s a really good player.”
Now in the same organization and potentially the same team at some point over the next few seasons, Jump wished De Vries, as well as Arnold, luck at the game.
“Being invited to that kind of thing is a big accolade, and I remember I was really excited about it,” Jump said Wednesday. “I know Leo has already been, but hopefully Jamie does well, and I just hope for both of them to enjoy it.”
The All-Star Futures Game starts at 9 a.m. Pacific time on Sunday, July 12, as part of the festivities at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia.
