Future Games: Impact 2024's (Position Players)
August 19, 2021
Who will be next? This question is circulated each year at the PBR Future Games with regards to which players will “make a name for themselves” throughout the week, and ride that wave towards even greater future success. The event, which is filled with the country’s best uncommitted underclassmen, is the premier proving grounds for future program-changers, and serves as a pseudo convention for hundreds of college coaches looking to fortify their recruiting classes.
As recent as the 2019 PBR Future Games, unassuming and relatively unknown players such as RHP Jackson Jobe (3rd overall, Tigers), C Harry Ford (12th overall, Mariners), RHP Chase Petty (26th overall, Twins), and SS Jackson Merrill (27th overall, Padres) “made names for themselves” before continuing to excel and progress, and ultimately becoming first round draft picks.
So who will be next? This year’s event was jam-packed with elite talent, once again, and the more than 300 college coaches (and a collection of MLB scouts) in attendance were greeted to a buffet of big bats, athletes, and arms. While there are sure to be many more who make an impact at the collegiate level and beyond, below are 20 position players in the 2024 class who made an impact on MY look at this year’s PBR Future Games:
Rustan Rigdon SS / RHP / Metter, GA / 2024Rigdon was nothing short of spectacular, and had the whole event buzzing with his performance and potential. A wiry-athletic 5-foot-10, 150-pounds, he looks taller in person, and likely has a few inches of growth left to go on a developing frame. Unafraid and confident, there was no shyness to his game, even amongst a Team Georgia that was STACKED with talented ‘23s, and he let it do the talking while carrying himself well. The switch hitter possesses some twitch from both sides of the plate with an innate ability to find the barrel. He went 5-for-6 on the week with two walks and SIX stolen bases, and reached base in seven consecutive plate appearances after making his only out in his first plate appearance. He has moxie on the diamond, and handled some elite arms with ease. The barrel works slightly uphill, and future gap-to-gap strength is likely, and it would be smart to bet on even more power creeping in over time. A fluid athlete who can slow the game down at the plate and in the field, he has the hands and arm to stick at shortstop, and even hopped on the mound for a couple flawless innings that included five strikeouts. Overall, Rigdan was easily one of the biggest winners of the event, and is sure to be followed closely by college coaches moving forward
|
PLUS MUCH MORE BELOW>>>