Gavin Cross, Ben Kudrna selected to represent Royals at the Futures Game
These two prospects have had strong first halves.
Rosters for the Futures Game in the upcoming All-Star festivities in Arlington were announced today with the American League squad featuring Royals prospects Gavin Cross and Ben Kudrna.
Cross, 23, has put a disappointing 2023 behind him with a solid showing at Double-A Northwest Arkansas thus far in 2024. In 62 games for the Naturals, he has hit .279/.356/.442, good for a 122 wRC+, with eight home runs and 15 stolen bases. After spending much of last year playing center field, he has played much more often in right field this season. Cross is Kansas City’s seventh-ranked prospect per MLB Pipeline.
Kudrna, 21, has found his footing in High-A after struggling at the level following a midseason promotion last year. In 12 starts in Quad Cities, he has posted a 3.14 ERA and 4.07 FIP. He had one of the best starts of his pro career this past Sunday, striking out nine batters while allowing just three baserunners across six scoreless innings. Kudrna is the team’s third-ranked prospect per MLB Pipeline.
Cross and Kudrna will play for an AL team that features top prospects Marcelo Mayer, Max Clark, and Samuel Basallo among others. The squad will be headed by Michael Young, a seven-time All-Star during a long Texas Rangers career. They will take on a National League team starring James Wood, Dylan Crews, and Ethan Salas. The NL side will be headed by Adrian Beltré, who was voted to the Hall of Fame this offseason.
The seven-inning Futures Game will take place Saturday, July 13 at 3 p.m. CT at Globe Life Field in Arlington, broadcasting on MLB Network.
The game's brightest stars take center stage in Arlington ⭐️
— MLB (@MLB) July 2, 2024
Presenting the 2024 #FuturesGame rosters. pic.twitter.com/kNQwMZioeT
Past Royals Futures Game Representatives
2000 - P Jeff Austin and P Chris George
2001 - P Chris George
2002 - SS Angel Berroa
2003 - OF Alexis Gomez and P Zack Greinke
2004 - 2B Ruben Gotay and SS Andres Blanco
2005 - 1B Justin Huber
2006 - 3B Alex Gordon and OF Billy Butler
2007 - P Luke Hochevar
2008 - P Julio Pimental
2009 - P Danny Duffy
2010 - 1B Eric Hosmer and 3B Mike Moustakas
2011 - OF Wil Myers and P Kelvin Herrera
2012 - OF Wil Myers, P Yordano Ventura, and P Jake Odorizzi
2013 - P Yordano Ventura and P Miguel Almonte
2014 - P Christian Binford
2015 - 1B Balbino Fuenmayor, SS Adalberto Mondesi, and 3B Cheslor Cuthbert
2016 - OF Hunter Dozier and OF Jorge Bonifacio
2017 - P Foster Griffin
2018 - OF Seuly Matias
2019 - P Brady Singer, P Kris Bubic
2020 - No game played
2021 - 1B Nick Pratto, SS Bobby Witt Jr.
2022 - 1B Nick Pratto (selected, but promoted to MLB), P Alec Marsh (replacement)
2023 - P Will Klein