Two Blue Jays prospects make the 2023 MLB All-Star Futures Game

The 2023 MLB All-Star Futures Game is set to take place this year in Seattle on Saturday July 8th. As part of the MLB All-Star week festivities, this event is an annual showcase of the game’s top prospects in all of baseball where future superstars are set to be unearthed.

For this year, the Toronto Blue Jays are fortunate to have two promising prospects selected to represent them at the game, the Jays’ 3rd-ranked MLB top prospect in Yosver Zulueta, and the Jays’ 7th-ranked MLB top prospect in Sem Robberse. This marks the second time Zulueta will be making an appearance at the Futures Game, whereas it will be a first-time experience for Robberse. The Jays’ top-ranked MLB top prospect Ricky Tiedemann may have been a sure shoo-in to make the star-studded field as well, but unfortunately he has been out with an injury ever since the beginning of May.

Zulueta was an international free agent that was signed by the Jays out of Cuba back in 2019. Known for his intimidating, blazing fastball that could hit close to triple digits consistently, he had quickly ascended the Jays’ minor league system, making it all the way to Triple-A by 2022. This year, playing for the Jays’ Triple-A affiliate Buffalo Bisons, Zulueta has amassed a solid 4.34 ERA, 1.77 WHIP, giving up 18 earned runs, 31 walks and 42 strikeouts over 37.1 innings, mainly as a reliever.

Robberse, in the same year as Zulueta back in 2019, was a surprise signing by the Jays out of the Netherlands based on his advanced pitching mechanics and maturity. The hunch by Jays’ management has certainly paid off, as he has gone on to produce solid seasons across the Jays’ four minor league levels and is now pitching currently for the Jays’ Double-A affiliate New Hampshire Fisher Cats. For 2023, Robberse has sported a respectable 4.54 ERA with a 1.19 WHIP, giving up 34 earned runs, 26 walks and 66 strikeouts over 67.1 innings, all as a starter.

As both Zulueta and Robberse look to make their eventual major league debuts some time down the road this year or hopefully at latest next year, look for them to shine at the biggest stage prior to their entrance to MLB at the 2023 All-Star Futures Game.