Top Prospects in 2022 Minor League Field of Dreams Game

Two of Iowa’s Minor League teams will take the field in a place where no Minor Leaguers have played before. Some of each system’s best talent will suit the occasion.

The first Minor League game at the iconic Field of Dreams in Dyersville, Iowa, is set for a 6:30 pm CT first pitch Tuesday night in front of a crowd of thousands as well as the MLB Network viewing audience. The rosters for the Cedar Rapids Kernels, the High-A affiliate of the Minnesota Twins, and the Quad Cities River Bandits (Kansas City Royals) are currently combined for eight Top 30 prospects.

Cedar Rapids has already clinched a first-half Midwest League West Division title and is headed to the postseason, while the Quad Cities will aim to capitalize on the home team magic that led the Chicago White Sox to a thrilling walk-off win over New York. The Yankees in last year’s first game played at the MLB ballpark next to the hallowed movie site.

The Kernels and River Bandits will have returning identities for the historic event, with Cedar Rapids taking the field as the Bunnies, honoring the city’s teams from 1904-32, and the Quad Cities becoming the Davenport Blue Sox, honoring teams that played in the area at various times from 1913 -37. The following Top 30 talents will play the retro threads.

1B Aaron Sabato, Twins No. 12 (MLB ETA: 2023)
The 27th overall pick in the 2020 Draft, Sabato was a powerhouse at North Carolina, where he set a freshman record with 18 home runs. Through his first 100 professional games, he has doubled that number with 36 long balls, including 17 so far this season for the Kernels.

2B/OF Alerick Soularie, Twins No. 18 (MLB ETA: 2024)
Soularie can play anywhere in the outfield, as evidenced by his 10 games in center and right and 2 in left this year, as well as holding his own at second base, where he has played 40 times. Taken one round after Sabato in 2020, the Tennessee product is playing his first full season after being limited to just 34 games due to injury last year.

RHP David Festa, Twins No. 25 (MLB ETA: 2024)
After starting the year with a 1.50 ERA in five starts for Single-A Fort Myers, Festa was bumped to Cedar Rapids, where he has been terrific. The 6-foot-6 right-hander can touch 99 mph with his fastball, has a hard slider and decent changeup, and has registered a 6-2 record and 2.75 ERA in 11 games (eight starts) for the Kernels.

RHP Sean Mooney, Twins No. 26 (MLB ETA: 2023)
The Twins took Mooney out of St. John’s in 2019 and helped him rehabilitate from Tommy John surgery that year. The right-hander made his pro debut in 2021 and has been solid for Cedar Rapids this season, posting a 2.50 ERA in 13 games (11 starts), striking out 73 against just 26 walks in 54 innings.

3B/1B Jake Rucker, Twins No. 30 (MLB ETA: 2024)
Another SEC product from Tennessee, Rucker joined the Twins in the seventh round of the 2021 Draft and has put together an impressive first full-season campaign with Fort Myers and Cedar Rapids. In addition to 35 games played at third base and 30 at first, Rucker has also been tested with seven at second base and nine in the outfield. Between them all, his bat has continued to play to a .265/.365/.449 slash line in 98 games for the Kernels.

RHP Beck Way, Royals No. 12 (MLB ETA: 2023)
A fourth-round pick of the Yankees in 2020, Way arrived with the Royals last week via the Andrew Benintendi trade. In 15 outings to begin the year with High-A Hudson Valley in the Yanks system, the righty went 5-5 with a 3.73 ERA. Through his first two starts with the River Bandits, he has struck out 13 in 10 2/3 innings.

2B Peyton Wilson, Royals No. 14 (MLB ETA: 2024)
Wilson was the 66th overall pick in 2021 and comes from an athletic family that put three sons through Alabama. Along with Peyton, John Parker quarterbacked for the Crimson Tide, and middle brother, middle brother Ross, still shares the freshman home run record with 15. The youngest Wilson has put together a solid first full season, hitting .252/.332/.400 through 60 games .

C Luke Tresh, Royals no. 26 (MLB ETA: 2025)
North Carolina State product Tresh helped lead the Wolfpack to a third-place finish at the 2021 College World Series before going to the Royals in the 17th round that year. This season, he has been impressive in his Midwest League debut, hitting .273/.360/.470 with 14 homers and 54 RBIs in 80 games.