Beneath his folding chair in the Nationals' clubhouse at Sunday's Major League Baseball All-Star Future Game, Padres outfield prospect Buddy Reed had a pair of blue and gold Blake Panther Adidas cleats proudly on display. Beside him, Rockies infield prospect Brendan Rodgers had his pair hidden — Nike Huraches with a Fortnite theme, an homage to the popular video game that has swept the culture at large, with minor league baseball no different.
This generation of players values such expression, and they have an Orioles prospect to thank in part for the style with which they did it.