Finally got around to watching the Futures Game this morning having DVR’d it last night, and while the game itself was not particularly competitive with the Team USA winning 17-5 on the strength of a 9-run sixth inning, there were plenty of impressive prospects on display.

Tigers third baseman Nick Castellanos won the game’s MVP award and several of Team USA’s starting pitchers took it upon themselves to ignite radar guns around Kauffman Stadium. But the guy I wanted to see was of course Giants catching prospect Tommy Joseph, and he did not disappoint.

Since being drafted in the second round of the 2009 MLB Draft out of an Arizona high school, Giants fans have been hearing about Joseph and his ability to hit the ball a long, long way. We’ve also been told that Joseph has a considerable way to go defensively before he is ready to perform in the big leagues.

The soon-to-be 21-year-old Joseph has progressed a level every year since being drafted and according to scouts has made considerable progress behind the plate. So much so that there is talk he could be ready to take over behind the dish in a couple of years, pushing Buster Posey to first base. I happen to think Posey (and Brandon Belt) will have a little something to say about that, but it is encouraging that Joseph has continued to get better each year.

Catching a fire-balling Team USA staff in the game yesterday, Joseph did a fine job and looked very comfortable with the plus velocity he was seeing from pitchers he was not familiar with. In addition to his nice work handling the staff, he also made one of the better defensive plays of the game, cutting down a runner at third and extinguishing a rally by the World team in the fourth.

Joseph also had a nice game at the plate, going 1-for-1 including a walk, with the one hit a ringing double to the opposite field off of Rays lefty prospect Felipe Rivero. The double was particularly impressive as Joseph beat a good pitch in a 2-2 count and nearly hit it out down the line in right. His hit opened the scoring for Team USA who never looked back once Joseph put them on the board.

Looking ahead with Joseph, yesterday’s showing was a major step in the right direction. We all know he has power, racking up 43 total HRs in 2+ seasons in the minors, but one major knock on him offensively has been his lack of plate discipline. As noted, he took a walk in his first plate appearance yesterday and has cut his K% each year from 24.5% in 2010, to 17.6% so far this year. His BB% is still too low at 6% so far in 2012, but it’s clear he is able to make adjustments and is gaining more command of the strike zone each year.

If Joseph continues to make progress behind the plate and learns a little more patience at it, he could give the Giants the kind of slugger they haven’t had since, dare I say, Barry Bonds. For a team starved for power, it should be very interesting to watch Joseph’s rise over the next few seasons and I’d be shocked if he wasn’t considered the #1 prospect in the Giants system by the end of the year.