Now that the New Balance Baseball Future Stars Series most recent trip to the Dominican Republic is firmly in the rear-view mirror — with plans already in place for a return, of course — it’s time to look back to our March visit and take a quick look at some of the standout players on each of the five teams who played over the two-day event, including the Red pitching-only squad.
Carlos Amparo, INF (pictured, Peme)
2028-29 eligible sign; 5-foot-9, 160 pounds, R/L
Amparo was the highest graded player on the Amarillo squad per our scouts, and that’s impressive given he won’t turn 14 years old until August. The five-foot-ten, 150-pound infielder projects as a potential everyday big league second baseman, although there’s obviously a lot of work between now and that point to get there. He drew high marks across the board with multiple future 55’s on his report, which in part reads that the 7.15 60-yard dash runner is a “line drive hitter with gap power…live feet and soft hands on defense.”
Josiel Vera, C (Burgos)
Eligible FA; 6-0, 170, R/R
Vera, 18, showed himself to be the polished backstop you’d be expecting for someone that far along in his development. A 7.2 runner, Vera flashed 1.9 pop times from behind the plate, albeit with an at times inconsistent arm. There are a lot of future 50’s on his report thanks to a bat that takes him far away from the dreaded defense-only profile; our scouts say he “flashed quiet approach with clean stroke…ball jumped off bat when he timed it up…gap power guy…solid receiver who flashed a 55 arm with inconsistent accuracy.”
Yoswar Sanchez, OF (Catala)
2028-29 eligible; 5-8, 150, L/R
Sanchez was another younger player who popped this trip, as he won’t turn 15 until October. A corner outfielder with a medium frame for now, our scouts believe Sanchez could find himself in a utility outfielder role in the big leagues if he continues his progression; his report says in part “loose stroke…pull-oriented approach…gets around ball…can see 10-15 HR’s down the line,” but there’s some intrigue around a lefty bat with some projection here.
Luis Nunez, INF (Catala)
2028-29 eligible; 5-10, 155, S/R
This was our second look at Nunez after his December appearance at our World Combine presented by DraftLine, and this one was solid as well, although he graded out just a tick lower this time around. There’s some value right off the bat here as the 14-year-old can handle himself on both sides of the plate, although our scouts in the DR liked him better from the right side this time around. There’s utility infielder upside here, and he largely graded out well on the infield, with our scouts saying he showed “live actions on the dirt…feet work well with sure hands,” but they’d like to see him gain more arm strength to truly be able to stay at shortstop in the future.
About New Balance Future Stars Series
The New Balance Future Stars Series presented by Program 15 is a global platform for amateur baseball development and scouting, powered by a commitment to impact, integrity, and player-focused innovation. Its alumni can be found throughout professional baseball, and its events and partnerships have reshaped how talent is identified, nurtured, and celebrated.
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Since 2003, he has covered multiple World Series and has worked high-profile events ranging from the MLB All-Star Game to the World Baseball Classic. In addition to his role working for the Future Stars Series that he's held since 2017, Ashmore currently serves as the beat writer of the Double-A New York Yankees affiliate, the Somerset Patriots, as well as national hockey writer and New York Jets game day beat reporter for The Trentonian.
A regular contributor to Baseball America, Ashmore has worked eight Super Bowls, 12 Stanley Cup Finals, the 4 Nations Face-Off, the NBA Playoffs, College Football Playoff National Championship Game, Frozen Four, Daytona 500, major UFC events and much more as he approaches 3,300 games covered in his career.
An avid trading card enthusiast, he lives with his wife, Sarah, their son, future No. 1 overall draft pick in 2042, William, their beloved dog, Bailey, and occasionally well-behaved cat, Smokey.
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