The New Balance Baseball Future Stars Series recently held a JUCO Regional at The University of Kansas. Here’s a look at some of the data standouts from the event, held on September 12-13.
Top Max Exit Velocity — Weston Wilcox (Johnson County), 111.3 MPH
Wilcox is an incoming freshman from Van Buren, Arkansas standing six-foot-three and listed at 205 pounds. An outfielder/right-handed pitcher, Wilcox shared some video from his two-way performance against Metropolitan on X:
Game vs MetropolitanCC
FR OF/RHP @JCCCBaseball
2/3 2RBIs 1HBP
1IP 3Ks 88-90 https://t.co/wIvGVA0Fta— Weston Wilcox (@weston_wilcox13) September 16, 2026
Top Average Exit Velocity — Kellan Burke (Cloud County), 107.6 MPH
One of the top notes next to the scouting report on Kellan Burke in the FSS system is pretty simple: Just hits. A 5-foot-11, 190-pound C/OF, Burke is a sophomore at Cloud CC who is coming off a monster 2026 campaign in which he hit .413 with 21 homers and 93 RBI over 57 games. He drew 20 walks compared to just 29 strikeouts, and it’s no surprise that his report is fairly glowing after our event all things considered. Our scouts noted that Burke “swings very aggressively, but under control, squares balls up,” and believe he may be a better fit in the outfield down the road. Burke is a University of Nebraska commit.
Best Hard Hit Percentage — Jackson McGrath (Iowa Western), 75%
It was McGrath who most consistently barreled up the baseball at our September event; a standout from our friends at MASH Baseball, who hosted us for the Friday workout for the Main Event. McGrath is a 6-foot-1, 205-pound infielder and lefty bat who is an incoming freshman at Iowa Western and has already made a strong impression there.
Longest Distance — TJ Boston (Metropolitan), 416 feet
Boston is a freshman at Metropolitan Community College in Kansas City, and made a huge impression with a 416-foot shot at our September event. A right-handed hitting outfielder and second baseman, Boston is a 6-foot-1, 190-pounder with some significant athleticism who has posted 6.8 60 times and 100 MPH-plus exit velos in the past. He was among the top five in top exit velo at Kansas, smoking a ball at 106.1 MPH and was second to McGrath with a 66.7% hard hit rate as well.
About New Balance Future Stars Series
New Balance Future Stars Series 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 six 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, 13 Stanley Cup Finals, the 4 Nations Face-Off, the NBA Playoffs, the NCAA D1 Men's Basketball Tournament, 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 and motorsports fan, 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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- 2026 Main Event Award Winners: Reid Traeger, Co-Best Pitcher - October 18, 2026
- Data Darlings: 2026 Main Event, Pitchers - October 14, 2026
