For the sixth consecutive year, the New Balance Baseball Future Stars Series was represented in the first round of the MLB Draft. But, for the first time ever, the FSS had a player go in the top two selections.
LSU outfielder Dylan Crews was taken No. 2 overall by the Washington Nationals, followed ten picks later by his 2019 International Week National Team teammate, Tommy Troy, who went at No. 12 to the Arizona Diamondbacks. It marked the first time two FSS alums went in the top 12 picks; previously, Zac Veen and Mick Abel both went in the top 15 back in 2020.
Another alumni, prep shortstop Colin Houck, came off the board at No. 32 to the New York Mets in Competitive Balance Round A, while Canadian-born shortstop, Myles Naylor, was the last pick of that round, going No. 39 to the Oakland Athletics.
Over the past six years, the Future Stars Series have now helped produce 18 first-round picks, including two-major leaguers in Grayson Rodriguez and Bo Naylor.
The second round saw more alums come off the board to some teams who were able to find exceptional value; Nazzan Zanetello was taken at No. 50 by the Boston Red Sox, while the Cleveland Guardians drafted Alex Clemmey at No. 58.
FSS Plus Senior Analyst Joe Doyle on Crews:
Crews has been a headliner going back to his high school days. He’s long been considered a first round talent, but the COVID-shortened 2020 season limited scouts’ looks at the Lake Mary grad.
Crews possesses plus raw power and he gets into just about all of it thanks to a premium bat path and an approach well beyond his years. He hardly ever chases outside of the strike zone, and when pulling the trigger makes hard contact at impressive rates. Crews really doesn’t have many holes in his offensive game and could move quickly through a minor league system.
Defensively, scouts believe Crews could stick in centerfield as an average defender, but most believe he’ll slide to a corner where his above average speed and plus throwing arm will play more comfortably. Crews is the total package and the argument can be made he’s the best projection college bat since Bryce Harper.
FSS Plus Senior Analyst Joe Doyle on Troy:
Tommy Troy is one of the strongest players in the 2023 class with a beautiful, compact, violent right-handed swing with legitimate plus power to all parts of the yard. Troy covers every quadrant of the strike zone and has one of the best resumes in college baseball handling velocity.
An above average hit tool, maybe plus, Troy has a shot at hitting .280 at the next level with impact and thunder in the bat. There’s a very real shot we’re talking about one of the more impactful second base bats in baseball here 5 years from now.
Troy is an above average runner who gets to balls on the dirt and makes plays, though his average arm and shorter, choppier steps will limit him to second base as a pro where he projects to be an average defender. Some scouts would like to see what the profile looks like in centerfield at the next level. Troy got some run in centerfield for Cotuit on the Cape in 2022. The profile here is a bat-first infielder with power as the calling card. The whole thing could look something akin to Bret Boone when all is said and done.
FSS Plus Senior Analyst Joe Doyle on Houck:
A decorated two-sport athlete, Houck has plenty of opportunities to play quarterback at the D1 level should he elect to go that direction. On the diamond, he’s a twitchy, athletic shortstop with a strong arm and hittability that evaluators believe could really surge if he gives up the gridiron. Houck is quiet and compact at the plate with average bat speed, though his willingness to spray the ball deep gap-to-gap is what has scouts excited. There’s some questions as to whether power will ever be a huge part of his game, but who knows what can happen once he dedicates to his craft. The floor here is a true shortstop with a solid hit tool.
FSS Plus Senior Analyst Joe Doyle on Naylor:
The next Naylor in a long line of big league Naylors (Josh, Bo), Myles is cut from a similar cloth with big bat speed and impact potential at the plate. He’s largely pull-side focused right now, but Naylor has a mature approach to his game that should allow the hit tool to buoy as he matures into more competitive ball. Defensively, Naylor may move off the shortstop position to second or third base where his fringy throwing arm and fringy speed play better.
Below, please find the complete history of first-round selections of FSS alums in the MLB Draft:
2018 MLB Draft
11th overall – Grayson Rodriguez, Orioles
29th overall – Noah Naylor, Indians
2019 MLB Draft
Daniel Espino, 24th overall, Cleveland Indians
2020 MLB Draft
9) Zac Veen, Rockies
15) Mick Abel, Phillies
26) Tyler Soderstrom, Athletics
34) Justin Lange, Padres
35) Drew Romo, Rockies
2021 MLB Draft
25) Max Muncy, Athletics
2022 MLB Draft
4) Termarr Johnson, Pirates
18) Cam Collier, Reds
22) Cooper Hjerpe, Cardinals
28) Drew Gilbert, Astros
39) Robby Snelling, Padres
2023 MLB Draft
2) Dylan Crews, Nationals
12) Tommy Troy, Diamondbacks
32) Colin Houck, Mets
39) Myles Naylor, Athletics
