Chilly temperatures at Sunday’s New Balance Baseball Future Stars Series Regional Combine at the Philadelphia Phillies Youth Academy certainly didn’t prevent the players in attendance from showing up in a big way.
A strong mix of returning players and new faces made their cases to get invited to the upcoming series of FSS jewel events this summer, and the Future Stars Series staff was on hand to see them, as was the social media team, who have already shared some of the more notable players from both groups who stood out.
New Jersey 2023 infielder Ty Fredo (@TyFredo0810) showing off all his tools looking sharp defensively while hammering consistent liners at our @NB_Baseball @P15Sports @ftrstarsseries Philly Combine. #UNCOMMITTED pic.twitter.com/1ShFJJe1Pz
— Future Stars Series Northeast (@fss_northeast) February 7, 2022
New York 2022 RHP/OF Olivia Pichardo (@OliviaPichardo1) has some real two-way ability showing balanced lefty stroke while locating her velocity up to 80 mph during our @NB_Baseball @P15Sports @ftrstarsseries Philly Combine. #UNCOMMITTED pic.twitter.com/FgpDn5uDjz
— Future Stars Series Northeast (@fss_northeast) February 7, 2022
New Jersey 2024 RHP/3B Daviel Fernandez (@Davielfernande7) looking solid on the mound locating up to 85 mph while showing power potential at our @NB_Baseball @P15Sports @ftrstarsseries Philly Combine. #UNCOMMITTED pic.twitter.com/SmhRgnDt4m
— Future Stars Series Northeast (@fss_northeast) February 7, 2022
New York 2024 OF/INF Isaiah Shivers (@isaiahshivers24) showing off his defensive versatility and athleticism while hammering hard liners with a powerful lefty approach during our @NB_Baseball @P15Sports @ftrstarsseries Philly Combine. @BsbSouthern commit pic.twitter.com/lNQRWtWHnO
— Future Stars Series Northeast (@fss_northeast) February 6, 2022
New Jersey 2024 infielder Jon Young Jr (@JonYoungJr1) looking smooth defensively while crushing hard shots to all fields with a powerful lefty stroke at our @NB_Baseball @P15Sports @ftrstarsseries Philly Combine. @DiamondHeels commit pic.twitter.com/wWIS8PaQ21
— Future Stars Series Northeast (@fss_northeast) February 6, 2022
Pennsylvania 2022 OF/RHP @JakeMccarter showing off his athleticism and strength hammering hard liners with a balanced righty stroke at our @NB_Baseball @P15Sports @ftrstarsseries Philly Combine. @RaginCajunsBSB commit pic.twitter.com/KMYB3Hr1FO
— Future Stars Series Northeast (@fss_northeast) February 6, 2022
The first group of primarily older players was followed by a second group of underclass hopefuls, and both underwent extensive athletic testing at the event. Here are the top performers from those valuable measurables in Philadelphia:
30-Yard Dash
2023 Ty Fredo, 3.31
2022 Jake McCarter, 3.35
2023 Brandon Diaz, 3.42
2023 Matt Jackson, 3.43
2023 Nick Clark, 3.45
2023 Jeremy Diaz, 3.55
2023 Jayden Brown, 3.56
2022 Olivia Pichardo, 3.61
2023 Damon Jackson, 3.61
2023 Justin Lopez, 3.61
2023 Alfonso Santiago, 3.64
2023 Chandler Powell, 3.65
2022 David Castro, 3.68
2024 Jon Young Jr, 3.69
Pro Agility:
2023 Ty Fredo, 4.37
2024 Giovanni Bausone, 4.53
2027 Joshua Burkholder, 4.53
2026 Cruz Cooper, 4.57
2026 Grant Damweber, 4.58
2022 Olivia Pichardo, 4.61
2022 Jake McCarter, 4.65
2023 Jayden Brown, 4.69
2023 Jacob Fowler, 4.69
2024 Tyler Diez, 4.71
2023 Carter Klein, 4.72
2023 Justin Lopez, 4.75
2023 Matt Jackson, 4.76
2023 Jeremy Diaz, 4.76
2025 Sean Ely, 4.76
2023 Damon Jackson, 4.78
Broad Jump:
2022 Jake McCarter, 9’3
2025 Jayden Johnson, 9’2
2023 Ty Fredo, 8’9
2023 Jayden Brown, 8’7
2023 Carter Klein, 8’6
2023 Damon Jackson, 8’6
2023 Justin Lopez, 8’4
2025 Brody Loch, 8’4
2023 Chandler Powell, 8’3
2027 Joshua Burkholder, 8’3
2024 Isaiah Shivers, 8’2
2024 Giovanni Bausone, 8’2
2023 Matthew Jackson, 8’0
Triple Jump:
2022 Jake McCarter, 28’8
2025 Jayden Johnson, 27’7
2024 Giovanni Bausone, 27’5
2023 Ty Fredo, 27’3
2024 Isaiah Shivers, 27’0
2023 Damon Jackson, 26’10
2023 Jayden Brown, 26’5
2023 Nick Clark, 26’5
2023 Justin Lopez, 26’0
2027 Joshua Burkholder, 25’10
2022 Aamir Salahaldeen, 25’5
2023 Jacob Fowler, 25’4
2023 Chandler Powell, 25’2
2023 Brandon Diaz, 25’0
2025 Brody Loch, 25’0
Tyler Diez, a 2024 SS/OF from New York, made the trip down for the second straight year, and impressed scouts with a strong showing in the pro agility drill and overall in baseball-related drills.
“I had a great experience,” Diez said. “This is my second year attending, and the main thing I learned from Sunday was line drives are key. I remember (FSS CEO and President) Jeremy (Booth) saying ‘fly balls are not good and they turn into outs’ but ‘line drives are the key to success and they get you paid.’ I’m really glad he said this because lots of kids my age only worry about launch angle and trying to hit the ball out of the park. This works for me, because I (focus on) hitting the ball hard every time.”
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 seven Super Bowls, 11 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 3,200 games covered in his career.
An avid card collector and sim racer, he lives with his wife, Sarah, their son William, and their beloved dog, Bailey, and cat, Smokey.
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