New Balance Future Stars Series Announces Update for Canadian Scout League
Organizations and format ready to go for exciting 2027 season
ONTARIO, CANADA — The New Balance Future Stars Series today announced the participating organizations, age divisions, and competition format for the 2027 Canadian Scout League.
The structure brings together programs from across Ontario around a shared objective: identifying players, evaluating them consistently and providing meaningful opportunities to advance through scouting, competition, and comprehensive data capture.
The league will feature teams in the following age groups: 13, 14/15, 16, 17/18
Each organization will be limited to one team per level. All participating teams, including invited NBFSS Wild Card teams, will be vetted and approved by the NBFSS national office.
“This format gives us the time and structure to do the work properly—evaluate players, follow their development and put them in competitive situations that mean something,” said Jeremy Booth, CEO and President of Baseball Operations of New Balance Future Stars Series. “We took the time to evaluate what worked and what needed to change. One team per level concentrates on the talent and gives our scouting staff a better opportunity to know the players over time. These organizations bring different histories and strengths, but the expectation is the same: commit to the players, respect the process, and follow through.”
PARTICIPATING ORGANIZATIONS
Ottawa Reds
The Ottawa Reds first contacted FSS in July about becoming involved, initiating the discussions that led to their inclusion in the 2027 Canadian Scout League. The Ottawa-based Canada Reds Baseball Academy is led by Robert Fatal and works in partnership with École secondaire publique Louis-Riel’s baseball sports-study program. That relationship integrates baseball development into the school day, combining on-field instruction, physical preparation, and classroom learning.
The Louis-Riel program provides access to indoor winter training at its dome, along with strength and conditioning, nutrition, mental performance, and athletic therapy resources. The academy also connects players with showcase opportunities in the United States and Puerto Rico. The Reds bring an Eastern Ontario presence and a development environment that connects school, preparation, and competition.
For more on the Ottawa Reds, click here.
Mississauga Tigers
The Mississauga Tigers High-Performance Program brings an established emphasis on individualized instruction, college placement, and preparation for higher levels of baseball. Its development model combines physical and mental training around four stated pillars: trust, loyalty, communication, and leadership.
The program was founded by Director of Player Development Sean Travers. Its staff includes Head of College Placement Greg Byron, whose background includes coaching with the Triple-A Rochester Red Wings and Memphis Redbirds, as well as collegiate coaching experience at Austin Peay, Iowa and Central Arkansas. That combination gives the Tigers experience in both developing players and understanding the demands they will encounter beyond amateur baseball. Mississauga will also serve as one of the league’s designated technology locations.
For more on the Mississauga Tigers, click here.
Vaughan Vikings
The Vaughan Vikings bring a community baseball foundation supported by a dedicated High Performance Program. Their development offerings include specialized hitting, pitching and defensive instruction, with indoor training opportunities at The Dugout and Trio Sportsplex.
Vaughan takes a holistic approach that blends physical, mental, and cognitive skill development in developing our athletes. Academic support and guidance are also a key component of the program to assist families as they prepare for the next level of competition.
The program is led by Dirk Drieberg who has three decades of experience at both the provincial and national level and an extensive network of contacts at the collegiate level.
Its staff include Lead Instructors, David Quattrociocchi, and Michael Cecchetto. David played at the NCAA D1 level and has coached championship teams at all levels including the Ontario Youth Team to 2 Gold Medals. Michael, when not coaching, still plays in the Canadian Baseball League (CBL), an independent professional baseball league based in Ontario.
Its recent activities also include a skills combine intended to create additional opportunities for players beyond their regular game schedules. That blend of competitive experience and deliberate player development fits the Scout League’s emphasis on evaluating athletes over time. Vaughan will also be a designated technology site for 2027.
For more on the Vaughan Vikings, click here.
Durham Stallions
The Durham Stallions emphasize year-round development, individualized player plans and the use of video and performance tracking to measure progress. Their program also incorporates strength and conditioning, academic support and guidance for families navigating recruiting opportunities.
The organization is led by President Scott Robinson, whose background includes graduate study in physical education and two decades of coaching.
Director of Player Development Dan Bowers has spent the past 20 years coaching and mentoring student athletes in both Canada and the United States. Bowers has had the opportunity to coach more than 40 players who have gone on to play professionally, including 6 who played at the Major League level.
For more on the Durham Stallions, click here.
Midwestern Bearcats
The Midwestern Ontario Bearcats serve players from across the region with an emphasis on intentional training, accountability, and preparation for higher levels of competition. Established in 2021, the organization is directed by Mark Couch, with player development led by Luke Baker, a former professional player, longtime Kitchener Panthers standout, and certified mental performance coach.
The Bearcats’ staff draws on collegiate, professional and national-team experience, while the program emphasizes leadership, character, and community involvement alongside baseball development. Its training resources include a partnership with The Yard indoor athletic facility.
For more on the Midwestern Ontario Bearcats, click here.
To comply with the Scout League’s one-team-per-level structure, the Bearcats are directing players from additional teams at overlapping age levels to another league. One selected team at each applicable level will compete in the Canadian Scout League.
PLAYER SELECTION AND NBFSS WILD CARD TEAMS
FSS scouts, former professional scouts and the advisory board led by Jeremy Booth will be instrumental in selecting players for the Scout League. The process will emphasize talent, projection, readiness, character, and work ethic, with final team approval retained by the NBFSS national office.
The competition format will also include NBFSS Wild Card teams — invited teams from other organizations that are not yet included in the league. These invitations will create opportunities to evaluate additional players and organizations within the same competitive environment, subject to the same vetting and approval standards.
PLAYER OPPORTUNITIES, TECHNOLOGY AND SCHEDULE
Players will be eligible for consideration for NBFSS signature events and All-Star Games, with data capture supporting MLB Draft evaluation and college recruiting. Event selections will reflect performance, projection, and readiness.
Designated technology sites will be Vaughan, Mississauga, and Jack Couch, with a fourth location pending. These sites will anchor consistent data capture and support scouting throughout the season.
The schedule will target approximately 24 games, with the potential for 28–32 depending on weather, followed by a conference championship tournament and an All-Star Game in August.
“The time invested in this league has to translate into something meaningful for the players,” Booth added. “That means more than putting teams on a schedule. It means knowing who the players are, tracking their progress and making informed decisions about their next opportunities. We are bringing these organizations together to do that work consistently, and we expect the standard to hold from the first weekend through the final evaluation.”
Additional details regarding team placement by level, the fourth technology site and the final schedule will be announced as they are confirmed.
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.
Connect with New Balance Future Stars Series by visiting our website, www.futurestarsseries.com, by visiting our YouTube page, and by checking out the social media channels listed below.
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