Main Event standout Alex Kranzler headlines a loaded group of players set to participate in the New Balance Baseball Future Stars Series’ return to the Boston area with a regional combine set for Saturday at the EVO Baseball Academy in Shrewsbury, Mass.
It’s about a 45 minute drive from there to Fenway Park, the future host of future jewel events for the series and two-time home of International Week, before it was re-named the Main Event for last year’s debut at Citi Field, a weekend that Kranzler that made the most of. Having earned his way there by progressing through both the Underclass Combine and Underclass Elite, he became the first pitcher in the five-year history of the event to go nine up, nine down in his outing; the New Jersey native racked up four strikeouts in his three perfect frames.
The player pool has been divided into two groups, with the schedule for the day set to look like this:
Group 1 (All pitchers and primary catchers)
7:45 a.m. – Check-In
8:00 – Stretch
8:15 – Athletic Testing
9:15 – Pitcher Bullpens and Defensive Assessments
10:30 – Offensive Assessments
11:30 – Dismiss
Group 2 (All position players NO pitchers)
11:00 a.m. – Check-In
11:15 – Stretch
11:30 – Athletic Testing
12:30 – Defensive Assessments – Primary position only – no pitching
11:30 – Offensive Assessments
2:30 – Dismiss
While Kranzler should have many eyes on him as he continues to cement himself as a coveted arm in the 2023 MLB Draft, he’s hardly the only player with experience at FSS jewel events. C.J. Orrego, Nick Villano and Christian Oliveira all attended the Underclass Combine, as did David Balenilla and Ajonte Bullock prior to earning invites to the prestigious Underclass Elite event last September in Orlando.
In addition to that, Jean Santos, who stood out at the 2020 Underclass Combine, played in last year’s National Combine as well.
Combine that with some newer faces — including 2022’s Angel Rivera and Jaydon Luna, 2023’s Brady Collins, Ben Griffith, Jefferson Soto and Ethan Perez, 2024’s Ian Born, John Horgan, Tyler Tashea, Brandon Hy, Sebastien Ortiz and Andrew Ray as well 2025’s Miles Fontaine and Matthew Gileno and 2026 Benjamin Barrasso — and the recipe is there for another regional combine that will help shape the rosters of the upcoming bigger events this summer.
“This area is the home of New Balance Baseball, and there’s a deep tradition here with the Red Sox,” said Future Stars Series president and CEO Jeremy Booth.
“I’ve spent a lot of time up there both professionally and personally throughout my life, and it’ll be great to see such a great turnout, especially as we look at the road to get the Underclass Elite and Fenway Park.”
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