If you’ve been following the developments between the New Balance Baseball Future Stars Series and NJCAA lately, it should come as no surprise that the FSS had a significant presence at every level of the JUCO World Series. Scouts and baseball operations staff were on site in Johnson City, Enid and Grand Junction for the events of the past week, and selected All-Prospect teams for the Division 1, Division 2 and Division 3 events, the latter of which was won by Johnson County over Blinn.
A loaded Johnson County squad had plenty of players on our All-Prospect Team, including first baseman Colin Coonradt, who homered and drove in three in the title game.
Our attending scout had Coonradt has one of many who stood out during his time at the event; listing him as a “bat first guy, has power D1 type.”
Johnson County catcher Boston Bruce made the list as a “strong kid (with) decent catching skills; D1 type,” joined by outfielder Ryan Bradford, who is a “potential five tool guy (with a) pro future.” Two Cavaliers arms made the squad as well, namely Ashton Nance and Liam Roche; Nance was written up as a “velo guy (with a) good frame; D1 or sure, chance for pro” while Roche stood out as a southpaw with “good command, has stuff; shot at pro ball future.”
The partnership between the NJCAA and FSS will introduce a unified platform focused on player evaluation, infrastructure, and data-driven development tools, while expanding student-athlete access to and from NJCAA institutions, connecting them to the broader collegiate and professional baseball ecosystem…and will also include the development of co-branded events and national showcase opportunities. Plans include a sanctioned NJCAA All-Star Game and integration into College All-Star Week, where a Junior College Series will precede Division I events. Once formally sanctioned, junior college coaches will participate directly in these events. Additionally, the NJCAA will sanction Future Stars Series regional fall events and spring season launch events in both baseball and softball.
Technology and data infrastructure will also play a central role in the partnership. Smart Park will serve as a scalable data capture solution across NJCAA championship events, debuting at all NJCAA Baseball and Softball Championships beginning in 2026. Through the on-site integration of MLB approved Smart Park technology, programs will have an open flow of access to FSS players, advanced performance modeling and expanded analytics that include metrics like Swing AI, blast motion capabilities and more.
About New Balance Future Stars Series
The New Balance Future Stars Series presented by Program 15 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 below.
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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 eight Super Bowls, 12 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 3,300 games covered in his career.
An avid trading card enthusiast, 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.
