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 Pearl River Community College on Ethan Garner’s extra-innings walk-off hit.
Numerous players from the winning team made our All-Prospect squad, including title game starter Drew Harrison, who was one of the players who popped for our attending scout, sitting 91-95 with an 81-85 slider — has pitch ability but with some effort.
Others? Pearl River’s Cal Culpepper, who was up to 100 MPH, but most of his velo throughout his outing was 93 to 96-97. There were some concerns over development of a secondary pitch — he threw a slider at 90 — and being more of a thrower than a pitcher at times, but the clay is there.
Iowa Central’s George McIntyre profiles as a corner player — 3B, LF, RF — and may eventually end up at first base long-term, but a good athlete who reminds of Jonny Gomes; with swing, has a good arm, has some tools; more of a strength swing with some effort, but he’s very strong. He had three home runs in the tournament and he had 30 home runs on the year.
Pearl River catcher Coy Clements showed a 6 arm and 6 Raw power, but has some swing and miss concerns while muscling the bat.
Kellogg pitcher Joshua Midbo; extra large lean frame looks, like a big leaguer. 91-96 and as easy as you’ll see; repeats his mechanics well. Clean arm action, a potential big league starter but will need to have pinpoint command or find some life to his fastball. Slider is a weapon and a potential out pitch.
CATCHER
COY CLEMENTS – PEARL RIVER
CAYDEN NIETO – KELLOGG
FIRST BASE
XAVIER MYLES – EAST CENTRAL SAWYER STEIN – IOWA CENTRAL
VANCE CEILIBERTI- PASCO-HERNANDEZ
SECOND BASE
JACKSON BEDDOE – PEARL RIVER
JACOB WOOTEN – EAST CENTRAL MASON HICKMAN- EAST CENTRAL
CLAYTON DORSEY – FREDRICK
TAYLOR MOREHOUSE – KELLOGG
SHORTSTOP
RYAN NELSON – EAST CENTRAL
GEORGE MCINTYRE – IOWA CENTRAL
BLAKE RUSSELL – WAKE TECH
THIRD BASE
JAYDEN PATEL – PARKLAND
OUTFIELDERS
KAYDEN PEOPLES (LF/RF) – EAST CENTRAL
NURI TODD – SOUTH MOUNTAIN
CHASE RUSSELL (LF/RF) – JONES
JACKSON JONES (LF/RF) – WAKE TECH
CAL HANSON (LF/RF) – PARKLAND
BRAEDON REINA (LF/RF) – MONROE
DESIGNATED HITTER/UTILITY
AARON REINA – MONROE
PITCHERS
DREW HARRISON (RHP) – PEARL RIVER
TREVOR HODGES (RHP) – JONES
CAL CULPEPPER (RHP) – PEARL RIVER
REID GASTON (LHP) – JONES
LANDON WATTS (RHP) – PEARL RIVER
CARTER GIESEN (RHP) – IOWA CENTRAL
NOAH MARSCHE (LHP) – MADISON
JOSH MURPHY (LHP) – WAKE TECH
CHASE BAKER (LHP) – MADISON
ALEC BERGMAN (RHP) – PARKLAND
MILES BURCHARDT (RHP) – MADISON
LADE STARRICK (RHP) – PARKLAND
LUKE WILLIAMS (RHP) – EAST CENTRAL
BRODIE FARRELL (RHP) – PARKLAND
ANDREW NIELSEN (RHP) – EAST CENTRAL
TYLER TYKA (RHP) – PARKLAND
GRANT YOUNG (RHP) – SOUTH MOUNTAIN
MIGUEL MATOS (RHP) – MONROE
CODY STOLLER (RHP) – SOUTH MOUNTAIN
CONNOR OSIER (RHP) – MONROE
IZAIAH MORAGA (RHP) – SOUTH MOUNTAIN
JOSHUA MIDBO (RHP) – KELLOGG
BRYSON GRAHAM (RHP) – JONES
GAVIN ZASSENBRAKER (RHP) – PASCO-HERNANDEZ
COLTON SMITH (RHP) – JONES
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.
