Grayson Rodriguez‘s long-awaited MLB debut finally happened last Wednesday, the culmination of a long journey that included a stop with the New Balance Baseball Future Stars Series.
Rodriguez, who was a two-way player back at the time the 2017 International Week event was held, became the second alum from the series as a whole, but also that event, to reach the big leagues, striking out five for the Baltimore Orioles in a 5-2 loss to the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Field.
That his debut occurred not far from home made it all the more special for the 23-year-old righty, who had an emotional embrace with his father after the game.
“I grew up watching the Texas Rangers. A lot of memories at the old ballpark,” Rodriguez told MLB.com. “Getting to come and throw here is pretty special.”
Rodriguez is set to make his home debut on Tuesday, set for his second MLB start to come against the Oakland Athletics at 6:35 PM Eastern Time. The team will be giving away “Grayson Rodriguez Welcome To The Show” T-Shirts to the first 10,000 fans.
Cam Collier, 3B — Cincinnati Reds
Collier is off to a hot start in full season ball. Still just 18 years old, the Cincinnati Reds first-round pick last year had a huge performance for the Low-A Daytona Tortugas in their season opener on Friday night, going 2-for-3 with a double, three RBI, three walks and a stolen base.
Kyren Paris, SS — Los Angeles Angels
Paris has a three-game hitting streak to start the season with the Rocket City Trash Pandas, Double-A affiliate of the Los Angeles Angels, where he’s teammates with another alum, David Calabrese. Paris, who played at International Week in 2018, smacked his first homer of the year, hitting one to center field for a three-run shot on Saturday in the nightcap of a somewhat infamous doubleheader in which his team lost despite throwing a no-hitter.
Robby Snelling, LHP — San Diego Padres
Snelling made his long-awaited pro debut with the Low-A Lake Elsinore Storm, striking out three batters over three scoreless frames on Friday night. Taken with the No. 39 overall pick by the San Diego Padres last year, Snelling had yet to throw a professional pitch prior to this season, but wasted little time showing why the one-time Future Stars Series national tournament MVP went where he did; he allowed just one hit, and reportedly touched 95 MPH with his fastball.
Zac Veen, OF — Colorado Rockies
Veen showed that his performance in the Arizona Fall League was no fluke, putting up a strong opening series in his return to Double-A Hartford after an up-and-down showing there after being called up to the level for the first time last season. Veen, who is re-united with fellow alum and travel ball teammate Drew Romo on the Yard Goats roster, went 3-for-11 (.273) with a triple, three walks and two stolen bases this past weekend, and is another player with FSS experience who is seemingly on the big-league radar at some point this year.
Tink Hence, RHP — St. Louis Cardinals
There are some who seem to think that Hence could be in the big leagues by the end of this season. He did little to squash those rumors in his first outing of 2023 on Thursday, allowing just one hit over four scoreless innings in his High-A debut with the Peoria Chiefs.
The 20-year-old righty was taken No. 63 overall by the St. Louis Cardinals back in 2020 — not long after standing out in both the FSS national tournaments and Main Event — and has skyrocketed up prospect charts ever since, considered to be one of the top pitching prospects in the game.
For a full list of Future Stars Series alumni currently playing professional baseball, please see below. Click on the link to see their statistics on Baseball Reference.
Should we have missed someone, or a player has had a change in team/level and we didn’t catch it, please don’t hesitate to contact us to have that player added to the list or his status adjusted.
Grayson Rodriguez MLB, Orioles
Bo Naylor AAA, Guardians
Dominic Pipkin A+, Phillies
Mateo Gil AA, Mets
Joel Ibarra A, Dodgers
Wendell Marrero A, Reds
Daniel Espino AA, Guardians
Dilan Rosario No Team Assigned, Giants
Kyren Paris AA, Angels
Dasan Brown A+, Blue Jays
T.J. Schofield-Sam A, Athletics
Adam Macko High-A, Blue Jays
Johzan Oquendo A, Cubs
Kristin Munroe No Team Assigned, Angels
Cherif Neymour No Team Assigned, Marlins
Toby Simmons No Team Assigned, Marlins
Zac Veen AA, Rockies
Drew Romo AA, Rockies
Mick Abel AA, Phillies
Justin Lange A, Yankees
Tink Hence A+, Cardinals
David Calabrese AA, Angels
Petey Halpin AA, Guardians
Marco Raya A+, Twins
Koen Moreno A, Cubs
Michael Arroyo No Team Assigned, Mariners
Anthony Solometo A, Pirates
Edwin Arroyo A+, Reds
Tyler Soderstrom AAA, Athletics
Ricky Tiedemann No Team Assigned, Blue Jays
Ryan Spikes A, Rays
Ian Moller A, Rangers
Elmer Rodriguez-Cruz A, Red Sox
Eric Silva High-A, Giants
Alexander Ayala A, Rays
Franco Aleman High-A, Guardians
Nic Kent High-A, Rockies
Erian Rodriguez A, Cubs
Braylon Bishop A, Pirates
Jose Acuna No Team Assigned, Phillies
Justin Williams A, Astros
Kyle Virbitsky High-A, Orioles
Max Muncy High-A, Athletics
Daylen Lile A, Nationals
Wes Kath High-A, White Sox
Ryan Holgate No Team Assigned, Cardinals
Jose Torres AA, Reds
Brennon McNair A, Royals
Irvin Murr No Team Assigned, Giants
Termarr Johnson A, Pirates
Cam Collier A, Reds
Cooper Hjerpe A, Cardinals
Drew Gilbert A+, Astros
Robby Snelling A, Padres
Jacob Miller A, Marlins
Henry Bolte No Team Assigned, Athletics
Cole Phillips No Team Assigned, Braves
Brock Jones A, Rays
Tucker Toman A, Blue Jays
Pete Hansen A, Cardinals
Silas Ardoin A+, Orioles
Kenya Huggins A, Reds
Tommy Specht No Team Assigned, Rangers
Nathaniel Ochoa Leyva No Team Assigned, Nationals
Will Frisch No Team Assigned, Cubs
Javier Santos No Team Assigned, Guardians
Logan Wagner No Team Assigned, Dodgers
Jared Southard A, Angels
Omari Daniel No Team Assigned, Twins
Jose Izarra A, Dodgers
Nomar Diaz No Team Assigned, Giants
JP Wheat A, Cubs
Deundre Jones No Team Assigned, Red Sox
Albert Oliva No Team Assigned, Tigers
Enger Castellano No Team Assigned, Yankees
Chase Valentine, A, Padres
Mason Ronan, A, Phillies
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