Get better.
Get seen.
Get selected.
Checkmarks were firmly written in all three boxes this past weekend in Lake Charles, Louisiana with a wildly successful return of the New Balance Baseball Future Stars Series Instructs, a three-day event with a sole focus on development. No games. Nothing flashy. Just learning, working on your craft and leaving better than you were when you arrived.
Sam Houston High School was a wonderful host to an absolutely loaded group of not just our players, but on-field staff as well, and the workflow of the event and execution of it all went as well as anything the FSS has put on since its inception.
“First of all, if you were here, it’s because you want to get better,” CEO, founder and president of baseball operations Jeremy Booth told Daniel Gotera for FSS Plus while in Louisiana.
“So, you’re locked in, you understand the culture of the organization and you’re part of setting the tone for the culture of the organization. It’s a winning mindset that brings you to Moss Bluff and Lake Charles, Louisiana…additionally, the staff here is better than we’ve ever had, and it’s across the board better than we’ve ever had. The hitting especially has improved quite a bit; culture-wise, mentality-wise, approach-wise, versatility-wise.
“Jason Tyner was here with the outfielders, some of the best instruction we’ve had there as well, and we got into things like basestealing, bunting and being able to play the game, honing your craft and becoming an asset. Across the board, we’ve gotten better.”
Additionally, the annual awards dinner was held, where seven players earned prestigious honors for their accomplishments over the past season, which you can read more about here.
Player of the Year: Jax Van Valkenburg. C/1B
Prospect of the Year: Landon Brown, RHP/3B
Hitter of the Year: Isaac Torres, SS
Pitcher of the Year: Kyndall Tausch, RHP
Baserunner of the Year: Collin Thomas, SS
Defender of the Year: Dominic Pellegrin, SS
Heart & Hustle Award: Hunter Lynch, 1B/3B
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 seven 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.
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