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The list of New Balance Future Stars Series alums in pro ball is extensive and grows significantly every year. The catalog of big leaguers is growing fast, too.
Here are alums on the brink of the majors as fall and winter ball fade and we steam toward the 2026 MLB season. But we’ll start with those who have already made the jump.
2025 Graduates
Dylan Crews, OF — Washington Nationals
Crews was asked to hit big-league pitching without ever really dominating in the minors above Class-A baseball. He went .273/.343/.446 with five homers in 51 games in Double-A in 2024, then in 49 games at Triple-A, replicated the production with better contact rates. But 2025 started slowly back in Triple-A, and he was pushed to the majors anyway with mixed results.
The physical tools are present, including above-average bat speed, plus foot speed, and the ability to get to velocity, but he batted just .180 with a 37% whiff rate on breaking balls in the majors in 2025.
Crews impressed the FSS scouts in the 2019 International Week, including a peppering of 60 and 65 grades on the scouting report.
Daylen Lile, OF — Washington Nationals
Lile didn’t come out of nowhere in 2025, not to the scouting community, anyway. FSS scouts first saw Lile at our Super Regional in 2020, where scouts raved about his swing and easy power.
After the Nationals took him in Round 2 of the 2021 MLB Draft, Lile got to work, hitting at every level until the club had no choice but to call him up last May.
Lile responded by slashing .299/.347/.498 with nine homers and a 132 wRC+ in 91 games. He finished in the 80th percentile in xwOBA, and hit fastballs well — .301 average, .549 slugging.
Kyren Paris, SS — Los Angeles Angels
Paris flashed in his time with the Angels in 2025, blasting five homers in his first 10 games. Defensively, he’s a true utility candidate with capabilities at shortstop, second base, and center field, and his plus speed gives him a chance at offensive value beyond the pure results at the plate.
Paris hit the fastball well in his big-league stay (.265 BAA, .544 SLG), and has above-average bat speed. The shorter edition of his swing projects to be effective moving forward in a bench role.
C.J Kayfus, 1B/OF — Cleveland Guardians
Kayfus can hit, as evidenced by his entire amateur and professional career to date, including a .283/.367/.526 slash in Triple-A before the Guardians handed him a 44-game audition to end the regular season.
Those results were somewhat mixed, but he did find the barrel at a high rate, posting 15 extra-base hits in 138 plate appearances. He’s an above-average first baseman, but can handle either outfield corner, giving Cleveland some flexibility in how to use Kayfus once he’s made the adjustment to offspeed stuff.
Kayfus drew praise in our National Combine in 2019 for exactly what you’d expect: hitting, approach, overall instincts and feel, and drew some swing comparisons to Will Clark.
Staying Power Division
Mick Abel, RHP — Minnesota Twins
Abel made his big-league debut for the Philadelphia Phillies May 18 and was outstanding ( 6IP, 5H, 0R, 0BB, 9SO) and was traded to the Twins in the deal that landed relief ace Jhoan Duran in Philly at the trade deadline.
Able finished his season by shutting out the Phillies for the Twins in a very fun book-end game log scenario of dominant performances from the former first-round draft pick.
Able, who starred in the New Balance Future Stars Series International Week in 2018, figures to be in the Twins’ plans for Opening Day next spring.
Nolan McLean, RHP — New York Mets
Mclean, a two-way star in high school and college, focused on pitching in 2025, and it paid off big time.
The right-hander flashed dominating traits in the minors, giving the Mets no choice but to see how his stuff played in the big leagues.
He made eight starts, posting a 30% strikeout rate and throwing more strikes than he did in the minors (8.5% BB). He’s part of the plan in 2026.
McLean sat 94-97 mph with a projectible slider and sound mechanics in the Future Stars Series National Combine in 2019. He went on to Oklahoma State and was the Mets’ third-round pick in 2023.
Jonah Tong, RHP — New York Mets
Tong, also a two-way star as an amateur, is more of a development story than McLean, who was hitting the upper 90s in high school. The Canadian-born Tong was a seventh-round selection in 2022. He then dominated with deception and improved velocity until the Mets handed him five starts late in 2025.
Tong is a four-seam, curveball, changeup starter with a high slot and release. He sat 94-97 mph and flashed swing-and-miss ability with all three pitches. He has a cutter-slider he threw sparingly in the majors.
The fastball projects to carry significant value, and his changeup is at least above-average. He’s a terrific athlete who simply needs to locate to reach his ceiling.
Future Stars Series first saw Tong in 2021 at one of our Baseball Ontario Scout Days.
Petey Halpin, CF — Cleveland Guardians
Halpin saw a few games in the show to finish the season and could push the envelope again early in 2026.
Halpin’s swing-and-miss hasn’t matched his production but he’s an above-average glove in center, and is a good bet to swipe 20 bags — even in a reserve role.
The left-handed hitter was a third-round pick in 2020 out of Mira Costa High School (Calif.) and starred in the 2019 International Week event the previous fall.
Getting Back Division
Jordan Lawlar, SS — Arizona Diamondbacks
Lawlar has fought injuries, but is loaded with loud tools, including plus or better speed, and raw power. He can really play shortstop, too.
He debuted in 2023, and between small-sample contact issues and injuries, it took him two years to get back. He saw another 74 plate appearances in the big leagues in 2025.
What 2026 brings is unclear, but there could be an opening or two for Lawlar on the infield if the D-Backs want to give him at-bats at third base, or if Ketel Marte is moved over the offseason.
Owen Caissie, RF — Chicago Cubs
Caissie is a power-hitting corner bat with plus bat speed and the ability to hit the fastball well, which he did in his short time with the Cubs in 2025.
Anything offspeed gave him problems, a challenge he brought from the minors, where he whiffed on 34% of the changeups and splitters thrown to him, and 39% of the breaking balls. Caissie also has work to do versus left-handed pitching, but he’s just 23 and the reward could be a 30-homer right fielder with walks-driven on-base ability, perhaps not all that different a hitter as Cubs slugger Michael Busch.
The Canadian native hit the NBFSS radar in 2019, drawing some Bobby Kielty comparisons from our scouting staff.
Zac Veen, OF — Colorado Rockies
Veen took part in numerous FSS events in 2019, including the National Combine and International Week. He garnered big raw power and approach grades from scouts and ended up the No. 9 overall pick in 2020.
He’s battled through injuries and debuted in 2025, and figures to have a chance to get back early in 2026 as an athletic outfielder with a chance to hit for average and power.
Drew Romo, C — Colorado Rockies
Romo, the No. 35 overall pick in the 2020 MLB Draft, has a big-time arm and can certainly catch, and has the general skill set to hit for some average.
Romo drew plus or better grades for defense and throwing at the 2019 NBFSS National Combine, but received big-league projections across the board.
On The Brink for 2026
Jonathon Long, 1B — Chicago Cubs
Long gets a bit lost in the “prospect” conversation, largely because he wasn’t a high draft pick and limited to first base. But he’s raked at every stop, lastly a .305/.404/.479 slash in Triple-A Iowa with 20 homers and a strong 13%-19% BB/K ratio.
He doesn’t swing-and-miss much, controls the zone consistently, and there may be another gear in the power department for the Cubs to go get.
Long is 23, has handled offspeed stuff in the minors — .328 AVG, .493 SLG in 2025 — and manages at first base. There’s some Andrew Vaughn here to consider.
He competed as a two-way player in our 2019 Nationals, teasing 90 mph from the mound and showing sound fundamentals at the plate.
Long has come a long way since and is now on the brink of the majors.
The former ninth-round pick is a trade candidate with Michael Busch holding down first base in the majors.
Tommy Troy, SS — Arizona Diamondbacks
Troy went No. 12 overall in 2023 after a stellar junior season at Stanford. This past season, he split time between Double-A and Triple-A and batted .289/.382/.451 with strong contact rates. It’s also plus speed and enough glove to handle second or third over the long haul.
Troy improved versus breaking balls as the season progressed, giving him a chance at the big leagues in 2026 after what is likely a start back in Triple-A.
The infielder was yet another participant in the 2019 International Week event, which included Brandon Clarke (Cardinals), David Calabrese (Angels), Crews, Ian Moller (Rangers), Justin Lange (Yankees), Tink Hence (Cardinals), Halpin (Guardians), and Veen, among others.
Braden Montgomery, OF — Chicago White Sox
Since the Red Sox made him the No. 12 pick overall in 2024, Montgomery has been traded (in the Garret Crochet deal with Kyle Teel, Chase Meidroth, and Wikelman Gonzalez) and has hit everywhere. He finished 2025 with a .273/.364/.416 slash in 34 games at Double-A after two successful stops in Class-A and High-A.
He’s likely to start 2026 back in Birmingham, but is an adjustment away from positioning himself to join his trade mates in the big leagues over the summer.
Montgomery starred in multiple Future Stars Series events, including 2020 International Week, alongside the likes of many others in this discussion, including the next two in line.
Montgomery, a switch-hitter, was up to 93 mph on the mound with a future big-league breaking ball, but as an everyday player, his report is off the charts.
Although here’s that “chart” and it’s all there from fall 2020:
Cam Collier, 3B — Cincinnati Reds
Collier got a late start to 2025 due to injury, but reached Double-A at age 20 and hit .263 with a .377 OBO there in 74 games. The swing-and-miss was more prevalent this season, and the power wasn’t present, but the thumb ligament tear that stalled his season can easily be the culprit.
Power is not a problem for Collier. He generally receives plus grades in that department and hit 20 bombs as a 19-year-old in High-A in 2024. He will draw walks to accentuate value at the plate as he learns to control the strike zone.
Collier may end up at first base, but right field could be a plausible squeeze-play thanks to his big-time throwing arm.
He stood out in multiple NBFSS events, including the 2021 National Combine.
Edwin Arroyo, SS — Cincinnati Reds
Arroyo is especially poised to see the majors in 2026 after the Reds added him to the 40-man roster last month. He was a second-round pick in 2021 by Seattle and traded (with Noelvi Marte, Levi Stoudt, Andrew Moore) to Cincinnati in the deal that landed right-hander Luis Castillo in a Mariners uniform.
The 21-year-old missed all of 2024 with an injury but bounced back this past season to bat .284/.345/.371 in 120 games. He’s shown some game power in the past and may be able to get to average production there in time, but he’s turning into a sound hitter, improving his contact rates significantly in 2025.
He has the arm and athleticism to play shortstop if he can shore up his hands. Most scouts see a major leaguer here if he can avoid falling too far toward lifting the baseball at the plate.
Arroyo dazzled at the 2020 International Week event, drawing future plus grades in most areas and big-league projections across the board.
Khal Stephen, RHP — Cleveland Guardians
Stephen is a high-slot, four-pitch starter who sits 91-94 mph and has two distinct breakers, the best of which is the slider. It’s fly-ball stuff, but he does a good job working the zone both vertically and side-to-side, and has stayed away from the barrel and the big fly well in the minors.
He ended 2025 with a start in Double-A after he was traded from Toronto to Cleveland in the Shane Bieber deal, and likely starts 2026 back in Akron. The Guardians are known for pitching development, and Stephen now gets to benefit from that, perhaps increasing his chances to add to his profile and get to the majors in 2026.
Daniel Espino, RHP — Cleveland Guardians
Espino, now 24, was a first-round pick back in 2019 and has been decimated by injuries. He missed all of 2023 and 2024 and tossed just two-thirds of an inning in 2025.
The flamethrowing right-hander did shine in the Arizona Fall League and may be back on track for the big leagues.
It’s a power arsenal, starting with a fastball that reaches triple digits.
If healthy, Espino has a good shot to see time up with the Guardians in 2026.
Roc Riggio, 2B — Colorado Rockies
Another 2020 International Week standout, Riggio adds value in every way. Hit, average or better power, and a chance to play second base and/or center field.
Riggio hit 20 homers in 2025 thanks to a mechanical change at the plate — more aggressive with lower body — and didn’t sacrifice contact or his ability to draw walks and put up good OBPs.
The safe bet here is that Riggio sees Denver before 2026 is over, and if he starts hot in Triple-A, it could be sooner than later.
Robby Snelling, LHP — Miami Marlins
Snelling was impressive in several NBFSS events dating all the way back to 2017, when the southpaw was just 14 years old and a two-way player.
He was traded to the Marlins by the San Diego Padres at the deadline in 2024 in exchange for relievers Tanner Scott and Bryan Hoeing, and has been nothing short of outstanding for the Fish.
In 2025, Snelling made 25 starts and posted a 30% strikeout rate and 7% walk rate, while staying downhill and generating some early-count ground-ball outs.
His changeup has made a big difference, but he’s up to 95 mph with some deception and offers two breaking balls, including a curveball that flashes plus.
Snelling will be barely 22 years of age when camp opens in February, and one has to believe there’s at least an outside chance he breaks camp with the big club.
Cooper Pratt, SS — Milwaukee Brewers
Pratt has moved quickly, explaining some of the less-than-impressive traditional stats, including a .238/.343/.348 slash from 2025.
What has been impressive is Pratt’s work at shortstop, despite standing 6-foot-3 and 210 pounds. Shortstop Pratt has a real chance to be an everyday major leaguer in a year or two; third base or left field Pratt may be limited to spot duty.
Despite the soft numbers in 2025, Pratt projects to hit, and the power will come with experience. There’s some Starling Castro in the profile here, but in my conversations, he’s most often compared to players like Chris Johnson and Todd Frazier.
Jonathan Santucci, LHP — New York Mets
Santucci has done nothing but perform since he fell to Round 2 of the 2024 MLB Draft. He finished 2025 on a high note by dominating in Double-A and appears to be a fine-tune away from the majors.
Santucci is a three-pitch starter who has improved his control and command as a pro, and is another Mets farmhand ready — or nearly ready — to help the parent club.
The left-hander starred in the 2020 International Week event, touching 92 mph. He then headed to Duke, where he was an All-ACC performer in a loaded conference.
Santucci may be an upgrade to David Peterson before the year is up.
Elmer Rodriguez, RHP — New York Yankees
Rodriguez’s star has risen as much as any arm in the minors over the last year, and he’s still not talked about enough outside scouting circles.
A fourth-round pick in 2021, Rodriguez slogged through his first couple of seasons, struggling a bit to throw strikes with consistency. The stuff developed, however, and now he’s commanding a 92-95 mph fastball while getting outs with two breaking balls and a splitter. The heater generates a lot of topped contact, leading to ground balls.
Rodriguez was acquired by the Yankees from the Red Sox in exchange for catcher Carlos Narvaez. The Red Sox got a nice piece right away, but the Yankees may get the last laugh here.
Rodriguez sat 88-92 mph as a 17-year-old at our International Week in 2020, drawing praise for a full arsenal, command, and a “free and easy” delivery.
The Yankees project to have a full rotation to start 2026, and teammate Carlos Larange is further along, but Rodriguez may be the next arm up if an injury arises after he dominated Double-A in 11 starts last summer.
Termarr Johnson, 2B — Pittsburgh Pirates
Johnson showed athleticism and legit exit velos as a 16-year-old at our Regional Combine in Atlanta in 2021, and has ridden such abilities to Double-A success at age 21.
Johnson draws walks, and in 2025 hit for average (.272) by cutting down his swing-and-miss rate. He did sacrifice some power, but it’s above-average bat speed and a chance to stick at second base.
The north-pointing results in terms of hitting and making contact suggest an outside shot to see PNC Park in 2026.
Anthony Solometo, LHP — Pittsburgh Pirates
Solometo’s 2025 was destroyed by a shoulder injury, so his chances to break through in 2026 come with a health caveat. The issues with the shoulder ripped away velocity — up to 97 mph as an amateur — and haven’t helped with his efforts to improve his strike throwing.
At his best, he was 92-94 mph with reach-back beyond the mid-90s, and a plus slider and a projectable changeup. ETA and role both are up in the air, but a fully healthy Solometo has the raw stuff to get outs, and in relief, his time may come as early as 2026.
Sebastian Walcott, 3B — Texas Rangers
Among the more impressive infield prospects in baseball, Walcott likely moves to third base at some point, but nobody really cares because the kid has huge bat speed and, at 19 years of ag,e managed in Double-A despite being 5-plus years younger than the average pitcher in the circuit.
He didn’t hit for power like in previous stops, but he made consistent contact and showed advanced zone discipline. He’s not yet on the 40-man, but he’s on track to see Triple-A early enough in 2026 — if not to start the season — to buy a later-season big-league call-up.
Michael Arroyo, 2B — Seattle Mariners
I’m not buying second base over the long haul for Arroyo, but no one can argue the results at the plate.
He’s 5-foot-10 (maybe) and around 190 pounds, generating above-average bat speed, has swing agility to cover the zone and adjust to varying speeds, and has a track record of avoiding the bad chase.
He just turned 21 in November, and until an injury impacted his results and ended his season, he was raking in Double-A, including high walk and low strikeout rates.
Arroyo hit 17 homers in total in 2025, but also 24 doubles in 450 at-bats. There’s slug in his game.
He has a good arm and may profile at third base or left field if he can’t stick at second, but his feel for hitting, instincts on the bases, and rush through the minors have been impressive, and there are no signs of slowing down.
Ricky Tiedemann, LHP — Toronto Blue Jays
Tiedemann has the stuff and athleticism to start in the big leagues, but he’s struggled to throw strikes and stay healthy. He missed part of 2023, most of 2024, and all of 2025 (elbow), but the Blue Jays added him to the 40-man last month, suggesting light at the end of the tunnel.
Tiedemann impressed at our 2020 International Week.
Cooper Hjerpe, RHP — St. Louis Cardinals
Hjerpe was added to the 40-man by the Cardinals this offseason despite his own elbow injury that forced him to miss all of 2025.
He’s a four-pitch lefty who starred in the Future Stars Series Nationals in 2019. He went on to pitch at Oregon State and was the Cardinals’ first-round pick in 2022.
There’s swing-and-miss stuff here, but Hjerpe will need to find the zone more consistently to make it work. In a relief role, 2026 isn’t out of the question, but the elbow status is the key.
Jared Southard, RHP — Los Angeles Angels
Southard, a 12th-round pick in 2022, has consistently missed bats as a pro and threw more strikes than ever in 49 relief appearances in 2025.
In 38.1 innings at Triple-A Salt Lake, Southard generated a 29% whiff rate, induced a 51% ground-ball rate, and sat 94-95 mph with a plus slider at 81-84.
The breaking ball whiff rate of 38.5% may catch the attention of clubs in the Rule 5 Draft.
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- FSS Alums on the brink of the Show include Walcott, Troy, Long - December 2, 2025
