Day two of the Future Stars Series Main Event was highlighted by loud offensive performances and uniquely projectable traits on the mound. 18 more innings of baseball were played under the lights of Globe Life Field on Saturday evening. Offense was aplenty in game one as 18 runs were scored but a couple of impressive pitching performances kicked off the evening.
Elk Grove, California righty David Wiser started the game for the orange squad and quickly showed why he’s committed to play ball at Stanford in 2025. A calm and deliberate Wiser was up to 92 mph in the first inning and settled in 88-90 mph across three innings of work. While the velocity wasn’t overwhelming, his willingness to go to the changeup when he got in trouble stood out. He mixed in a low-70s sweeping slider as well with frisbee shape to keep right-handed hitters honest. Wiser’s ability to keep hitters off balance by working east-to-west will be effective at any level of baseball. Wiser certainly looks the part of a future starter at the going forward. His repeatability and loose actions on the mound stand out. He also generates well-above average extension down the bump. He’s a name to watch in the 2025 Draft if his velocity takes a jump in the spring. Should he go undrafted he looks the part of next impressive arm to blossom in Palo Alto.
Not to be outdone, Statesboro, Georgia righty Adria Casoliba had scouts’ attention pitching for the royal squad. Everything Casoliba threw was firm and his ability to hold velocity into the third inning reaffirmed his pro upside. Casoliba touched 96 and held 92-94 across close to 60 pitches. He’s got a very fast arm, looseness in his shoulder and thick strength in his core that all point toward potentially more velocity on the horizon.
Casoliba threw a handful of sweeping sliders in the low-80s with well-north of a foot of lateral tilt and plenty of vertical depth. He also flashed a changeup and a cutter, both serving their purpose of giving unique looks to the opposition and keeping them off the barrel. Casoliba is a Vanderbilt commit.
Wiser and Casoliba were hardly the only pitchers to impress. 6-foot-6-inch righty Dylan Harrison (Fontana, Ca.) showed why Clemson is so eager to add him to their staff in 2025. Harrison filled up the strike zone and touched 92 at his peak. Harrison knows how to pitch and his pure stuff should climb with further strength gains and pitching development in the ACC.
Righty Jordan Taylor showed attitude and moxie in his three innings of work. Taylor didn’t allow a run or a hit to the opposition. The pride of Cambridge, Ontario grabbed 92 with a deceptive operation launching his arsenal from a shorter arm slot creating effective angles. Taylor showed a willingness to throw his slider whenever he wanted and consistently landed it for strikes. He didn’t back down even after opposing hitters worked to rattle him with some trash talk and glares.
Several others posted interesting looks, but Alabaster, Alabama righty Ian Hillary worked three innings in the middle of game two and showed why scouts are bullish on what he could eventually become. Despite his 5-foot-11-inch frame, Hillary was consistently generating north of six-and-a-half feet of extension at times in his delivery.
Hillary is a throwback to yesteryear delivering his arsenal out of a full wind-up. The fastball here could eventually be a big weapon. While Hillary only topped out at 90 mph, he was consistently generating considerable cut and carry on the heater missing bats at the top of the zone whenever he landed it near the top rail.
Hillary launches his fastball just 63 inches off the ground, the same release height as guys like Marcus Stroman and Josiah Gray. He’s got the potential to possess a special heater in due time, but he’ll need to polish up the rest of his arsenal to realize his ceiling. Hillary’s landing spot and release point were all over the place when he threw his secondaries. He’ll need to get everything coming out of the same slot and must work toward repeating his delivery regardless of the pitch as he matures and develops. He showed a slider, a curveball and a changeup on this night, though his shapes and execution of those pitches were scattered.
Hillary was one of the most intriguing arms of the night and has a bright future as he continues to learn the art of pitching. He’s committed to Alabama State. Raised eyebrows were not limited to pitchers on this day either. Hallettsville, Texas outfielder Jorian Wilson and Castroville, California third baseman Manuel Dorantes both accounted for batted-balls with exit velocities of 107 mph — with wood bats. Dorantes hasn’t missed a beat all weekend pummeling baseballs in batting practice and in games against good arms. When you watch him in the cage his offensive game really doesn’t come as a huge surprise.
He’s a physical kid with a strong, broad frame. He looks the part. But when you watch Dorantes play third base and glide around the left side of the infield flashing ‘plus’ arm strength you begin to understand why the Cal Bears are hoping he makes it to campus. He’ll be on draft boards.
Elsewhere… Fayetteville, Arkansas shortstop Landon Schaefer remains inevitable. He got on base four times in the only game he played on Saturday, his lone out a 355-foot flyout… Austin, Texas first baseman Jack Casteel had a nice day in the cage putting a ball in the seats and bringing that impact into game action as well. He’s looked the part this weekend and he’s got plenty of growth and polish on the horizon… Southwest Ranches, Florida outfielder Zachary Malvasio had another impressive day as well. He put one in the seats during batting practice and also hit a 102 mph double over the left fielder’s head in-game. The crowd thought it was leaving the yard… Millbrook, Alabama 3B Ethan Walls also had a nice day stinging a couple balls.
The Main Event concludes Sunday where two more games will be played.
- Schaefer, Dorantes, Wilson highlight loud day two at Main Event - October 6, 2024
- Dylan Causey, Landon Brown highlight impressive first day of Main Event - October 4, 2024
- 2025 MLB Draft: Top 200 College Prospects - September 4, 2024
