With another weekend of signature events in the books, it’s time to look back at the players who shined the brightest among our youngest group at the New Balance Baseball Future Stars Series Fresh 50.
Both rosters, comprised of some of the top 2029 grads on the continent, impressed those in attendance at Dunkin’ Park, a group that includes scouts, major-league executives and more. Â But, at the end of the day, determinations had to be made by our development and coaching staffs on just who would win our Most Outstanding Pitcher, Most Outstanding Hitter and Most Valuable Player honors.
Fresh 50 Award Winners
MOST OUTSTANDING HITTER — JONAH GREGG; Peachtree City, GA, 2B/3B, 6-1, 170
A Georgia Premier Academy standout, we first saw Gregg at a GPA Scout Day in April, where he earned an invite to the Underclass Combine. After a big showing in Houston, he was a no-brainer ask to the Fresh 50, where he showed up and continued to hit, including a double that left the bat at 85 MPH.
“Before I came here, I wasn’t feeling that confident and I thought everybody was going to be a lot better than me,” Gregg said. “But I just came out (strong) in the morning. My mom really helped me a lot too, she said, ‘Just ball.'”
MOST OUTSTANDING PITCHER — LUC TURGEON; Caledon, ONT, Canada, RHP/CF, 6-0, 158
A Canadian-born righty who was popping mid-80’s on the gun consistently during his outing in Hartford, Turgeon both pitched and hit at our Underclass Combine and did the same in Hartford. He impressed more on the mound, however, and opened some eyes with what he was able to show as a whole in his Sunday outing, recording two strikeouts in his final inning of work.
“It was my first time really pitching on that stage this year since I got hurt,” Turgeon said. “It was fun, it was good competing and I’m honored and blessed to win it.”
MOST VALUABLE PLAYER — JUSTIN MONTEROSSO; Manalapan, NJ, 3B/RHP, 5-8, 140
Monterosso was first seen by the FSS staff at a Regional Combine in Philadelphia, not a far trip from his home in the Garden State. Another two-way standout at the event, he produced multiple hits at the plate, and was willing to take the ball multiple times during the weekend, impressing the coaches not only with his eagerness to show what he could do, but the quality of both of his appearances on the mound.
“When they started describing who the person was (who won the MVP), I was like, ‘No, this can’t be me,'” Monterosso said. “I thought I played well, but not MVP-level. It ended up being me, and I was so happy. It was awesome.
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 3,200 games covered in his career.
An avid card collector and sim racer, he lives with his wife, Sarah, their son William, and their beloved dog, Bailey, and cat, Smokey.
- Monterosso, Gregg, Turgeon earn Fresh 50 honors in Hartford - September 17, 2025
- Underclass Premier, Fresh 50 set to return to Hartford’s Dunkin’ Park this weekend - September 10, 2025
- INVITE: Colton Cubbage, Underclass Premier - September 10, 2025
