The New Balance Baseball Future Stars Series held their annual National Combine both at San Jacinto College and the University of Houston over the past three days, the event that serves as the selection combine for the upcoming Main Event.
Set to be played this year both in St. Paul and at Target Field, home of the Minnesota Twins, competition was fierce for players to try to earn their way there, with a group of nearly 100 vying for those coveted spots.
Invitations have not been publicly announced, but for the staff, big league scouts and others in attendance, there are certainly some players who would seem to pop right away as no-brainers to get the call to come to Minnesota from September 18-20 for our tenth anniversary of the biggest signature event we put on.
HARRISON WILLIAMS, C
There was arguably no player who did more for their stock at the National Combine than Williams, a switch-hitting catcher out of Lumberton, Texas who delivered some electric rounds of BP and then showed he could do it in the game with a no-doubt homer off a premium arm at the University of Houston on day two. Currently uncommitted, there should be a bevy of eyes on him moving forward, and he almost surely punched his ticket to Target Field while in Houston.
CJ WALL, C
Wall is considered to be one of the top prep 2027 backstops in the country, and has earned a commitment to the University of Arkansas as such. He carried momentum from another strong summer into the National Combine, memorably delivering an opposite field double to left field while performing well behind the play.
COLLIN THOMAS, INF
Thomas is going to Minnesota. That much we know, as he was named a captain of one of the two teams before the event. Regardless, he impressed by staying all three days while knowing he was advancing regardless and performed well from both sides of the plate. An Auburn commit, he will be one of the most exciting players to keep an eye on when we make the move to Target Field in two months.
NICK DAVIS, INF
If there was an MVP of the National Tournament, it would have been Davis, who is considered to be one of the top uncommitted 2027 shortstops in the country. He helped lead the Trombly Baseball program to the title this past weekend, and also put together a solid three days at the Combine to put himself in consideration for an invite to the home of the Twins.
JOSEPH RUTLEDGE II, INF/OF
It would be hard to picture a signature event without Rutledge, who has been a consistent performer at everything he’s been to since we first saw him in Charlotte last year. His long double off the wall at San Jac on Sunday was one of the more memorable moments of the first day of the Combine.
COLE VOLION, P
A Louisiana righty, Volion impressed with a long delivery and whippy arm over three innings of work; he flashed a fastball up to 90, slider and change over what was an at times electric outing.
KADE LUKER, P
There was likely no outing anticipated more than Luker’s, as the LSU commit was set to throw just one inning in a start at the University of Houston. Five up, five down. See you in Minnesota.
CASEN REEDY, P
Reedy was electric in his inning in what was another highly-anticipated outing. Comped to Sonny Gray by our CEO, Jeremy Booth, Reedy struck out four of the five batters he faced in a start for the Gray squad and touched 97 miles per hour while doing so. A recent invite to the 18U National Team with USA Baseball, it would seem very likely that not only has Reedy earned a roster spot in Minnesota, he may just get a prestigious start.
JAMIE CHIPMAN, P
Chipman is a high-octane personality with a high-octane arm. It’s loud. On both sides. And that’s certainly not a knock. The star of our National Tournament last year and a very recent commit to Texas A&M, he attracted a lot of eyes during a three-inning outing at U of H, and his next outing with us is almost surely set to be at the Main Event in a few months.
About New Balance Future Stars Series
New Balance Future Stars Series is a global platform for amateur baseball development and scouting, powered by a commitment to impact, integrity, and player-focused innovation. Its alumni can be found throughout professional baseball, and its events and partnerships have reshaped how talent is identified, nurtured, and celebrated.
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Since 2003, he has six 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 eight Super Bowls, 13 Stanley Cup Finals, the 4 Nations Face-Off, the NBA Playoffs, the NCAA D1 Men's Basketball Tournament, 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 and motorsports fan, 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.
