Porter Brown authored the first walk-off in the history of the biggest event the New Balance Baseball Future Stars Series puts on, sending the National Team to a win during International Week back in Sugar Land, Texas in 2017.
Since then, he’s gone on to become one of the more underappreciated prospects at the college level not far from the site of that triumph; a redshirt junior outfielder at the University of Texas, the 5-foot-11, 200-pound outfielder has produced a breakout year, boosted by another huge week. Brown has gone 6-for-14 in his last four games, including a two-run homer as part of a three-hit showing against UT Arlington. He’s also delivered two stolen bases, six walks and five RBI over that impressive stretch.
Nolan McLean, INF/P, Oklahoma State
McLean, an alum of the National Tournaments when he was a member of the Dirtbags, continues to do it all. He missed over a month of action, but returned in early May with a vengeance, making his return to the mound as well as at the plate with some strong showings as a hitter; McLean hit a two-run homer in a loss to Kansas State on Friday night.
Jake DeLeo, OF, Georgia Tech
DeLeo, who played for the National Team at International Week at Fenway Park back in 2019, is another junior outfielder who has produced a huge year. He’s established career-highs in nearly every major statistical category, including home runs (14), RBI (49) and batting average (.368). DeLeo is currently on a nine-game hitting streak, and homered on Friday in Georgia Tech’s win over Duke.
Derek Bender, C/1B, Coastal Carolina
The sophomore continues an absolutely stunning season, and he’s once again gotten hot over the last six games of his year. Bender has three consecutive multi-hit games, and has homered in three of his last four contests, giving him 17 in 2023. He’s now hitting .337 on the year, and the National Tournaments alum is establishing himself as a name to watch for the 2024 MLB Draft.
Jaden Brown, UTIL, Austin Peay
Another “original” of the Future Stars Series, Brown has had a very circuitous route in college baseball, going from Kentucky to Iowa Western CC to UT Arlington. It seems he’s finally found a home at Austin Peay, however, as the one-time Washington Nationals draft pick — and Dean’s List member on the academic side — is hitting .281 in his redshirt junior year. He has a hit in three of his last four games, and has four RBI over that time.
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