PROGRAM 15, the Official Global Grassroots Player Identification and Development Program for New Balance Baseball announces the formation of the PROGRAM 15 – New Balance Baseball Future Stars Series Advisory Board.
PROGRAM 15 and The New Balance Baseball Future Stars Series continue their unwavering commitment to change the game of baseball with the formation of their inaugural Advisory Board.
According to Jeremy Booth, PROGRAM 15 Founder, CEO and President of Baseball Operations for The New Balance Baseball Future Stars Series, the advisory board will be tasked to advance the organization’s mission to provide amateur players across all economic levels an opportunity to reach their full potential through the training, development, and guidance of former MLB players, scouts, and coaches.
Members of the advisory board will consult directly with Booth on ways to improve the amateur baseball experience as well as innovate new ways to elevate the development and growth experience for both players and evaluators.
Offering guidance in their respective areas of expertise, which range from international play to amateur and professional player analysis and development, the following members have been named to the inaugural PROGRAM 15 – New Balance Future Stars Series Advisory Board
Marc Tramuta, Scouting Director, NY Mets – Since beginning his pro baseball career as a 1991 Draft Pick by the Dodgers, Tramuta has transitioned into a highly respected scout with organizations like the Baltimore Orioles and the Toronto Blue Jays. In 2016, Tramuta was named the Director of Amateur Scouting with the New York Mets.
Mark Snipp, Special Assignment Scout, Arizona Diamondbacks – Snipp began his scouting career in 1984 with the California Angels before spending 18 years as an Area Supervisor, National Crosschecker and Assistant Scouting Director with the White Sox and Blue Jays. In 2006, Snipp served as a national crosschecker and special assignment scout with the Cincinnati Reds until joining the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2016 to assist the club in amateur, pro and Major League scouting while advising on player trades and acquisitions.
Joe Butler, Pro Scout, Chicago White Sox – Butler joined the Chicago White Sox in 1991 as an amateur scout/crosschecker and a Pro Scout for the organization since 2007.
Darnell Coles, Hitting Coach, Milwaukee Brewers – Coles finished his 14-year career in the major leagues as one of only 14 players ever to hit three home runs in a game in both the National League (1987, Pittsburgh) and American League (1994, Toronto). In 2015, Coles was named Milwaukee Brewers Hitting Coach for the organization’s Major League staff.
Derek Johnson, Pitching Coach, Milwaukee Brewers – During his 11 seasons as a coach at Vanderbilt University, Johnson helped lead the team to its first-ever College World Series appearance in 2011, developing six first-round Draft picks along the way – including 2007 No. 1 overall pick David Price. Johnson was named National Pitching Coach of the Year in 2004 and National Assistant Coach of the Year in 2010. After three seasons as the Chicago Cubs’ Minor League pitching coordinator, Johnson was named Milwaukee Brewers pitching coach in 2015 for the organization’s Major League staff.
Kevin Bootay, Pro Scout, Miami Marlins – Since being taken in the first round of the January 1984 draft by the Texas Rangers, Bootay has spent the past 18 years as a scout and crosschecker for the Minnesota Twins, Texas Rangers, Chicago White Sox and currently the Miami Marlins.
Arnold Brathwaite, Northeast Supervisor, San Francisco Giants – Brathwaite has been scouting prospects for the MLB since 2003. After spending seven years with the Los Angeles Angels as an Area Supervisor, Brathwaite joined the San Francisco Giants in 2010 to evaluate on amateur prospects for the MLB Amateur Draft, as well as Minor and Major League players for trade or acquisition.
Keith Law, ESPN Writer – After spending 4½ years with the Toronto Blue Jays as a special assistant to the general manager, Law joined ESPN.com in June 2006 as the lead baseball analyst for Scouts Inc., covering the majors, minors, and amateurs. He appears regularly across the ESPN family of networks, providing analysis on all baseball topics. Law is also the author of the Best Selling book, “Smart Baseball: The Story Behind the Old Stats That Are Ruining the Game, the New Ones That Are Running It, and the Right Way to Think About Baseball”.
Booth says, “My relationships with these guys go back many years. Each one of these advisory board members have proven their level of expertise to the point that I can trust them with my eyes closed. They understand what PROGRAM 15 and The Future Stars Series is all about and have a clear interest in seeing youth and high school baseball come together in a way that truly benefits players and their futures. This Advisory Board is committed to improving amateur baseball and these men are vested in the overall health of the game.”
Monsterful VR recently tapped Booth to lead the design of the player development and evaluation functionality for the company’s groundbreaking, state-of-the-art virtual reality training platform, RBI-VR. Booth says he plans to work with the new advisory board on the endeavor to deliver the best application of data to both players and clubs.
For the latest Future Stars Series updates and announcements follow @ftrstarsseries on Twitter or visit http://futurestarsseries.com.
To learn more about PROGRAM 15, visit http://program15.com. And keep up-to-date with all of the latest PROGRAM 15 news and announcements on Twitter @Program15BB.
To learn more about New Balance baseball, visit http://www.newbalance.com/men/featured/baseball/, and follow @NB_Baseball on Twitter and @Nbbaseball on Instagram.
ABOUT PROGRAM 15:
PROGRAM 15 boasts a faculty and staff that includes multiple Major League All-Stars and World Series veterans responsible for executing the New Balance Baseball Future Stars Series, an initiative between the two organizations to elevate the game of baseball by providing amateur players across all economic levels an opportunity to reach their full potential through the training, development, and guidance of former MLB players, scouts, and coaches. For more information on Program15 and the Future Stars Series, visit www.futurestarsseries.com or @program15bb and @ftrstarsseries on twitter.
ABOUT NEW BALANCE:
New Balance, headquartered in Boston, MA has the following mission: Demonstrating responsible leadership, we build global brands that athletes are proud to wear, associates are proud to create and communities are proud to host. New Balance is the only major company to make or assemble more than 4 million pairs of athletic footwear per year in the USA, which represents a limited portion of our US sales. Where the domestic value is at least 70%, we label our shoes Made in the USA. New Balance owns five factories in New England and one in Flimby, U.K. New Balance employs more than 5,000 associates around the globe, and in 2015 reported worldwide sales of $3.72 billion. To learn more about New Balance, please visit www.newbalance.com and for the latest press information please visit http://newbalance.newsmarket.com. Keep up-to-date with all of the latest New Balance news on Twitter @NewBalance and newbalance on Facebook.
