OK, let’s get this part out of the way first.
Yes, the New Balance Baseball Future Stars Series is set to return for another trip to the Dominican Republic from August 18-20, nearly one year to the date(s) of our voyage that re-started our relationship down there; that event may go down as one of the most loaded in company history with highly-touted players from younger IFA classes like Braston Basker and Daniel De La Rosa highlighting that International Combine.
Signature Event Rosters: Main Event (soon) | Elite | Premier | Fresh 50
As we’ve made frequent trips ever since, those events have evolved, and now look more like what you’ll see next week, where we’ll head to three different academies and see ten different teams over a three-day trip.
August 18 brings us to Banana Baseball Academy in La Vega for two games. August 19, we’ll see you at Academia de Beisbol in Santiago for two more contests. And then on August 20, we’ll close it out with one final game in a return to IBI Baseball Academy in La Romana.
We’ll have something separate on the rosters for that event and just how it’ll look each day shortly.
However, it’s also a fun time to look back on some of the players we’ve seen over this past year, many of whom are making an immediate impact in professional baseball as they begin their journeys in Major League Baseball’s Dominican Summer League (DSL) before many will get to play full-season, domestic ball at one of the four affiliates.
WARREN CALCANO, ROYALS
Calcano is the original gem of the Future Stars Series first-ever trip to the island, as the big international standout from our first Caribbean Classic. He was, at the time, an undersized, switch-hitting, slick-fielding shortstop who was just 14 years old. Calcano was believed to have reached an agreement during that event with the Kansas City Royals, which was honored when he became eligible to sign during his year’s international free agent signing period. Now 18 and in the Dominican Summer League, Calcano is a Top 30 prospect in the Royals system; he’s hitting .266 with a homer and 23 RBI this year, and has added 16 stolen bases as well. Calcano, who signed for $1.84 million, is in line to make his domestic debut sooner rather than later.
LUIS ESTRELLA, CARDINALS
Estrella burst onto the scene with his performance at one of our International Combines down in the DR in August, and was a genuine standout at our World Combine several months later down in Orlando, with rumors emerging shortly thereafter that he was attracting significant interest after both a big showing in-game and during BP, in which he was sending balls to the parking lot with ease.
Those rumors proved to be true, as the LF Martinez star was signed for a reported $300,000 signing bonus, which has proven to be an early steal. Still just 17 years old, the slugging outfielder has posted a stunning 1.015 OPS in his first 24 pro games with the Cardinals DSL squad, smashing seven homers in just 85 at-bats thus far.
DIEGO CONSECION, CARDINALS
Consecion was one of our first true performers when we restarted events there in 2025; he had multiple hits to his name with the Orange squad last August, and his bat-to-ball skills attracted the interest of, you guessed it, the Cardinals, who signed him in December. A switch-hitting shortstop who stands six-foot-one and weighs in at 165 pounds, Consecion, who is a teammate of Estrella’s in pro ball now, has kept up his performing ways. He’s batting .301 with two homers and 24 RBI in his first 38 games, walking 30 times compared to just 39 strikeouts.
DIONIS LEYBA, PIRATES
We saw Leyba last October, and the Pittsburgh Pirates must have liked what they saw too, signing Leyba for $200,000 during this winter’s IFA period. The 17-year-old outfielder has been in the DSL this summer making his pro debut, and has four home runs, 23 RBI and eight steals over a 30-game sample size.
DELIO CENTENO, DODGERS
Centeno showed a now-body at six-foot-three and 195 pounds with some intriguing stuff at our Caribbean Classic this past January, attracting interest from several teams on site before the Dodgers swooped in to add him to the organization. He’s been used sparingly over five starts, striking out seven over eight and a third professional frames in the DSL thus far, using the fastball/curve/change mix that got him signed along the way.
DARLING MONTERO, RANGERS
Montero was a late add to our International Combine in August, delivering a soft single to short right field for the Maroon squad at the time in the brief look we got at him. The Texas Rangers officially signed him in late February, and he’s made an immediate impact in their organization; the 17-year-old has a .943 OPS over 35 DSL games thus far, drawing 29 walks compared to just 26 strikeouts.
JOSE ZARRAGA, ROCKIES
Zarraga was a product of our October visit to the DR, where we got an extended view of the five-foot-seven, 180-pound catcher out of Venezuela. Zarraga signed with the Rockies in May and was assigned to the DSL, where he’s driven in 12 runs in 18 games.
ANDERSON ENCARNACION, ANGELS
Encarnacion, who we saw at our August event in the Dominican, has been very, very good for the Angels ever since they officially signed him several months later in January. The 17-year-old righty is 6-1 with a 3.62 ERA over 11 starts, striking out 24 over 37 1/3 professional innings.
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.
Connect with New Balance Future Stars Series by visiting our website, www.futurestarsseries.com, by visiting our YouTube page, and by checking out the social media channels listed below.
X: @ftrstarsseries Instagram: @futurestarsseries
Facebook: New Balance Future Stars Series
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.
- Rice commit Williams looking to cap off huge summer at Main Event - September 4, 2026
- Inaugural Labor Day Classic set to kick off Signature September - September 1, 2026
- Arkansas commit C.J. Wall excited for Main Event - August 27, 2026
