The New Balance Future Stars Series Main Event has rapidly grown into one of the premier high school baseball showcases in the nation. Last year Citi Field played host to the contest and featured several early draft picks, including Cam Collier, Cole Phillips, Henry Bolte, and more. While seeing day one draft talent is always a treat, my favorite aspect of the Main Event is the stage it gives the hidden gems of the draft class. Guardians 7th-round pick Javier Santos was a great example of this, as were Eric Snow and Griffin Stieg, to name a few.
Fenway Park played host to the Main Event for two of the three games this year, with game one taking place in Dunkin Donuts Park in Hartford, CT. One of my favorite aspects of the Main Event is that pitchers are required to go three innings, which gives you a better idea of what their stuff looks like since they can't go max effort for a single inning. Below, I've ranked the top three hitters from the Main Event followed by a slew of notes on players that caught my attention.
One last thing before we dive in. Every at bat from the Main Event is viewable on the Future Stars Series YouTube channel. I've included some of these videos in the article to supplement my own. This is a great resource and you can thank Mike Ashmore for all the footage. Mike was constantly on the move and the effort he put in was commendable.
Top Three Hitters
1.
Zion Rose, Catcher
B/T: R-R
H/W: 6’1-210
School: IMG Academy, FL
Commitment: Louisville
To my eye, Rose was the best overall player, not just hitter, that took the field at the event. He's an exceptional athlete with quick twitch, blazing speed, and phenomenal hand-eye coordination. Physically, Rose has a medium, thick build with little physical projection remaining. It's unusual for an amateur prospect with a mature body to display athleticism and agility of this caliber, not even factoring in his primary position behind the dish. Plain and simple, Rose has freakish physical ability, the kind that usually gets scooped up in the first couple of rounds on draft day. I'm far from a catching guru; it's one of the most challenging aspects for me in evaluation. From what I saw, Rose was an excellent mover in the crouch, showing plenty of mobility and willingness to get dirty and take his lumps as a receiver and blocker. However, I have difficulty considering him a long-term catcher based on what I saw. Rose's arm strength is a big question mark and will need to be monitored closely this spring. His throws lacked carry and seemed to float the final 30+ feet or so.
Based on what I saw over the weekend, I put a 40 grade on Rose's arm strength. That almost certainly won't get it done at the pro level, which puts his future as a catcher in doubt. Rose, an Illinois native, has decided to move down to Florida and will play ball at the prestigious IMG Academy. He'll have plenty of opportunities to show off an improved arm in front of scouts this spring.
I have few questions about Rose's ability to hit. Rose identified pitches early, which led to good takes and a robust approach. The swing is quick with little effort, and the bat speed is excellent. His hands stood out as he could adjust to pitches quickly while displaying strength in the hands and wrists. There’s solid power to the gaps presently, and the raw power during BP looked above average. Rose handled everything pitchers threw at him; however, he wasn’t tested with high velocity. That’s no fault of Rose’s, but how he fares against 93+ MPH fastballs is an open question. The hands, bat speed, and pitch recognition led me to believe Rose would ultimately hold his own. Harry Ford will be a popular comp for Rose during the 2023 draft cycle, though I think the question about his future position means Rose won’t go quite as early in the draft as Ford did. Still, Rose is a unique prospect with a well-rounded skillset. He’s likely to be selected within the first few rounds this July.
2.
Cooper Pratt, Shortstop/Third Base
B/T: R-R
H/W: 6’4-195
School: Magnolia Heights, MS
Commitment: Ole Miss
Cooper Pratt had the best combination of present tools and future projection among all players at the event. Pratt's lean, high-waisted build at 6’4-195 should continue to add meaningful strength as he matures. He’s a solid average runner now, but he will probably dip to a fringe-average level as he fills out. Pratt looked good defensively during warmups, with fluid movements and a steady glove. He does a good job staying low to the ground and keeping his feet moving, which can be a challenge for taller infielders. He’s a capable defender on the left side but will likely shift from shortstop to third base as he begins to fill out. The arm is above average and shouldn’t have any issue making the necessary throws from the hot corner.
Where Pratt shines is at the plate. He doesn’t need to exude much effort to impact the ball at a high level. Pratt displayed this during game one when he launched a homer over the left field wall. The swing is simple, with a smaller stride and few wasted movements as he makes contact. He gets into consistently good hitting positions and can put a charge into the ball at different levels of the strike zone. Pratt makes a lot of hard contact at the top of the strike zone, showing the ability to flatten the bat for line drive or fly ball contact. Pratt has all the makings of a “pure hitter” at the next level and has the frame and bat speed to become a middle-of-the-order hitter as he grows. If he continues to hit this spring, we could be looking at a top-three-round selection. Pratt has an in-state commitment to Ole Miss, which could push him to campus if a team doesn’t match his number. If that were to happen, I’d expect Pratt to be an instant performer at the SEC level with his advanced hit tool and feel for the game.
3.
Tre Phelps, Third Base
B/T: R-R
H/W: 6’3-205
School: Georgia Premier Academy, GA
Commitment: Georgia
Big, strong, athletic. Phelps is a kid that makes scouts say, "this is what they look like." Phelps displayed plus raw power during BP and plus arm strength during warmups, giving him two tools typically needed to profile at the hot corner. Despite his mostly maxed-out frame, Phelps maintains plenty of twitch and solid speed. Phelps has great hands at the plate and can move and adjust quickly to the ball's flight. With his strength, Phelps can muscle tough pitches into the outfield for hard contact. He did this several times over the weekend but had only one hit to show for it, thanks to some great defensive plays. Phelps has been seen by scouts plenty, and his "now" tools could make him a mid-day two target (rounds 5-6) for the 2023 draft.
Other Hitters of Note
David Ballenilla, Infield
B/T: R-R
H/W: 5’11-185
School: The English, MA
Commitment: Uncommitted
Ballenilla was a pleasant surprise over the weekend. Relatively unknown by myself and the scouts in attendance, Ballenilla forced observers to take notice with multiple hard hits. Ballenilla recorded hits from line to line and flashed an impressive burst on the bases during an opposite-field triple. He did sometimes expand the strike zone, which led to empty swings, but it was a positive showing from a guy who didn't have much hype heading into the weekend. I didn't get a good look at Ballenilla defensively, but he flashed smooth hands and actions during warmups.
Walker Barron, Catcher
B/T: R-R
H/W: 5’11-170
School: IMG Academy, FL
Commitment: East Carolina
Barron was the top defensive catcher I saw over the weekend. He made quality throws to both second and third base with near-plus arm strength. He showed advanced receiving ability and looked comfortable moving around in the crouch. Barron also had a couple of hits over the weekend, showing good strength in his swing. He’ll pair with Zion Rose at IMG Academy this spring.
Kyle Henley, Outfield
B/T: R-R
H/W: 6’2-180
School: Denmark, GA
Commitment: Georgia Tech
A source of mine tipped me off to Henley before the event and told me his hit tool was starting to show up more in games. He recorded two singles and was on base often via the walk. Henley’s swing will get tested against better velocity and spin as it features a deep load and longer swing. His hands are very fast, which makes the swing work against current-level velocity. Henley has game-changing speed and displayed enough arm strength for centerfield at the next level. He lacks present game power, but with his projectable build, there will be room for power in the near future. Henley is committed to Georgia Tech, a school with a solid track record of producing offensive talent.
Antonio Jimenez, Shortstop
B/T: B-R
H/W: 6’2-185
School: Archbishop McCarthy, FL
Commitment: Miami
Jimenez made history in July when he uncorked a 100 MPH throw across the diamond at Perfect Game National, making him the only player to reach triple digits at the event. Jimenez’s arm strength is an elite tool, but there’s plenty more to be excited about beyond the arm. Jimenez has a strong, pro body with length and some remaining projection. There’s some twitchy athleticism that shows up most often on the defensive side of the ball. Jimenez is a high-level defender that will play on the left side of the infield at Miami or among the professional ranks. Jimenez has recorded plus-grade 60-yard dash times and flashed the wheels on the bases by stealing multiple bases over the weekend. Batting left-handed, I clocked Jimenez at 4.24 from home to first on a routine groundout which is close to an average run time.
As a hitter, Jimenez had some of the better at-bats of the weekend as a hitter. He worked several deep counts and spoiled tough pitches. There were a couple of at-bats in game three where Jimenez battled and got a good pitch to hit but just missed squaring it up. Jimenez came through late in game three with a base hit up the middle that ended up being the game's deciding run. A switch-hitter, Jimenez gets good extension and lift out in front from the left side. The swing from the right side features a shorter, quicker stroke but less loft. Jimenez will face quality pitching down in Florida this spring. If he performs with the stick, Jimenez has enough enticing components (shortstop/third base defense, elite arm, switch hitter) to pull him away from his Miami commitment potentially. He looks like a potential day-two selection.
Tryston McCladdie, Middle Infield
B/T: L-R
H/W: 6’0-175
School: Harlem, GA
Commitment: Clemson
It’s an undersized table-setter profile for McCladdie. The bat moves quickly through the zone with impressive hand speed and a contact-oriented swing. He’ll need to develop some more barrel feel and add some strength to impact the ball more consistently. McCladdie flashed premium speed, and I clocked him at 4.02 home-to-first on a chopped infield single. Defensively, I see him as a second baseman or centerfielder at the college level.
Tyler Minnick, Catcher
B/T: R-R
H/W: 6’4-200
School: Mount Paran Christian, GA
Commitment: Georgia Tech
Minnick left the yard during game one, which was played at the home of the Hartford Yard Goats. It was a colossal shot, and Minnick made it a habit during his weekend in New England. Minnick certainly looks the part with a strong and lean build at 6 '4-200 and it's easy to envision him settling in as Georgia Tech's next middle-of-the-order slugger. Given his size, Minnick moves swiftly in the crouch and has a strong arm. His size and elongated throwing motion probably push Minnick off the position long-term. The arm wasn't always consistent, but he did throw out a couple of runners on Saturday, which was impressive.
Antonio Morales. MIF
B/T: L-R
H/W: 5’9-175
School: Roxbury Latin School, MA
Commitment: Wake Forest
Morales is the type of player with whom I tend to fall in love. A little ball of twitch with great hands and plenty of bat speed, Future Stars coach (and former big leaguer) Chris Colabello dropped a Sal Frelick comp job on Morales. Frelick had excellent strength in his smaller frame, something Morales currently lacks. That may ultimately push Morales to campus, but you can be sure that scouts will be checking in on Morales for any strength gains this spring. Morales showed some ability on the dirt, but I think the tools are there for him to eventually become a defensive asset in centerfield.
Collin Priest, First Base
B/T: L-R
H/W: 6’3-220
School: Mount Dora Christian, FL
Commitment: Michigan
Priest made Main Event history with the first-ever over-the-fence homer in a big league park. The strong and thickly built Priest swatted a high fastball over the 380-foot marker in right field. The raw power is a clear-cut plus tool and should play right away at the next level. The swing can take a little while to get going, and I'd like to see a bit more of a two-strike approach, but this has middle of the order bat written all over it. Defensively, Priest was listed as a corner outfielder/first baseman, but he'll almost certainly play first long-term. Priest was raw at first base in this look but should improve with more reps. Attracting draft buzz as a first-base-only prospect at the prep level is tough. That said, Priest probably needs to be considered one of the top power bats in the 2023 high school class.
Raudi Rodriguez, Outfield
B/T: R-R
H/W: 6’0-180
School: Georgia Premier Academy, GA
Commitment: South Carolina
Rodriguez has remarkable bat speed, maybe the best at the event, at least from what I saw during BP and games. The swing itself has a lot of length to it and will likely need to be shortened as he faces better pitching. Rodriguez has plus straight-line speed and a strong arm that works in center. There’s good twitch here, and the tools are loud, but he may need to prove the hit tool is functional at South Carolina before teams go all in. A high-level follow this spring in Georgia.
Oliver Service, Catcher
B/T: R-R
H/W: 6’0-185
School: University Liggett, MI
Commitment: Texas
The physicality and athleticism combination is highly intriguing, especially coming from a primary catcher. Service was limited to a single hit and a walk, but he put the ball in play and flashed quality rotational acceleration and impact during BP. He has the raw tools to be a dynamic producer for the Longhorns.
Landon Stripling, Utility/Outfield
B/T: L-R
H/W: 6’0-195
School: Parkview, GA
Commitment: Texas Tech
Stripling's swing is impressive. He can cover all four quadrants of the zone thanks to advanced pitch recognition and quick hands. I liked Stripling’s advanced approach and understanding of the situation at hand, as he often shortened his swing to foul off borderline pitches with two strikes. There's strength in the swing that should allow him to impact the ball against velocity and spin in various locations. What position will Stripling play? Hitter. The future defensive home is a question as the body is mature, and he already lacks game speed. A future home in an outfield corner or at first base is likely, but I'd be interested to see how he fares at second base to test his versatility.
Honorable Mentions
Boston Baro, Holden Brauner, and Austin Lemon were three more hitters that looked like pro prospects to me. Baro (Capistrano Valley, CA), a shortstop/third baseman, and Brauner (Windermere, FL), an outfielder, didn’t have much success over the weekend but are definitely names to tuck away for the spring. Lemon (Heritage Hall, OK) is a likely centerfielder with a table-setter profile. He had a lined double to the gap, which you can see below.