SHREWSBURY – Being willing to go the extra mile to pursue one’s dreams is a quality common in successful men and women. But being able to pursue those dreams while making a difference in the lives of others? That makes for a special opportunity.
Fifteen-year-old baseball player Owen Mongeon has such an opportunity this summer.
The Shrewsbury High School freshman outfielder/ pitcher has been invited to participate in the New Balance Future Stars Series Underclass Combine in Nashville July 10-12. The event, one of several taking place around the country, provides young baseball prospects with an opportunity to receive high-level instruction and show off their skills in front of college and pro scouts.
“It’s going to be a harder competition. I know I’m going to have to really be on my game because I’m not sure what to expect,” said Mongeon. “When you play in a [high school or tournament] game, you know the other team, you know the players. But with this, it’s more individually based, more about showing off my individual skills.”
The showcase will feature coaching sessions, drills and competitive scrimmages. At the conclusion of the event, each player will receive feedback in the form of a detailed scouting report.
In addition to top-level coaching and national exposure, Mongeon is also looking forward to spending time with and playing alongside some of the top young ballplayers in America.
“You can watch a guy and say, ‘OK, what’s he doing well that maybe I don’t do?’ So, you can pick up on a few things,” said Mongeon. “If this guy is really good, I’ve heard of him. He’s been scouted or maybe already committed [to college], I can learn from him to see what he does really well and then carry that into my performance.”
Beyond serving as a showcase, the combine also serves as a charity fundraising event. Each year, New Balance Future Stars partners with a different worthy nonprofit. This year, funds are being raised for No Kid Hungry, as well as the New Balance Future Stars Foundation. The foundation provides resources to organizations with a goal of making baseball available to all players, regardless of socio-economic background.
No Kid Hungry, based in Washington, D.C., provides meals programs for the schools and community groups, as well as providing grants to schools, food banks and community groups around the country. According to the Children’s Defense Fund, more than 1 in 7 children were living in “food-insecure” households before the pandemic struck in 2020.
To participate in the New Balance Future Stars Series Underclass Combine, each player must raise $6,500 in donations. In theory, parents could simply cover the donation themselves by writing a check. But Ken Mongeon said he and his wife, Tanya, felt it was more important for him to do the work needed to raise the funds himself.
Over the past several weeks, Mongeon has been pounding the pavement and making phone calls, asking residents and local businesses to make contributions.
Mongeon began his baseball journey as a 4-year-old, playing Tee Ball in Shrewsbury Little League. As time passed, he developed a deep love for the game and began to show the type of talent that grabs the attention of coaches. Ken said he and his wife have tried to expose their son to opportunities in the game he loves, without pushing too hard.
“You look to strike a balance. We try to help him make good decisions,” said Ken, whose older son is a student at St. Michael’s College in Vermont. “It’s a thing where you say, OK, you love baseball. Let’s find programs where you can find other kids like you. Programs where, number one, you have fun. Then, that also provide you with these types of opportunities.”
This spring, Mongeon made a big jump, as one of just two freshmen to make the varsity team at Shrewsbury High School. He enjoyed an excellent rookie campaign, helping the Colonials to an 11-10 record. He worked his way into the starting lineup and led the team with a .340 batting average.
When not playing for Shrewsbury, Mongeon plays for NRG Baseball, as well as for the Triple Crown Kings Elite National Team, based out of 5-Tool Performance in Dedham. His time with the Kings has afforded him the opportunity to test his skills in tournaments against some of the best young ballplayers in America.
Earlier this year, the Kings hosted a regional showcase for players in the classes of 2025 and 2026 as part of the New Balance Future Stars Series. Mongeon participated in the event and impressed the instructors and scouts enough to earn an invitation to the national showcase, exclusively for the Class of 2026, in Nashville.
“There were 30 regional events around the country, hosted by Future Stars and then they selected players from each to go to this national event for my graduating class,” he said.
If he performs well in Nashville, Mongeon could be selected to play in one of a handful of elite showcase tournaments around the country.
To donate to his fundraising efforts, log onto https://donorbox.org/owenmongeonfss.
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