ROCKLAND, Mass. (September 5, 2025) 一 After completing its milestone 15th season in mid-August, the Futures League has revealed its 2025 postseason award winners.
The recipients were announced over a two-week period via the league’s social media channels. Prior to the public announcements, each team’s field managers nominated players from their respective rosters and cast votes when the regular season concluded on Saturday, Aug. 9.
In addition to the awards listed below, All-Futures League teams will be revealed to recognize the league’s top players at their respective positions. The league’s organizational/staff award and Pete Wilk Award recipients will be announced beginning in October.
MOST VALUABLE PLAYER
TOP PRO PROSPECT (POSITION PLAYER)
Shaun McMillan, Vermont Lake Monsters, St. John’s University
McMillan tore up the Futures League with a .313 average and logged a league-best 11 home runs and 52 RBI in 47 games after finishing his debut season at St. John’s in the spring as a NCBWA Freshman All-American. He is the second straight Lake Monster to earn Futures League MVP, following 2024 catcher Mark Quatrani (Cornell). The first baseman also led the league in doubles (16, tied), extra-base hits (27), total bases (109) and slugging percentage (.568), ranked second in runs scored (40), and third in hits (60), on-base percentage (.408) and walks (29). McMillan began his time in Vermont on a 14-game hit streak, hitting .400 with six doubles, four homers and 23 RBI from June 3-18. He also reached base in his first 20 games. He departed Vermont with hits in 18 of his last 22 games.
PITCHER OF THE YEAR
John Delgado, Vermont Lake Monsters, Stevenson University
Delgado went 4-1 with a 1.26 ERA and a league-leading 53 strikeouts in 43 innings, becoming Vermont’s fourth Futures League Pitcher of the Year honoree in five seasons since joining the league in 2021. The left-hander made nine starts as a Lake Monster and pitched scoreless ball in five of them, including a streak of 20.2 consecutive scoreless innings over four-plus starts to begin the summer. Delgado allowed just 25 hits and six earned runs, holding opponents to a .164 average. He earned victories in three of his first four outings in Vermont, working six shutout, two-hit innings with a season-high eight strikeouts in a June 19 win over New Britain. After two seasons at Stevenson, Delgado will be continuing his career in Division 1 at the University of Dayton.
TOP PRO PROSPECT (PITCHER)
Garret Garbinski, New Britain Bees, University of Connecticut
A native of Clinton, Conn., Garbinski enjoyed a dominant stint in New Britain as he returned from a season-long injury that kept him out for his junior season at UConn, where he transferred after starting his career at Manhattan College. He posted a miniscule 0.59 ERA with 32 strikeouts against just three walks in 30.1 innings of regular-season work for the Bees, keeping a scoreless stat line intact until July 25. Garbinski allowed his only two runs and eight of the 23 hits against him in one outing. His summer also included being the starting and winning pitcher for Team Hearts in the Futures League All-Star Game at Polar Park in Worcester.
RELIEF PITCHER OF THE YEAR
Evan Mello, New Britain Bees, Wheaton College
New Britain’s second Relief Pitcher of the Year honoree in three summers, Mello posted six saves, one relief victory and finished 13 games among his league-leading 22 appearances in the regular season. He had a 2.10 ERA with 33 strikeouts and just nine hits allowed in 25.2 innings. His save total was good for second in the league this summer and also second in the Bees’ six-year Futures League history. The All-Star left-hander from New Bedford, Mass., was not scored upon in 18 of his 22 outings, including a streak of 9.1 consecutive scoreless innings from June 21 through July 16. He earned the save in the final game of his scoreless run, marking his first of three in a four-game span through July 27.
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Cole Patterson, Nashua Silver Knights, American International College
Patterson made his mark in all aspects of the game while playing in 51 of the team’s 60 games, which were tied for the fourth-most of any player in the league. He manned the outfield in 31 contests and finished the summer without making an error in 78 total chances. Silver Knights manager Nick Guarino praised Patterson for his play on the grass, saying that “he covers a lot of ground and catches everything out there.” Like in the outfield, Patterson was a great tone-setter at the plate and on the bases, reaching base at a .363 clip and ranking second in the league with 23 steals. The Winchendon, Mass., native is the third-ever Silver Knight to win Defensive Player of the Year, but the first since 2012.
MANAGER OF THE YEAR
Luke Beckstein, Worcester Bravehearts
Beckstein enjoyed a historic managerial debut in 2025, guiding the Bravehearts to a Futures League-record 45 wins and finishing atop the regular-season standings by 5.5 games. Following a 2-4 start, Beckstein’s club immediately rattled off a 10-game win streak before climbing as many as 28 games above in August. Worcester lost just four times after the All-Star break, going 11-1 across its final 12 contests. Under Beckstein, the Bravehearts led the league in numerous categories including batting average (.280), runs (395), home runs (34), stolen bases (176, second-most in league history), on-base percentage (.378), ERA (3.94) and fewest earned runs allowed (223). A Northeastern alum and current Kansas State graduate assistant coach, Beckstein played on the 2020 Futures League championship-winning Nashua Silver Knights and is now only the second player-turned-manager in league history to earn this honor.
UMPIRE OF THE YEAR
Curtis Dugar
A recent transplant to the New England area, Dugar was selected as the top umpire following a vote of the league’s field managers. He earned assignments in both Futures League postseason rounds. Over the past year, he has officiated in both the Atlantic 10 Conference and Patriot League and also worked the quarterfinals of the MIAA state tournament. Off the field, Dugar serves as an Associate Dean of Students at Bentley University and is also on track to complete his doctorate in Educational Leadership and Administration in May 2026, focusing his research on the recruitment and retention of sports officials.
ADAM KEENAN SPORTSMANSHIP & SCHOLARSHIP AWARD
James Benestad, Nashua Silver Knights, Endicott College
Brennan Staubley, New Britain Bees, Southern Connecticut State University
Gavin O’Brien, Norwich Sea Unicorns, University of Massachusetts
Adam Schwartz, Vermont Lake Monsters, Colby College
Josh Frometa, Westfield Starfires, American International College
Josh Fischer, Worcester Bravehearts, Wheaton College
For the sixth consecutive season, one player from each of the Futures League’s eight franchises was selected to receive this prestigious annual award, which is bestowed upon someone who exemplifies the outstanding attitude, character and sportsmanship that is synonymous with Adam Keenan’s legacy. Adam was a former Franklin Pierce University and UMass Lowell player who also played for the former Seacoast Mavericks. Click here for the full release on this year’s recipients.
For the latest Futures League news and information throughout the year, visit thefuturesleague.com and follow the league’s Facebook, X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram pages.