2025 Future Games, Most Valuable Player: Sebastian Castillo (TX)

August 4, 2025
By Andy Sroka
National Managing Editor, Scouting

We’re just over a week removed from the 2025 Future Games, still analyzing this year’s event, and now we’re ready to reveal our Most Valuable Player award winner: SS Sebastian Castillo (Byron Nelson HS, TX, 2027). Castillo joins a prestigious list of Future Games MVPs that dates all the way back to the summer of 2011, and with the honor, he becomes the first-ever award winner from the state of Texas.

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Here’s more on Castillo and his star prospect stock that hit new highs in Georgia.

Sebastian Castillo SS / RHP / Byron Nelson, TX / 2027

Director's List (4/3): "Castillo continues to prove he’s one of the premier two-way players in the class. As a position player, he brings advanced feel at shortstop and one of the better hit tools in the state, consistently driving balls to both gaps with strength and timing. On the mound, he’s touched 90 mph and shows a clean, low-effort delivery with feel for a three-pitch mix. His all-around baseball IQ and competitiveness elevate his already strong tools. Whether he’s on the mound or leading off with a triple — like he did in both games recently — Castillo makes a difference every time out."

A stellar sophomore spring at Byron Nelson High just outside of Dallas teed up a breakout summer for Castillo, who’s inserted himself into a prestigious category of talent now following up the Future Games.

He’s an easy-to-like player given the infectious energy he plays with, and it’s palpable from the stands, too. Castillo always plays with a Texas-branded competitiveness as well, doing everything on the diamond fast and hard – although still in control. The North Texas shortstop was a natural pick-to-click type player ahead of the national event, and he somehow managed to exceed expectations altogether.

“He’s a leader on the field and in the dugout,” said Ben Green, Texas State Director. “He plays loose with a smile, but takes care of business. The Future Games was his chance to show how he stacked up with the top players in the country and he showed that – not only does he belong – he is a top shortstop in the class.”

Coming into the event, much was known about his defense. It’s arguably his best trait as he confidently covers all the ground required of a shortstop, and then some. But it was at LakePoint that Castillo’s right-handed swing helped him evolve into a high-profile junior that deserves to be the first call recruiting coordinators make at midnight on Aug. 1.

“Simply put, Castillo loves to play the game,” said Shooter Hunt, Prep Baseball VP of Scouting. “The success that he enjoyed in the short window at the Future Games is likely what should be expected given the way he practices and plays. A dynamic defender who is both aggressive and confident – the glove-to-hand stands out along with a plus arm.”

Ultimately, the Byron Nelson prospect tallied five hits at the Future Games (one short of the event lead), including a home run and a double. Both extra-base hits came Saturday, one was an opposite-field home run that crept over the right field fence, underscoring his exciting all-fields power potential, and the double was smashed off the left field fence at 105-plus mph off the bat.

“His right-handed stroke is presently impactful with future power to all fields,” said Hunt. “His pitch recognition and swing decisions stood out against some of the best arms in the class, and his foundation as a hitter should provide for even bigger jumps to come.”

In total, Castillo finished Future Games 5-for-9 with those two extra-base hits, three RBIs, and five runs scored. He also hopped on the mound at the end of the July 25 game against NorCal and tossed a clean, scoreless inning in which he was up to 91 mph.

The Future Games appears to have given Castillo the exact right platform he needed to prove that he deserves to be one of the most valuable juniors that hit the market last Friday.

PREVIOUS WINNERS

MOST VALUABLE PLAYER

2024: Rob Czarniecki (IN)
2023: Danny Wallace (NE)
2022: Xander Schmitt (MO)
2021: Camden Kozeal (NE)
2020*: Justin Thomas (GA), Gable Mitchell (IA), Thomas White (MA)
2019: Sam Petersen (IA)
2018: Aaron Downs (IA)
2017: Mac Horvath (MN)
2016: Dillon Lifrieri (CT)
2015: Sam Carlson (MN)
2014: Duncan Pence (TN)
2013: Nolan Watson (IN)
2012: Colby Fitch (MO)
2011: Ryne Roper (IL)

MOST VALUABLE PITCHER

2024: Cade Allen (TN)
2023: Eston Simpson (GA)
2022: Mitch Haythorn (CO)