​Joining AZ Future Stars has been one of the best decisions our family has made for our sons' baseball development and personal growth. I have two sons, ages 15 and 18, we are in our third season with AZ Future Stars.  From the moment I met Coach Santiago during my oldest son's 16U tryout, I sensed a profound difference at AZ Future Stars. His deliberate player selection and commitment to smaller teams immediately signaled a focus on genuine player development over mere profit. The personalized attention my son received from Coach Santiago and his assistants during that initial interaction spoke volumes. I observed him and his assistant coaches spending time on the field talking to my son and intentionally getting to know him in addition to evaluating his skillset.  Once we joined the team, I began to understand Santiago’s coaching style and philosophy. He has a balance of compassion and firmness, setting realistic expectations of his players on and off the field.  He not only challenges them to be better, he teaches them to be better… fostering a growth mindset and developing a healthy player-coach relationship. His expertise is obvious, and what you would expect of a former professional player. He is always teaching. Whether in the dugout with players on the bench, explaining the situations of the game, or coaching thru pitch selections during an at-bat, he is constantly sharing his knowledge to help his players better understand the game. At practice his style is engaging and highly technical.  Santiago will spend extra time with his players to confirm a concept, even if a practice runs late, he is always willing to give his time to those players that are eager to learn. I believe Coach Santiago invests everything he has into his players, but also expects his players to meet him halfway. Santiago has high standards and integrity that spills out onto his assistant coaches and players. He’s the guy you want your son to learn from. Both life skills and baseball. The teams we have been a part of have always been very competitive. He takes his teams to high level tournaments around Arizona and we have traveled out of state a few times to large tournaments in Texas, Nevada, and California. We are repeatedly in championship brackets and win many. With my older son starting his senior year, Santiago has helped in navigating the college recruiting process, making introductions to coaches and guiding us through the complexities of collegiate athletics. For any parent seeking a baseball program that prioritizes not only skill development but also instills invaluable life skills and fosters exceptional sportsmanship, AZ Future Stars is wholeheartedly recommended. We are proud to call this organization our baseball home. Chad Davis and Family Players Christen and Koko Davis