James Lofton Jr. – Director of Player Development
Lofton has been with PROGRAM 15 since 2019, appearing as a team manager in every FSS Signature Event. He leads the execution of player development for each event, driving the progressive flow and feedback for each player to reach their ceiling. The former Boston Red Sox shortstop spent 15 years in the pros, including the Boston, Baltimore, and Cincinnati minor league systems, as well as in several independent leagues.
Anthony Granato – Field Coordinator
Granato has been with PROGRAM 15 since 2017. Along with his duties as P15’s National Infield Coordinator, Granato works alongside James Lofton Jr. in event flow and combine execution. Granato’s professional baseball career includes 10 years with the Chicago Cubs and Colorado Rockies organizations as well as Independent and International professional baseball leagues.
Jose Silva – International Pitching Coordinator
Silva has been with PROGRAM 15 since 2017. Appearing at all FSS Signature Events, he leads PROGRAM 15 pitching development internationally, contributing as a primary instructor domestically as well. Silva’s professional baseball career includes six seasons with the Toronto Blue Jays, Pittsburgh Pirates, and the Cincinnati Reds. Silva has represented Mexico as a coach in the 2017 World Baseball Classic and 2020 Summer Olympics.
Jason Phillips – Special Assistant to Player Development, Pitching
Phillips has been with PROGRAM 15 since 2017. Heavily involved in P15 Instructs and player feedback, Phillips attends events domestically and internationally, working with Pitching Coordinators Jose Silva and Stephen Randolph in all major events. Phillips is a former Major League pitcher with the Pittsburgh Pirates and Cleveland Indians.
Danny Sheaffer – Catching Coordinator
Sheaffer leads catching development through FSS Scouting and Development events and P15 instructs and is a Team Manager at all FSS Signature Events. Sheaffer is a Major League veteran, including seven seasons as a player with the Boston Red Sox, Cleveland Indians, Colorado Rockies, and St. Louis Cardinals, and 10 years as a manager and coach in the Minor Leagues with the Tampa Bay Rays and Houston Astros organizations.
Booth said about the promotions, “We’re excited to formalize these positions with the people who have such a hand in the P15/FSS culture and execution of that culture to impact players and the game as a whole. I’m personally thankful for their work ethic and dedication to deliver in all aspects of our core values and, most importantly, to pass those on to the players who participate here. From the beginning of their tenure, this group of professionals has set an example, and I’m able to learn from all of them every day as we set course for the future together.”
To learn more about New Balance Future Stars Series visit https://futurestarsseries.com
ABOUT PROGRAM 15:
PROGRAM 15 boasts a faculty and staff that includes multiple Major League All-Stars and World Series veterans responsible for executing the New Balance Baseball Future Stars Series, an initiative between the two organizations to elevate the game of baseball by providing amateur players across all economic levels an opportunity to reach their full potential through the training, development, and guidance of former MLB players, scouts, and coaches. For more information on PROGRAM 15 and the Future Stars Series, visit www.futurestarsseries.com or @program15bb and @ftrstarsseries on Twitter.
ABOUT NEW BALANCE:
New Balance Athletics, headquartered in Boston, MA has the following mission: Demonstrating responsible leadership, we build global brands that athletes are proud to wear, associates are proud to create and communities are proud to host. Manufactured in the U.S. for more than 75 years and representing a limited portion of our U.S. sales, New Balance MADE U.S. is a premium collection that contains a domestic value of 70% or greater. New Balance owns and operates four factories in New England and one in Flimby, U.K. New Balance employs more than 7,000 associates around the globe and in 2020 reported worldwide sales of $3.3 billion. To learn more about New Balance, please visit www.newbalance.com and for the latest press information please visit https://newbalance.newsmarket.com.
