Hitting Art Vs. Science

This is the convergence point where the art of hitting meets the science. The discipline of becoming a great hitter takes effort and a keen sense of one’s identity. Traits and styles are based on how one moves and how a player nurtures that identity based on natural, God-given talents. 

“A lot of hitting skill is built at a pretty young age,” Bazzana said. “So we ingrain these habits of movement and hand-eye coordination when we first pick up a bat; that’s what your brain knows. So when you try to move like someone else it’s almost like learning a new skill even if it’s the same game.”

Genetics plays a role, too, Bazzana explained.

“Some guys are bigger and more mobile, others are bigger and less mobile,” he said. “Some are small and twitchy and really tight movers. There’s going to be different movement patterns. Are they loose? Are they fluid? Are they dominant in rotation? Or are they just leg power? There’s all these different things that equate to being a great hitter.” 

The search to develop an identity as a hitter is based on these traits. However, it’s the pursuit of expanding upon one’s identity through such work that ultimately forges great hitters in the major leagues. According to Bazzana, being a great hitter means constantly adjusting, refining his swing and expanding his abilities. In an age when everyone is searching for a magic pill, it comes down to the work one puts forth in trying to “find that next gear.”

“That’s the amazing part about hitting and baseball,” Bazzana said. “People do it in such different ways. Everyone wants to find one magic pill. At the end of the day when it comes down to movement.

“There is no magic pill.”

Learning From The Best

The question that plagues many baseball fans and evaluators is what to look for when defining great hitters. What do the best hitters do well and why? When we look at the art of hitting, who are the masters? What do they do that makes them so successful?

Bazzana sees one particular trait that separates the greats from just-good hitters.

“Often, one of the first things I’ll pick up is how well the body and the barrel match the plane of the pitch,” he said. “The best hitters posturally match the angle of the pitch with the plane of their upper half and the barrel. Connected is the term that people use. The barrel gets deeper into the zone for certain guys and it stays on the plane of the pitch.”

In an age where we have measurements for everything, angles and swing path have become a bigger part of the conversation. In this pursuit to optimize angles, Bazzana explained how he draws inspiration from a notable name. 

“The best example I give is Juan Soto,” he said. “His bat is connected behind his back shoulder and he sets that posture to the angle of the pitch. He matches the plane and he squares the ball up to all parts of the field … It’s why he’s as efficient as he is and why he’s in the zone for so long.”

Seeing Bazzana draw inspiration from a player like Soto shouldn’t come as a shock. While Bazzana hasn’t shown that same kind of power, there’s a common thread connecting their games: strong swing decisions.

That advanced plate approach was developed during Bazzana’s time spent at Oregon State. He described himself as “an average swing decisions guy” as a freshman with the Beavers in 2022, but over his final two college seasons, Bazzana walked 135 times, second behind only Athletics first-round pick Nick Kurtz.

“For me, my pitch recognition and swing decisions stem from reps,” he said. “Years of seeing a ball, hitting it, making a decision.”

Bazzana is accurate in his depiction of his advancement between his freshman and sophomore seasons at Oregon State. In 2022, he chased at a rate of 20.6% with a swing rate of 42.2%. A year later, his chase rate dropped to 15.5% while also cutting his swing rate to 36.1%. Those metrics dropped even further in 2024 to a 14.3% chase and a 32.7% swing rate.

During that summer heading into his sophomore year, Bazzana was at a crossroads. He’d shown strong plate skills, but his swing decisions and impact needed improvement. That is when the artist leaned on science to challenge his identity and expand his his future as a hitter. 

“A lot of hitters with good whiff rates, they often have a great ability to have good swing decisions,” Bazzana explained. “I think they have good hand-eye, they pick things up sooner. But in this game, I think guys with high contact rates get caught up on this identity that they can’t strike out. They can’t swing and miss, and so they want to put the ball in play. That will work for some guys but not for others. This is where swing decisions come from an approach and the coordination of it. Not everyone can have great decisions but it’s being stubborn to your zones, your locations and where you think you can do damage.” 

Bazzana again took cues from Juan Soto and his ability to not only draw walks at a high rate, but hit for power, as well.

“You dive in and you realize he’s tunneling certain zones or certain pitch types almost all the time,” Bazzana said of Soto. “He’s very stubborn, he’s okay taking the edge strike often. He’s okay with a looking strikeout that clips the edge. He knows 90% of the time that’s ball four. Over time, you realize the power of swing, no swing.” 

The application of science and tracking also comes into play for Bazzana, who said he uses technologically-advanced batting cage set-ups like HitTrax, iPitch and Trajekt for nearly all his training. Whether in the midst of his in-season cage work, offseason training or in-game performance, more information is better. 

“That’s where the ability of understanding the zone better often comes from,” he said. “Also paying attention to the Trackman report postgame. I go in after a game, and I know I swung at an edge pitch. Where was that pitch actually? Then you start to grasp, okay, that was an inch off. Over time you start to have a feel for the zone.”

Three Stats For Hitting Success

When asked which metrics he follows most closely and which he feels align with his performance, Bazzana pointed to a trio of data points: in-zone fastball swing rate, air pull percentage and 90th percentile exit velocity.

“Understanding that the fastball is your best chance to do damage,” Bazzana said of his approach. “I want to be swinging at fastballs in the zone, especially hard fastballs.”

Pulling those types of pitches in the air is an especially important skill for players who aren’t Aaron Judge-sized.

“For someone who’s not 6-foot-7 or 250 pounds, there’s power in hitting the ball to the short porch and doing it often,” said Bazzana, who measures at 6-feet, 200 pounds. “Some of the best hitters in the big leagues the last five to ten years aren’t the big humans like Judge, (Giancarlo) Stanton, (Yordan) Alvarez. It’s Mookie (Betts), it’s Jose Ramirez, it’s (Alex) Bregman. These guys are all incredible at pulling the ball in the air. When they square it up, they can fly it true to the pull side whether it’s at 99 mph or 102 mph.”

And that’s where Bazzana’s final key metric comes into play.

“I think 90th percentile exit velocity is huge,” he said. “You look at the highest in terms of that metric versus the lowest. Players who hit the ball hard and get to power more often produce the most.”

Training For Speed

Hitting the ball hard was not something that naturally came to Bazzana, who has trained to add bat speed dating back to his time in Australia. Before he had access to top facilities and specially-tailored overspeed equipment like Driveline’s Overload and Underload bats, he used his own intuition and a do-it-yourself attitude to train.

“It was like ‘Why don’t we make do,'” Bazzana said, explaining how, as a teenager, he and his father constructed their own equipment. “I got an old bat, and we put coins all in different spots and it became 37 to 40 ounces. We swung that and then found the lightest drop-five or drop-eight bat in the clubhouse at our field and that was my underload.”

Nowadays, Bazzana works extensively with the real-deal Driveline bats, which have been staples of his training since coming over to the United States.

In the summer heading into his sophomore year at Oregon State, Bazzana went to Driveline headquarters for the first time, spending ten weeks there to build the batspeed that grew over his final two collegiate seasons. The added impact was the final piece to the puzzle that saw Bazzana ascend to the top pick in the 2024 draft.

Looking at one of his self-proclaimed important metrics, Bazzana’s 90th percentile exit velocity jumped from 101.4 mph in 2022 to 105.9 mph in 2023 to 108.9 mph in his draft season. The results translated from a .348 expected wOBA on contact in 2022 to a mark that ballooned to .521 in 2024. 

With a lifetime of training and now his first few weeks of professional baseball experience behind him, Bazzana continues to be prepared for the challenge and work it takes to be a great professional hitter. 

Biggest Winners

Savion Sims, RHP, Oklahoma

Sims was the most electric player at Area Codes.

The first 10 fastballs out of his hand?

96, 96, 97, 96, 97, 96, 95, 96, 96 and 94 mph.

That’s from a 6-foot-7, 200-pound righthander with outstanding arm speed on a long, still-lanky frame who delivers the ball with steep downhill plane from a delivery without much effort. Sims already has an incredible fastball for a pitcher who just turned 17. With how much room he still has on his frame to add weight, the projection arrows point toward a pitcher who should not only end up with 80-grade velocity, but someone who could become the hardest thrower in baseball one day. Teenage pitchers with long limbs like Sims typically struggle repeating their mechanics to throw strikes, but Sims threw 28 of his 39 pitches for strikes (a 72% clip), with a lot of his misses coming below the strike zone. An Oklahoma commit, Sims threw a solid slider, as well, at 82-85 mph. At its best, it had two-plane depth from his high slot, spinning at 2,300-2,600 rpm. He used that slider to get a pair of swinging strikeouts, the best of which came on a 2-2 pitch to a lefty that broke down and in underneath his barrel.

Rookie Shepard, SS, Nevada

Shepard is already the No. 8 player in the 2026 class, and he finished Area Codes with one of the strongest offensive performances of the event. The Miami commit is a polished lefthanded hitter for his age with excellent bat control from a short swing and the ability to hit hard line drives to all parts of the field. One of the biggest differences with Shepard between now and a year ago is the muscle he has added to his 6-foot, 185-pound frame, which has helped him drive the ball with more extra-base impact. At a field where home runs were rare, Shepard got a 1-0 fastball up on the inner third of the plate, kept his head locked in and snapped the barrel through the zone to catch it out front and drive it over the right field fence for a home run with a 106 mph exit velocity. Shepard’s approach is typically more line-drive oriented, but he showed the power is in there when he wants to let it loose. He also hit a fastball for a low line drive that traveled into the left-center field gap for a triple while showing the adjustability of his swing when he went down to hit a 3-2 fastball that was probably below the strike zone for a double to left-center. Shepard has the hands, footwork and instincts to play somewhere in the middle infield, whether it’s at shortstop or second base, but it’s his offensive game that has stood out the most.

Gary Morse, RHP, California

Morse delivered the most dominant pitching performance of anyone at Area Codes. He pitched three flawless innings, striking out seven of the nine batters he faced without allowing a hit or a walk. At 6-foot-8, 190 pounds, Morse is an extra long, lanky pitcher who was able to miss bats with three pitches. The No. 77 player in the 2026 class, Morse pitched at 88-92 mph, mostly attacking up with his riding fastball from his high three-quarters slot. Morse’s curveball isn’t a high-spin pitch—it was mostly in the 2,000 to 2,200 rpm range here—but it was hard, sharp and had good depth at 78-81 mph, with hitters waving through his curve all five times they swung at the pitch. Morse only faced one lefty, but he still made effective use of his 84-85 mph changeup. He got three swinging strikes on the seven changeups he threw, showing plenty of fade to run away from barrels with the potential for the offering to be his biggest swing-and-miss pitch long term. Morse is uncommitted for college.

Trey Rangel, RHP, Texas

Rangel is the top ranked pitcher in the 2026 class (No. 9 overall) and looked as advertised, striking out five of the 12 batters he faced in three scoreless innings. At 6-foot-1, 180 pounds, Rangel is an athletic righthander with a low-effort delivery and a fastball that was up to 94 mph and got a lot of swing-and-miss when he pitched with it up in the zone. Given Rangel’s arm speed and room to add strength to a still wiry frame, there should be more velocity in the tank. Rangel already has a big fastball for his age, but the separator for him as long been his innate feel to snap off a curveball with elite spin. Rangel regularly spun his 76-80 mph curve above 3,000 rpm up to 3,133 rpm, using it once for a particularly nasty swinging strikeout to a lefty, with two more that he used to get third strikes looking. He threw a few changeups at 84-86 mph that he holds with a spike grip and has good depth at times—one of them was a spin-killer at 984 rpm—but it was primarily the fastball/curveball mix that Rangel used to quiet hitters. Everything continues to track for Rangel being one of the top high school pitchers for the 2026 draft.

Anthony Del Angel, OF/3B, New Mexico

There are a few things that jump out about Del Angel immediately. One is his size, which at 6-foot-4, 195 pounds, gives him a strong, well-proportioned frame with room to pack on more good weight. The second is his swing. It may be unorthodox, but Del Angel seems to hit everywhere he goes and has the bat speed to drive the ball with impact. In batting practice, he produced as much hard, consistent contact on the barrel as anyone, getting regular 95+ mph exit velocities with several eclipsing 100 mph and registering up to 103. Del Angel has a strong offensive track record in games, and he padded that resume at Area Codes with five hits, one of which being a double that he pulled off a 96 mph fastball from Savion Sims. His best hit came on on 0-2 curveball that he lifted over the left fielder’s head to the warning track at 358 feet. It was a ball that’s gone at most parks on the showcase circuit, with Del Angel hustling around the bases for a triple. He singled three more times on fastballs ranging from 88 to 91 mph, all on hard line drives in the air. An Oklahoma commit, Del Angel is the No. 69 player in the 2026 class and made a strong case to move up the list in the next update.

Hitting Standouts

Keon Johnson, SS, Georgia

The No. 7 player in the 2026 class, Johnson is a quick-twitch athlete with a projectable frame (6-foot-2, 190 pounds). He has a good balance of skills on both sides of the ball that was on display here. Johnson loads his righthanded swing with a leg kick and unleashes big bat speed, producing consistent hard contact in batting practice and carrying that over into the games. Typically a pull-oriented hitter, Johnson lined a single to right-center field and smoked a fastball for a double in the air into the right field corner. Johnson, who is uncommitted, also stood out defensively on multiple plays. At third base on a sharp ground ball, he made a diving play to his left to field the ball, got up quickly and threw to first base for the out. He made another nice play at third base on a foul ball hit behind him where Johnson made a running catch over his head near the wall while also making a quick, clean double play turn at second base on a 4-6-3 double play.

Archer Horn, SS/RHP, California

Horn is 6-foot-2, 190 pounds and showed an accurate barrel from the left side, staying within the strike zone throughout the event and hitting a fastball for a double down the right field line. A Stanford commit ranked No. 82 in the 2026 class, Horn also showed some of the best raw power at the event during BP, when he hit balls up to 104 mph off the bat. On the mound, Horn pitched heavily off a fastball that was up to 92 mph and thrown for strikes at a high clip. He sprinkled in both a slider and a curveball, with his 76-77 mph changeup his most effective secondary pitch, featuring heavy sink at its best.

Landon Thome, SS, Illinois

Thome, the son of Hall of Famer Jim Thome, was named the player of the week for the underclass event after he went 5-for-8, showing significant steps forward with his all-around skill set from where he was last year when he played in the same event. While Jim was a 6-foot-4, slugging first baseman, Landon is a 5-foot-11, 170-pound middle infielder with a sound, compact lefthanded stroke with good balance. He showed that on his best swing of the games when he got a 3-2 fastball on the inner third and pulled his hands inside the pitch to pull it over the right fielder’s head for a triple. Thome also chipped in a defensive highlight at shortstop on a ground ball in the hole toward third base where he read the ball well off the bat, fielded it cleanly on a backhand and made a deep throw from the back of the dirt to get the out at first base. Thome, who is uncommitted, also made a smooth, quick turn on the back end of a 4-6-3 double play at shortstop.

Jorvorskie Lane Jr., OF/C, Texas

Blair Field is a spacious park where home runs aren’t common, especially for high school underclassmen, whether it’s in-game or in BP. Lane—who is one of the youngest players in the 2026 class, having just turned 16 last month—still managed to hit a ball into the trees in left field, showing an outstanding ability to fire his hips and rotate powerfully to generate explosive bat speed. At 6 feet, 195 pounds, Lane is not as big as some of the other top high school power threats, but he can whip the barrel through the zone with ferocity from the right side to get exit velocities up to 103 mph in BP. The No. 10 player in the 2026 class and a Texas A&M commit, Lane did show some swing-and-miss tendencies here, but he lined a 3-2 fastball for a hit to the opposite field, walked three times and smashed a fastball 348 feet to right field at 98 mph off the bat for a deep fly out. Lane has experience behind the plate and the outfield. Where he ends up defensively is up in the air, but he turned in a highlight catch in center field. With nobody out and a runner on first stealing on the pitch, Lane broke back and toward left-center field on a deep fly ball over his head. The runner paused right before second base, but the ball was hit so deep that he rounded the bag. Lane was able to take a clean route and reach up to make a backhand catch over his head just in front of the warning track. He then alertly turned around, hit the cutoff man and got the double play at first base.

Dylan Minnatee, 1B, California

Minnatee has a knack for finding the barrel, which was something he did consistently all week, whether it was picking up three hits or driving the ball for hard contact outs to the outfield. He’s a 6-foot, 190-pound lefty who sets up with an open stance then strides closed and has impressive bat control, swinging and missing only once during the event. While the offensive bar is high for a team to draft a high school first baseman, Minnatee is uncommitted for college and could develop into a middle-of-the-order hitter for whatever school ultimately lands him.

James Tronstein, OF/SS, California

Tronstein was still working his way back from a hamstring injury, so he didn’t get as much playing time and wasn’t at full strength here. But even at less than 100 percent, Tronstein showed why he’s the No. 30 player in the 2026 class. He’s a 5-foot-11, 170-pound righthanded hitter with strong hands, fast bat speed and some of the best barrel accuracy in the country. He demonstrated that bat speed when he smoked a fastball for a line-drive single to center field with a 103 mph exit velocity. A Stanford commit, Tronstein didn’t get a chance to show it here, but he’s also a plus runner and a good athlete who defends his position well in center field.

J.C. Pacheco, SS, New Jersey

Pacheco is one of the top hitters in the northeast. He’s 5-foot-10, 175 pounds and takes a tight turn of the barrel with his short, quick lefthanded swing. It’s an operation with minimal wasted movement and it comes through the hitting zone with good bat path. He showed his hitting ability when he singled on fastball for a line drive to left field and again on a first-pitch fastball that he pulled for a line-drive single to right field. The bat is Pacheco’s calling card, but he made a pair of nice defensive plays at third base, once charging in on a slow roller and making a jump throw to first base for the out and another running back on a pop up in foul territory to make an over-the-shoulder catch. He’s uncommitted.

Dillon Moss, C, California

A California native at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla., Moss is the No. 3 catcher in the 2026 class and a Stanford commit. There’s an impressive track record of hitting with Moss, who added another strong event to his history here. A 6-foot-1, 170-pound righthanded hitter, Moss chipped in a few hits at Area Codes, using a short, efficient swing for hits against both fastballs and breaking stuff. Arguably his best hit came on a 1-1, 91 mph fastball that he smacked in the air to center field with a 94 mph exit velocity. Moss has a strong arm, too, and has the attributes to be able to stick behind the plate.

Brody Schumaker, SS, California

Schumaker is the son of Skip Schumaker, an 11-year big leaguer and current manager of the Marlins. Brody plays just like what you you would expect as the son of a former major leaguer and manager. He’s 5-foot-10, 165 pounds and an instinctive player with a mature plan at the plate. He gets on base at a high clip with a high-contact bat, spreading line drives all around the field with a hit-over-power game from a simple, level stroke. A TCU commit, Schumaker ran well, too, beating out a groundball for an infield single going home to first in 4.10 seconds, which is a plus time for a lefthanded hitter.

Spencer Browning, SS, Texas

Ranked No. 85 in the 2026 class, Browning has a strong build (6-foot-1, 200 pounds), good wheels and showed the ability to drive the ball for extra-base damage on multiple occasions at Area Codes. On one occasion, he slammed a double over the left fielder’s head on a 91 mph fastball. In another at-bat, Browning took a short swing on a 90 mph fastball up and in on his hands, turning it around for a double to left field. An Arkansas commit, Browning is a good athlete with an aggressive approach with what will likely be a power-over-hit offensive game.

Anthony Murphy, OF, California

The No. 48 player for 2026, Murphy has a mix of power and defensive tools that he showed here. The uncommitted center fielder doubled off a 92 mph fastball, driving the ball to deep center field with a 98 mph exit velocity. Murphy also unleashed an above-average arm on a throw home with a runner on second trying to score on a groundball single to center field. Murphy’s throw beat him to the plate, though the catcher couldn’t get the tag on him fast enough and he slid underneath for the run.

Jeffrey Todd-Darden, OF, Texas

Todd-Darden, who is uncommitted, is one of the most exciting athletes in the 2026 class. The athleticism and tool set stood out more than his performance at Area Codes, with Todd-Darden showing some rawness at the plate but plenty of tools to dream on. He’s 6 feet, 175 pounds with plus-plus speed and the quick-burst athleticism needed to handle center field. He also showed his power potential by hitting a 91 mph fastball 324 feet to right field for a hard out with a 101 mph exit velocity and another hard contact out with a 98 mph EV.

Jacob Lombard, SS, Florida

In terms of performance, this wasn’t the best showing for Lombard, who flew across the country in the middle of the event after being one of the few underclassmen also in East Coast Pro, which overlapped with the Area Code underclass games. Yet, it’s hard for Lombard not to stand out with his athleticism, tools and smooth, efficient actions both at the plate and in the field. The No. 2 player in the 2026 class, Lombard is an instinctive defender at shortstop, where he has clean footwork, soft hands and reads hops well. At 6-foot-1, 190 pounds, Lombard is a righthanded hitter with a compact, efficient swing that has good balance, sequence and path through the zone.

Alain Gomez, C, Arizona

Gomez was the high school catcher in the spring for lefthander Cam Caminiti, the Braves first-round pick this year, so scouts have already had several looks at him. Originally from Venezuela, Gomez is an uncommitted switch-hitter who collected multiple hits at Area Codes. What stood out the most here was his defense. He’s 5-foot-11, 201 pounds with an above-average arm and a quick exchange, both of which were on display when he ended an inning throwing out a would-be base stealer on a 1.88-second pop time. He showed that arm strength, quickness and alertness again when he back picked a runner off first base, throwing from his knees behind the lefthanded hitter for the out.

Devin Diaz, C, New York

Like Gomez, Diaz is another catcher who stands out for his defensive skills, particularly with arm strength that helps him control the running game. At 5-foot-10, 185 pounds, Diaz is an athletic mover behind the plate, blocked well and showed an above-average arm. A Miami commit, Diaz also flashed promising signs at the plate. The best at-bat for the righthanded-hitting Diaz came when he condensed his swing, went with no stride and hit a changeup into the left field corner for a triple. Another hit came off a curveball that he drilled in the air to center field for a single.

Will Adams, 1B, Alabama

Adams consistently strung together quality at-bats. He’s a lefty who gets on plane well, helping him drive the ball to all fields from his 6-foot-2, 205-pound frame. There was a mix of hitting ability and power with Adams, with his best swing coming on a fastball that he hit for a double to right-center field at 104 mph off the bat. Adams hit another double with a 96 mph exit velocity that traveled 341 feet to the right field warning track, with several other well-struck balls that resulted in hard contact outs for the Alabama commit.

Erik Zdunek, OF, California

Zdunek just turned 16 in June, so the TCU commit is one of the younger players in the 2026 class. He’s 6-foot-2, 190 pounds and showed a knack for putting the bat to the ball, often with hard contact from the right side of the plate. He showed that when he got a fastball up on the outer third and barreled it for a triple to right field. Zdunek, who projects as a corner outfielder at the next level, was able to turn on an inner-third fastball as well, pulling it for a line-drive single to left field with a 99 mph exit velocity. He also drove in a pair of runs with a groundball single to center field off a fastball.

Troy Southisene, SS/OF, Las Vegas

The Cubs drafted shortstop Ty Southisene out of Basic HS in Nevada this year with their fourth-round pick while Tate Southisene is an infielder and outfielder who ranks as the No. 21 player in the 2025 class. Their younger brother, Troy, is another prospect to watch in the 2026 class. He’s 5-foot-10, 160 pounds with good hand-eye coordination and instincts for the game. Southisene split time between the infield and outfield and stood out defensively at both spots. He showed crisp actions, quick feet and good body control at shortstop, where he made a nice play charging in on a slow roller. In center field, on a drive in the right-center field gap, Southisene read the ball well off the bat and took an efficient route to make a difficult play look routine. Southisene, who is uncommitted, is a righthanded hitter with a line-drive approach and gap power.

Alex Harrington, SS, California

On offensive performance alone, there wasn’t one big moment here for Harrington, but he always sticks out because of his quick-twitch athleticism and the strength projection in his still-wiry 6-foot-2, 175-pound frame. Harrington showed his quickness and body control during infield at shortstop, with his range and reactions evident during the game. Playing third base, Harrington covered a lot of ground to his left on a ground ball in the hole where he had to spin, turn and make an accurate throw to get the out with a plus runner at the plate. He’s a Stanford commit.

Andruw Giles, OF, Nevada

Giles made multiple highlight catches in the outfield, including one in left field where he charged into foul territory to make a sliding grab. At 6 feet, 180 pounds, Giles isn’t a burner runner, but his defensive instincts are strong and he’s shown good bat-to-ball skills from the left side of the plate throughout the summer. Giles’ offensive production has generally been hit-over-power, but when he let it loose in BP, he showed the ability to drive the ball well with exit velocities up to 103 mph. He’s uncommitted.

Pitching Standouts

Landon Schutte, RHP, California

Schutte was one of the most impressive pitchers at the event, both in terms of performance and projecting him as a prospect. The No. 29 player in the 2026 class is 6-foot-5, 220 pounds with a strong lower half, and he threw strikes at a 71% clip with his fastball, which touched 93 mph from his three-quarters slot. There should be mid-90s velocity coming soon for Schutte, but the most exciting pitch for him here was his curveball. It’s a 76-80 mph curve with tight rotation—spinning mostly in the 2,700-,2900 rpm range—and sharp bite that should help him rack up a lot of swing-and-miss at the next level. He didn’t use his changeup much here but he didn’t need to either as he struck out three with no walks over three scoreless innings.

Hudson Alpert, RHP, Colorado

Alpert has an up arrow next to his name after what he showed at Area Codes. He’s 6-foot-2, 190 pounds with a sound, efficient delivery and good arm action into a three-quarters slot, attacking hitters up in the zone with a fastball that ticked up in this outing to reach 93 mph. It’s a good fastball for his age, but the most impressive pitch here was his upper-70s to low-80s slider. Alpert threw an incredible 18 of 19 sliders for strikes, including five whiffs. Some of those strikes came on chases, with Alpert consistently executing his sharp slider down and to his glove side against both righties and lefties, spinning mostly in the 2,400-2,700 rpm range with tight break and two-plane depth. Alpert threw a handful of low-80s changeups, as well, but it was mostly his fastball/slider combination that allowed him to strike out three with no walks across three scoreless innings.

Bryce Hill, RHP, Connecticut

Through his first three innings, Hill struck out five of the 12 batters he faced with one walk. With his team short on pitchers, Hill went out for a fourth inning and wasn’t as sharp, but the way Hall pitched his first few innings showed why the Stanford commit is the No. 59 player in the 2026 class. He has a tall, strong frame (6-foot-5, 215 pounds) and touched 95 mph multiple times from his three-quarters slot with the look of a pitcher who should still have a couple extra ticks of velocity to come. Hill pitched heavily off his fastball, mixing in a short slider at 78-84 mph with spin in the 2,000-2,300 rpm range and a 73-78 mph changeup that flashed heavy life at times.

Jack Smejkal, RHP, Texas

The No. 83 player in the 2026 class, Smejkal is 6-foot-1, 175 pounds with a fast arm. His fastball ranged from 90-94 mph from a long arm action and an open stride. The uncommitted righthander consistently threw his fastball for strikes to both sides of the plate, striking out three with one hit, one walk and a hit batsman against the 12 batters he faced. Smejkal’s changeup has been a bigger weapon in other looks, and while he rarely threw it here, it flashed good fade. More often, he went to an 82-86 mph slider, which he had trouble landing for strikes but showed feel to spin in the 2,400-2,600 rpm range.

Easton Webb, RHP, Oklahoma

An Oklahoma State commit, Webb is 6-foot-4, 210 pounds and an athletic pitcher who is also the quarterback for his high school football team. He pitched up in the zone with a fastball that touched 92 mph from his three-quarters slot. Webb went with a near 50/50 mix of fastballs and offspeed stuff, using a 75-79 mph curveball that he showed feel to spin in the 2,400-2,700 rpm range to get four swings and misses. His low-80s changeup didn’t miss any bats, but he kept it down and used it to get a pair of groundouts.

Shawn Sullivan, RHP, Ohio

Sullivan made a loud entrance at Area Codes. The 6-foot, 185-pound righthander stepped into the game with one out in the sixth inning and needed just eight pitches (six strikes) to strike out the only two batters he faced. Most of his fastballs were 95-96 mph, and he touched 97 once while throwing one big-breaking curveball at 78 mph (2,253 rpm) for a called strikeout. He throws from an extremely aggressive, high-effort delivery, and when he came back for another outing, Sullivan showed the risk that comes with his upside, as he had more trouble throwing strikes. Some scouts see Sullivan, who’s committed to Alabama, as a potential power reliever, but he has the chance to move up 2026 draft boards if he can show more touch and feel to go with his high-octane fastball.

Lawson McLeod, RHP, Virginia

McLeod, who is uncommitted, had his best outing of the summer at Area Codes, where he needed just 19 pitches to retire all six batters he faced with three strikeouts. McLeod is 6-foot-6, 215 pounds and drove his fastball down in the strike zone at 90-93 mph. He threw 11 of his 13 fastballs for strikes and mixed in an effective 79-82 mph breaking ball for all three strikeouts (one swinging) with spin into the 2600s. It was a significantly improved breaking ball from what McLeod had shown in previous outings, which is an encouraging sign for a pitcher who already stands out for his size and fastball.

Jenker Romero, RHP, Georgia

Romero has high-end stuff, though he’s still figuring out how to corral it for strikes. He has a great, projectable pitcher’s frame at 6-foot-3, 180 pounds, good arm action and ran his fastball up to 94 mph with room to fill out and add more velocity to what’s already a big fastball for his age. Romero showed feel to spin a pair of sharp breaking balls, an upper-70s slider and a curveball with more depth, both in the 2,500-2,800 rpm range. He missed bats with all three pitches and struck out three of the 10 batters he faced. He also walked three hitters and threw just 46% strikes, with too many fastballs sailing on him, so he will have to figure out how to repeat his release point more consistently to improve his control. Still, the stuff and physical projection stacked up favorably with some of the better pitchers here. He’s uncommitted for college.

Dax Hardcastle, RHP/1B, California

An uncommitted righthander/first baseman, Hardcastle breezed through two clean innings, striking out three of the six batters he faced without issuing a walk or a hit. At 6-foot-4, 220 pounds, he’s a physically mature pitcher for his age with a fastball that touched 92 mph and consistently got swing-and-miss up in the zone, with hitters whiffing through it on seven of their 11 swings. The No. 60 player in the 2026 class, Hardcastle flashed feel to spin an upper-70s curveball, though he wasn’t able to throw it for strikes here. His low-80s changeup had deception and induced a swing-and-miss underneath a barrel on one of the three of them that he threw. Hardcastle’s future in pro ball leans more toward the mound, but during batting practice he also showed some of the best raw power of any hitter at the event.

Brock MacDonald, RHP, Arizona

At 6 feet, 190 pounds, MacDonald doesn’t have the long, lean frame of the more prominent pitching prospects at the top of the 2026 class, but the uncommitted righthander emerged as an intriguing sleeper at Area Codes. MacDonald struck out three with one walk and one hit allowed over his two innings, pitching to both sides of the plate with a fastball that touched 92 mph (though his velocity did dip in his second inning). MacDonald had some of the better breaking stuff at the event, too, getting four swings and misses on a 76-81 mph slider that spun above 2,700 rpm at times.

Alex Hoffman, RHP, North Carolina

Hoffman is 6-foot-2, 200 pounds with a good fastball/slider mix that he showed at Area Codes. The Virginia Tech commit threw his high-spin fastball (2,500-2,700 rpm) up to 93 mph and used it to get swing-and-miss in the zone. He showed feel to to spin a slider in the 2,400-2,700 range that froze hitters for a two of four strikeouts in his two-inning outing, with an occasional mid-70s curveball sprinkled in, as well.

David Hinojosa, RHP, New York

An uncommitted righthander, Hinojosa hasn’t done a ton of national events, but he made a bigger name for himself at this one. He has a starter look with a lean 6-foot-1, 180-pound frame, a loose arm and good flexibility on the mound. He threw strikes with a fastball that was up to 91 mph and has the arm speed for more velocity to come. Hinojosa showed feel for two secondary pitches, as well, including a mid-to-upper 70s curveball that he spun between 2,300-2,600 rpm and a mid-80s changeup.

Cooper Sides, RHP, California

At 6-foot-5, 190 pounds, Sides is a tall, lean pitcher with long arms that suggest mid-90s velocity coming in the near future. The uncommitted righthander touched 92 mph here, pitching heavily off his fastball with a slider above 2,500 rpm on his best ones. The No. 39 player in the 2026 class, Sides had little trouble through his outing, throwing three shutout innings with two strikeouts.

Tyler Putnam, RHP, Missouri

Putnam didn’t allow a hit over his three innings, striking out five of the 10 batters he faced with one walk. He pitched off a fastball that touched 92 mph and should be throwing in the mid-90s or better once he packs more weight onto his 6-foot-5, 175-pound build. Putnam’s fastball was his best pitch, and it already generates a lot of empty swings, especially when he elevates. He also showed a lower spin slider at 74-77 mph that he leaned on more than his low-80s changeup.

Julian Garcia, RHP, California

Garcia flashed promising traits to be able to mold over the next couple of years leading into the 2026 draft. He has a lean, projectable pitcher’s frame at 6-foot-3, 195 pounds with long arms and a fastball that touched 92 mph in the first inning and was still touching 90 mph in his second inning, though his velocity did drop more in his third inning. He throws a slow curveball in the low-70s that was effective here to get swing-and-miss and could be a bigger weapon for him once he’s able to throw it with more power, as it already can spin above 2,800 rpm. The uncommitted righthander finished with four strikeouts and two walks.

Dylan Blomker, RHP, New Mexico

Blomker showed good size (6-foot-4, 195 pounds) and stuff during his outing. He pitched in the low-90s, touched 93 mph and got several swings and misses with his lively fastball. The uncommitted righthander also showed feel to spin a low-80s slider that had sharp turns and the potential to develop into a bigger swing-and-miss pitch for him with more reps.

McCoy Silicz, RHP, California

Silicz has a classic projectable frame for a young righthander at 6-foot-5, 205 pounds. He touched 92 mph in this look, where he struck out three and didn’t allow a run over three innings. There’s a good chance he’s reaching the mid-90s before the 2026 draft. Silicz also flashed feel to spin a curveball (2,200-2,500 rpm) that has sharp bite and good depth when it was at its best and played well off his fastball from his high slot. He’s uncommitted.

Spencer Krasner, LHP, Florida

Krasner breezed through his first inning before running into a little more trouble in the second, but overall, he showed starter traits with a good mix of pitchability, projection and feel to manipulate his offspeed stuff. He can scrape 90 mph, pitching more in the upper-80s, with a 6-foot-3, 180-pound frame that should lend itself to adding more velocity once he gets stronger. Krasner had one of the better lefthanded breaking balls at Area Codes, using it to freeze hitters for strikeouts and to get swings and misses. Previously a Virginia commit, Kranser is now one of the top uncommitted lefties in the 2026 class.

2027 Names To Know

Drake Hawpe, OF, Texas

Few players—2026 or 2027—had a better week than Hawpe. At 6-foot-3, 190 pounds, Hawpe has a lot of strength projection left in his frame and rarely swung and missed, delivering five hits with two doubles with an exit velocity up to 100 mph in batting practice. Against a 94 mph fastball up on the inner third, he kept his hands inside the ball and shot it the other way for a single. He pulled a 2-2 fastball into right-center field for a double and hit another first-pitch fastball for a double the other way. As a corner outfielder, Hawpe’s offensive game is what drives most of his value, but he delivered a pair of diving catches, as well: one running in on a shallow fly ball in left field, the other robbing a hit in right-center.

Carter Hadnot, SS, California

Hadnot looked like one of the premier players in the 2027 class. A 6-foot-2, 165-pound switch-hitter, Hadnot is a lean, athletic shortstop with a lot of space to fill out and impressive ability to maneuver the barrel. His swing takes a tight turn and he was consistently on the sweet spot, pulling a first-pitch fastball for a double down the right field line, then lining a double into the right field corner (though he was out trying to stretch it into a triple). Hadnot also showcased his quick-twitch athleticism at shortstop. He made an excellent defensive attempt by diving to field a ground ball up the middle, getting up quickly and firing to first base, though with a speedy runner at the plate he was safe by half a step.

Max Hemenway, SS, Washington

Hemenway is one of the elite 2027 players in the country. He has a mature, polished look in the batter’s box for his age, taking a clean, compact cut from the left side. He keeps his head locked in, recognizes pitches and has the feel to maneuver the barrel to find the sweet spot on pitches throughout the strike zone. Hemenway consistently drove the ball well to the middle of the field—though often right at an outfielder with nothing to show for it in the box score—but he did hang in against a left-on-left curveball in a 1-2 count that he hammered to center field for a single. At 6 feet, 165 pounds, Hemenway has a hit-over-power profile and should start to drive the ball with more impact once he fills out his wiry frame. At shortstop, the Tennessee commit is an athletic mover with crisp, quick actions. He showed good instincts and range diving up the middle to field a groundball, getting to his feet and making an accurate throw to first, though not in time to get the out on a plus runner. He checks a lot of boxes between his hitting and ability to play shortstop that will push him high up boards as the 2027 draft gets closer.

Lash Henderson, OF, Texas

Even as a 2027 at an event of mostly 2026 players, no player showed more raw power than Henderson, who is a righthanded hitter who drove the ball up to 105 mph in BP. At 6-foot-4, 202 pounds, Henderson physically sticks out like a man among boys. He has a strong but lean athletic frame with room to fill out and grow into plus-plus raw power in the future. In games, Henderson showed some rawness that’s still there, but the mix of athleticism, power potential and plus speed makes for a high-end prospect with exciting upside to follow.

Leo Nockley, SS, Pennsylvania

At 5-foot-7, 150 pounds, Nockley was one of the smallest players on the field, but he still stood out for his ability to hit from the left side. He took a tight turn of the barrel on an elevated fastball and drove it for a double to left field, part of a two-hit game in which he smacked a single the opposite way, as well. Nockley’s best at-bat of Area Codes came when he smoked a fastball at 95 mph off the bat to deep center field that traveled 353 feet only for Jorvorskie Lane to run it down with an excellent catch just in front of the warning track. He has the actions that should allow him to stick in the infield, whether it’s at shortstop or second base.

Sleeper Watch

Shawn Mack, RHP, Nevada

Looking for a sleeper pick from Area Codes? Mack is one to watch. He pitched in the mid-to-upper 80s, topping at 88 mph. So, while the velocity right now isn’t as high as the top pitchers in the 2026 class, there are good projection indicators in place. At 6-foot-3, 200 pounds, he has a frame with room to fill out, hold more weight and help him grow his fastball with strength gains. The uncommitted righthander also snapped off a low-to-mid 70s breaking ball that had extremely sharp bite at times, eclipsing 3,000 rpm. He’s going to be a pitcher for area scouts to follow and could make himself a bigger name nationally if his fastball ticks up as the 2026 draft nears.

Ryan Walls, RHP, Florida

Like Mack, there wasn’t big velocity from Walls, but he showed traits to project on between his size and ability to manipulate his secondary stuff. He’s 6-foot-3, 185 pounds with a frame with room to add strength that should lead him to more velocity from the mid-80s fastball he featured here. What mostly stood out with Walls was his off-speed stuff, the best of which was an extremely sharp curveball in the mid-to-upper 70s with top-of-the-scale spin at 2,900-3,300 rpm. Walls flashed a quality changeup in the upper-70s, as well, so if he’s pitching more in the low-90s by the time the 2026 draft nears, he could climb up the rankings.

Top Five Standouts

1. Landon Harmon, RHP, East Union HS, New Albany, Miss.

Commit: Mississippi State

Harmon was one of the most impressive prospects at this year’s ECP. He has an excellent pitcher’s frame at 6-foot-5, 185 pounds with plenty of room for more strength. The righthander throws with a loose and easy delivery from the third base side of the rubber with a three-quarters slot and slight crossfire landing. One of the few pitchers to throw multiple times at the event, Harmon touched 98 mph in both outings and mostly pitched in the 93-96 mph range.

He gets to his velocity with shocking ease and given his lean physique it won’t at all be surprising to see him touching triple digits soon with little effort. He threw a 79-82 mph breaking ball with sweeping action that wasn’t super sharp, but which had solid shape and above-average potential with a bit more power and bite. Harmon also mixed in an 84 mph changeup, threw one 87 mph cutter/slide that backed up to his arm side and was a bit scattered overall with his control. In terms of stuff, projection and upside, Harmon’s was as high as anyone’s at the event. 

2. Daniel Pierce, SS, Mill Creek HS, Hoschton, Ga.

Commit: Georgia

Pierce was one of the most impressive and well-rounded position players at this year’s ECP. A 6-foot, 175-pound shortstop and righthanded hitter, Pierce employs an open and wide setup in the box with quick hands. He showed average raw power in batting practice and a solid batting eye in games where he went 2-for-10 with a double, single, three strikeouts and a walk. Pierce’s most impressive contact of the week came on a first-pitch 89-mph fastball that he hammered to the left-center warning track for a double. The ball came off his bat at 100 mph and traveled an estimated 368 feet. Pierce also turned in the eighth-quickest 60-yard dash time with a 6.58 second time that equates to 70-grade speed, showed slick actions defensively with reliable hands, athleticism and above-average arm strength at shortstop.

3. Noah Yoder, RHP, Atlee HS, Mechanicsville, Va.

Commit: Duke

Yoder is a big and physical righthander with a 6-foot-6, 220-pound frame who had one of the loudest ECP outings this year. He works from the middle of the rubber and throws with a lower arm slot but features an unusual landing with a crossfire finish and an extreme open toe landing position that creates an odd look. His stuff was loud and he struck out three batters in three innings while touching 98 mph and sitting in the 92-97 range for the most part. Yoder showed solid fastball command early before fading in that department in the second inning, and he likewise showed good feel to land an 81-83 mph downer curveball that featured depth, power and biting finish. Yoder’s misses throughout the outing were close to the zone and he showed impressive ability to mix and match with his fastball/curveball combo, though his 83-86 mph changeup needs a bit more refinement. 

4. Ethan Grim, RHP,  Governor Mifflin HS, Shillington, Pa.

Commit: Virginia Tech

You could make a fairly simple case that Grim had the most dominant outing of any pitcher at this year’s ECP. A 6-foot-1, 190-pound righthander, Grim worked three 1-2-3 innings, struck out the side in his first and got six of his nine outs via the strikeout. He has a four-pitch mix that includes an 89-94 mph fastball with hoppy riding life, a 78-82 mph slider with 10-to-4 shape, a 76-79 mph curveball with more top-down movement and depth and a mid-80s changeup. Both of Grim’s breaking balls were just fringy pitches in this outing and his arm slowed a bit at times on his secondaries, but his ability to attack the zone with above-average fastball command was impressive and allowed him to work quickly and get outs. 

5. Aaron Watson, RHP, Trinity Christian Academy, Jacksonville

Commit: Virginia

Watson is a rare Virginia commit out of the state of Florida and was one of the most impressive arms at ECP. A 6-foot-4, 205-pound righty with a clean and fluid delivery, Watson touched 96, flashed an above-average breaking ball and also showed some of the best fastball command of the event. He pitched in the 94-96 mph range in the first inning before dropping down to 90-94 in the second and third. He has lots of sink and run on the pitch that makes it a groundball-inducing offering. I was impressed with his ability to command the fastball to either side of the plate and thought he showed advanced feel to land the pitch. Watson backed it with an 82-85 mph slider that features hard and tight spin with solid tilt and was a swing-and-miss offering vs. both lefties and righties. He threw a pair of changeups in the 86-87 mph range but spiked them both.

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Best of the Rest

Noah Allen, RHP, North Oconee HS, Bogart, Ga.

Commit: Ole Miss

Allen is a tall righthander with a 6-foot-7, 195-pound frame and long levers who works from the middle of the rubber, throws from a high three-quarters arm slot and features a slight crossfire landing in his finish. He showed solid control of his 90-93 mph fastball and mixed in two different breaking balls. Allen’s slider is a low-80s pitch with a 10-to-4 shape, spin rates in the 2,400-2,500 rpm range and short biting action that could allow it to become a solid secondary. His 76-78 mph curveball was better in this look, however, and featured spin rates in the 2,700-2,800 rpm range and big depth, with 11-to-5 downer action and solid bite that generated one particularly ugly swing-and-miss below the strike zone. 

Ethan Ball, SS, McLean (Va.) HS

Commit: Virginia Tech

Ball is a 6-foot, 185-pound shortstop and lefthanded hitter who put on what was perhaps the most impressive batting practice display of any hitter at ECP. He showed above-average raw power and homered to straight center field multiple times by way of a simple setup with quick snappy hands and a slightly uphill path. That performance didn’t translate to games, though, as Ball showed much more swing-and-miss than expected and went hitless in 10 plate appearances with six strikeouts and one walk. He showed solid middle infield actions and also turned in a double-plus 60-yard dash time of 6.62 seconds. 

Caleb Barnett, 3B, Mountain Brook HS, Birmingham, Ala.

Commit: Alabama

The Hoover Met complex is a deep ballpark that’s tough for high school players to homer out of in games, but Barnett was one of two players who left the yard at this year’s ECP. A big and physical 6-foot-5, 210-pound third baseman, Barnett turned around a no-doubt homer to left field against an 81-mph slider that he rocketed down the line at 99 mph for an estimated 353 feet. While the power was impressive, Barnett also showed some clear swing-and-miss questions, striking out six times in 11 plate appearances. He has a strong arm for third base and made a few impressive plays at the hot corner in games, but he is a well below-average runner who might be limited with his footwork and range.

Nick Becker, SS, Don Bosco Prep, Ramsey, N.J.

Commit: Virginia

Becker is a 6-foot-3, 190-pound shortstop and righthanded hitter who showed a well-rounded game and one of the cleaner swings of the event. He has solid feel for the barrel and gets on plane consistently, with lots of line drives in batting practice and in games tallied two hits in 13 plate appearances with three walks and three strikeouts. Becker’s loudest hit was a ground rule double to left field against an 86-mph fastball that came off his bat at 97 mph, but he made plenty of solid contact on balls in play that were converted to outs as well, and was also called out on strikes on one pitch that was clearly off the plate. Becker showed solid footwork and actions at shortstop with average arm strength and also turned in a plus run time in the 60-yard dash at 6.65 seconds.

Coleman Borthwick, RHP, South Walton HS, Santa Rosa Beach, Fla.

Commit: Auburn

Borthwick is an extra-large (6-foot-6, 245 pounds) righthander with a high-waisted, filled-out frame. He showed a power fastball and solid control of a three-pitch mix while working three innings at ECP. Borthwick pitched in the 91-95 mph range and generated six whiffs with his fastball while mixing in a pair of solid secondaries including an 80-81 mph three-quarter breaking curveball and an 82-84 mph changeup that he threw with fastball arm speed. With solid stuff across the board, solid control of all three pitches and a massive frame, Borthwick checks a lot of boxes. 

Logan Dawson, SS, Eastern HS, Voorhees, N.J.

Commit: Boston College

Dawson is a highly projectable lefthanded hitter with a lean, 6-foot-3, 190-pound frame that has plenty of room for more strength gains. He has a smooth, fluid swing with a slight uphill finish, and he paired solid mechanics with an advanced offensive approach in games. Dawson only tallied one hit in 13 plate appearances—a barreled line drive to right field that came off the bat at 94 mph—but consistently put together competitive at-bats and competitive swings. He walked four times and struck out six times and might need to do a better job making contact on elevated fastballs but should have strong on-base skills thanks to a keen eye. Defensively, Dawson has a strong arm with solid carry, a quick exchange, soft hands, good balance and the ability to throw accurately on the run. His foot speed is a bit light in a straight line, and his 7.11 60-yard dash time equates to 40-grade speed.

Chandler Day, LHP, Houston HS, Germantown, Tenn. 

Commit: Uncommitted

Day is a 6-foot-3, 211-pound lefthander who throws from an over-the-top arm slot and features some moving parts in his delivery. That includes a significant tilt in his leg lift, defined by a drop-and-drive action as he strides to the plate and downer head whack through his finish. Despite those moving parts, Day filled up the zone with his fastball in a quick three-inning stint, striking out five of the nine batters he faced—including the first four he saw—and not allowing a walk or hit. He threw his fastball in the 89-91 mph range and touched 92, but did a nice job establishing the pitch on the hands of righthanded hitters to his glove side to help generate six whiffs with the pitch. Day has a 75-76 mph curveball with solid depth/finish, and he also mixed in an 80-81 mph changeup with typical fading life. 

Colton Denton, C, Hardin Valley Academy, Knoxville, Tenn.

Commit: Tennessee

Denton is a physical catcher and righthanded hitter with a 6-foot-2, 225-pound frame who made a lot of hard contact at ECP. He showed solid raw power in batting practice with the ball jumping off his bat when he was on time and got the bat head out. He also hit three balls 99 mph or harder in games while tallying four hits in 11 plate appearances. Denton used the middle of the field and the opposite field with authority. His most impressive batted ball was a line drive to the right-center gap against an 87-mph fastball that came off his bat at 101 mph. He’s a well-below-average runner who ran the slowest 60-yard dash time of the event (7.65 seconds), but if he sticks at catcher that won’t be an issue. He has solid arm strength but could improve his exchange on his throws to second. 

Uli Fernsler, LHP, Novi (Mich.) HS

Commit: TCU

Fernsler is a big and physical lefthander with a 6-foot-4, 200-pound frame and wide shoulders. He works from the middle of the rubber and creates an uncomfortable at bat for hitters thanks to a sidearm slot and crossfire landing. Fernsler showed three swing-and-miss offerings in his two-inning outing, including a fastball at 88-92 mph with tons of running life and sink, an 80-83 mph short slider and an 80-81 mph changeup with heavy fading life. Fernsler’s deception allows his entire mix to play up, particularly his secondary offerings, and he also mixed in one slower curveball at 76 mph that showed more depth than his slider (though, he used the pitch less frequently).

Matthew Fisher, RHP, Evansville Memorial HS

Commit: Indiana

Fisher is a 6-foot-3, 200-pound righthander who works from the first base side of the rubber and throws with a solid delivery and three-quarters slot. He sat in the 90-92 mph range and touched 93 a couple times in his two-inning outing; the shape of the pitch allowed it to play up. It’s a high-spin fastball in the 2,500-2,600 rpm range with above-average carry that helped him generate six whiffs and dominate the top of the zone. He also has a solid breaking ball in the 79-81 mph range with solid sweeping action and high spin rates. He got around the pitch at times but also showed an ability to use it as a chase offering against righties. Fisher also flashed a mid-80s cutter and upper-80s changeup. 

Josh Flores, RHP, Lake Central HS, St. John, Ind.

Commit: Indiana

Flores is a filled-out righthander with a 6-foot-1, 200-pound frame who works from the first base side of the rubber, throws from a three-quarters slot and features fast arm speed. He only pitched out of the stretch at ECP, showing some moving parts in his delivery, including a deep arm action with a wrist wrap in the back and a downer head whack through his finish. Flores touched 94 mph with his fastball several times but mostly sat 91-92. He paired it with a power breaking ball in the 82-85 mph range featuring tight downer action that flashed plus. The pitch blended in shape between a slider and curveball at times but looks like a real swing-and-miss offering no matter the classification. He also mixed in a handful of mid-80s changeups that were solid-average pitches, but he will need to tighten up his control and avoid missing with his fastball to the arm side. 

Nicholas Frusco, LHP, Miller Place (N.Y.) HS

Commit: Clemson

Frusco is a tall lefthander with a lean 6-foot-5, 200-pound frame that allows for plenty of room for strength gains and intriguing fastball qualities. He was an extremely fastball-heavy pitcher in this brief three-inning look at ECP but generated tons of whiffs with the pitch despite throwing it mostly in the 88-91 mph range (while touching 93 a few times). Frusco showed plenty of confidence with the fastball and used it to fill up the zone and get ahead in counts frequently with arm-side life that adds to its quality. He threw a few breaking balls in the 76-81 mph range that lacked bite while also mixing in an 82-mph changeup. He struck out four of the 12 batters he faced and allowed just one single. 

Jason Fultz, 3B, Cathedral Prep, Erie, Pa.

Commit: Clemson

Fultz is a 6-foot-2, 220-pound corner infielder who showed a compact, direct swing in games. He had a pair of hits with exit velocity north of 100 mph in his 14 plate appearances. Fultz turned around a 92 mph fastball for a hard-hit ground ball single up the middle at 104 mph, then a few trips to the plate later he yanked an 85-mph slider down the third base line for a double at 100 mph. Fultz looked good against fastballs throughout the event but did struggle more with some ugly chases and whiffs against breaking balls. He was also up-and-down defensively. He made a diving catch on a 94-mph line drive at third base, then made another nice play on a slow rolling ground ball that required a quick exchange and off-balance through. There were also times where he looked unathletic, including while tracking down a popup in foul territory and while making an error with a wild throw from third base. Fultz has above-average arm strength but might be limited in range as a below-average runner. 

Linkin Garcia, SS/RHP, A3 Academy, Tampa

Commit: Texas Tech

Garcia is a shortstop and righthanded pitcher who showed exciting upside on the mound in a two-inning look. Listed at 6-foot-3, 205 pounds, he is a lean righty with growth potential who throws from a three-quarters slot with a bit of coil in his delivery and some effort and head whack through his finish. He threw his fastball in the 89-94 mph range, and the offering showed swing-and-miss qualities with plenty of cutting action. He also showed the ability to manipulate an 80-82 mph slider that looked like a solid-average pitch with a sweeping look and a bit more depth and two-plane bite, as well. Garcia also showed an 81-85 mph changeup with heavy arm-side fading life, but he buried the pitch and will need to add more command. In general, his control was below-average in this outing and his second inning fell apart a bit, but there were lots of elements to like here from a two-way player. 

Ma’Kale Holden, RHP, Thompson HS, Alabaster, Ala. 

Commit: Alabama

Holden is a big, strong righthander with a 6-foot-1, 210-pound frame who showed solid stuff and struck out five of the nine batters he faced in a two-inning outing. Holden threw a fastball in the 89-94 mph range that featured solid cutting action, though his command of the pitch needs plenty of work and he was scattered throughout the outing with an inconsistent release point. He showed two breaking ball variations: the first an 83-85 mph slider with sharp, tight spin that looked like an above-average pitch and the second a 77-80 mph downer with more depth and spin rates in the 2,500-3,000 rpm range. Though the slider was more consistent in this look, his curve also looked like a potential above-average offering. Holden also threw an 81-83 mph changeup that he turned over nicely a few times to complete a solid four-pitch mix. 

Hayes Holton, RHP, Loranger (La.) HS

Commit: Uncommitted (2026)

Holton is an uncommitted pitcher from the 2026 class who showed an intriguing pitch mix and plenty of arm speed. He stands 6-foot-3, 185 pounds with a lean, high-waisted frame that has room for more strength, and he employs a high-effort delivery that includes a heavy fall off to the first base side in his finish. Holton opened up with a fastball in the 94-96 mph range that had tremendous riding life, but his velocity fell off quickly in later outings. There was also a stark drop when he pitched out of the stretch. He threw a slider in the 75-80 mph range, as well as a curveball in the 71-75 mph range; the two pitches blended together at times. He also threw an 80-83 mph changeup but will need to sharpen each of his secondaries and avoid slowing his arm speed down while throwing them. Holton’s control was extremely scattered in this outing, but there are pieces to like and obvious arm talent that needs some refinement.

Coy James, SS, Davie County HS, Mocksville, N.C.

Commit: Ole Miss

Like Ball, James was another Twins hitter who had an excellent batting practice round but wasn’t able to fully translate that to in-game performance this week. The highest-ranked player at the event, James is a 6-foot,188-pound righthanded hitter who has developed an elite track record of performance as an underclassman. He showed off a swing with solid rhythm and balance and drove plenty of hard-hit balls up the middle while flashing above-average raw power in batting practice. In games, he tallied one hit in 13 plate appearances to go with six strikeouts and a walk, though that lone hit was a sharp line drive to center field against a 90-mph fastball that came off his bat at 103 mph. James seemed to be just under the baseball frequently this week with timing that was slightly off. He showed an above-average arm from third base and clocked an above-average 60-yard dash time of 6.84 seconds. 

Jackson Kornylo, RHP, TNXL Academy, Altamonte Springs, Fla.

Commit: Uncommitted

Kornylo is a lean, high-waisted righthander with a 6-foot-6, 200-pound frame that has plenty of room for strength gains. He works from the first base side of the rubber, throws with a three-quarters arm slot and has a crossfire landing with a lengthy hooking action in the back of his arm stroke. Kornylo struck out five of the nine batters he faced in a three-inning outing while showing a swing-and-miss fastball at 91-94 mph. He also flashed a fringe-average short slider in the 82-86 mph range that looked more like a cutter at the top of the velocity band to go with an 82-84 mph split-change that has tumbling action but needs a bit more touch and feel. Kornylo has a low-spin profile across all three of his pitches and showed solid fastball and slider feel.

Luke LaCourse, RHP, Bay City Western HS, Auburn, Mich.

Commit: Michigan State

LaCourse is a big and physical righthander with a maxed-out, 6-foot-3, 215-pound frame. He employs a three-quarters slot and short arm action on the mound and showed a quality three-pitch mix, including one of the better breaking balls at the event while pitching in the 91-94 mph range with his fastball. LaCourse’s 79-81 mph slider looked like a real plus offering with tons of depth and movement, including two-plane break and biting actions at times and sweepier movement at others. He spun the pitch in the 2,900-3,200 rpm range. While the slider was the bread-and-butter of LaCourse’s pitch mix, he also flashed a solid straight change at 85 mph. LaCourse struck out the side in his first inning and generally showed solid control.

Dean Livingston, RHP, Hebron Christian Academy, Dacula, Ga.

Commit: Georgia

Livingston is a 6-foot-2, 205-pound righthander who throws with an easy, fluid delivery from the first base side and a three-quarters slot with a direct stride to the plate. He showed some of the easiest mid-90s velocity of the event and was touching 96 mph with his fastball while looking like he was playing an easy game of catch. Livingston started in the 94-96 mph range but ticked down out of the stretch and in the second inning, though he could still reach back for 95-96 later in the outing while working out of a windup. Livingston threw an 80-83 mph slider as his primary breaking ball, but he also mixed in a slower curveball in the mid 70s with more downer shape. He got hit around a bit in the third inning, but the ease with which he generated velocity and his starter-esque delivery and projectable build make him a fascinating pitcher to watch. 

Jacob Lombard, SS, Gulliver Prep, Miami

Commit: Uncommitted (2026)

There are always a handful of underclass prospects at the ECP, but perhaps none entered the event with more expectation than Lombard, who is both the top-ranked uncommitted prospect in the 2026 class and the younger brother of Yankees’ 2023 first rounder George Lombard Jr. Currently the No. 2 ranked high school player in the 2026 class, Lombard is a 6-foot-2, 190-pound shortstop and righthanded hitter who showed an advanced offensive approach. He tallied a pair of hits in 10 plate appearances, with one walk, one hit by pitch and two strikeouts. Lombard’s final two at-bats were his best. First, he drove a hard ground ball up the middle for a single that came off the bat at 94 mph, and later he doubled to the deep left field against an 87-mph fastball that came off his bat at 104 mph. Lombard’s double-plus 60-yard dash time of 6.59 seconds was tied for the 11th best of the event, and he showed solid middle infield actions, though might need to improve his arm strength. 

Christian Lucarelli, RHP, Riverside HS, Ellwood City, Pa.

Commit: Duke

Lucarelli struck out four of the seven batters he faced in his two innings of work at the East Coast Pro while showing a lively fastball in the 92-94 mph range that touched 95. He has a strong frame at 6-foot-3, 208 pounds and throws from a high three-quarters slot with solid arm speed and a bit of effort. Lucarelli’s fastball features excellent cut-ride life that made it a swing-and-miss pitch at the top of the zone. He also flashed three secondaries: a short and tight slider at 83-85, a slower curveball with more depth in the 75-78 mph range and an 81 mph changeup. 

Max Luzarraga, RHP, Weddington HS, Matthews, N.C.

Commit: Dallas Baptist

A North Carolina righty committed to DBU, Luzarraga showed one of the more intriguing fastball shapes of the ECP in his two-inning outing for the Twins. A 6-foot-1, 210-pound righthander, Luzarraga throws from a high three-quarters slot and pitched mostly in the 88-91 mph range with his fastball. Still, the pitch featured excellent cut-ride action that allowed him to dominate the top of the zone and generate 10 whiffs in just two innings. As he adds more velocity, it should become an easy plus pitch thanks to that movement profile, though he’ll need to improve his secondaries, which include a 77-79 mph curveball and mid-80s changeup.

Briggs McKenzie, LHP, Corinth Holders HS, Wendell, N.C.

Commit: LSU

McKenzie threw three hitless innings in his ECP outing with three strikeouts and a walk. A 6-foot-2, 185-pound lefthander, McKenzie is a lean lefty with a projectable frame who works from the third base side of the rubber, throws from a three-quarters slot with some depth in the back of his arm stroke and features a bit of a crossfire landing in his finish. He pitched in the 90-92 mph range and touched 93 while mixing in a 77-79 mph breaking ball and an average, 85-86 mph changeup. McKenzie’s breaking ball has solid shape and spin—in the 2,500-2,700 rpm range—but the pitch showed early, lazy break and will need to add a bit more bite and power to become an average pitch. His feel to land the breaking ball in the zone was solid, and he was around the zone with all three pitches throughout this outing. 

Maddox Miller, LHP, Oak Grove HS, Hattiesburg, Miss.

Commit: Mississippi State

Miller is a lean and lanky lefthander with a 6-foot-4, 165-pound frame that screams projection and has significant room for added strength and mass gains in the future. He works from the third base side of the rubber and throws with whippy arm speed from a low three-quarters slot and has a slight crossfire landing. He pitched in the 90-91 mph range in the first inning before dropping into the 88-89 mph range in the second, but his fastball features lots of arm side run. His 74-77 mph curveball is a loose pitch that wasn’t consistent in this outing and needs more snap and bite, but his 80-83 mph changeup was one of the most consistent changes of the event and featured huge tumbling action with fastball arm speed. He did a nice job landing the pitch at the bottom of the zone and used it to generate five whiffs and finish four of his five strikeouts. 

Dean Moss, OF, IMG Academy, Bradenton, Fla. 

Commit: LSU

Moss entered ECP as the No. 8 player in the high school class and was the second-highest ranked player of the event after SS Coy James. The first thing that stands out for the 6-foot, 185-pound outfielder is his tremendous bat speed. There are some moving parts to his swing, which features a high handset and a bit of a hitch and barrel tip in his load, but he fires his hands through the zone with great quickness and generates lots of hard contact because of that. Moss showed a strong approach and had impressive results in games as well, with three hits in nine plate appearances, as well as three walks and just one strikeout. More impressive than the results were the quality of his at-bats against solid stuff. His best plate appearance was likely against Reid Worley, when he drove an 84-mph slider on the outer third the other way for an opposite field line drive single over third base at 90 mph. Moss might have to profile in an outfield corner, and he turned in a below-average 60-yard dash time of 7.04 seconds.

Joe Nottingham, RHP, Loyola Blakefield HS, Towson, Md.

Commit: Georgia

Nottingham is a lean righthander with long levers and a 6-foot-5, 200-pound frame that still has plenty of room for added strength. He works from the first base side of the rubber, throws with a three-quarters slot and strides directly to the plate with a simple, easy and balanced delivery. He was more of a control-over-command pitcher in this look. Generally, Nottingham was around the zone with a four-pitch mix that included a 90-94 mph fastball that touched 95, a short and tight slider in the 82-85 mph range, a slower curveball in the upper 70s and an 83-mph changeup that he spiked. Nottingham struck out four of the eight batters he faced in two innings and missed plenty of bats with his fastball. 

John Paone, RHP, Lawrence Academy, Groton, Mass.

Commit: Duke

Paone is a big and physical righthander with a 6-foot-3, 210-pound frame. He works from the first base side of the rubber and throws with a low three-quarters arm slot. Paone creates a ton of run and sink on his fastball from that slot and pitched in the 93-96 mph range in the first inning before dropping down to 90-92 in subsequent frames. His turbo-sink fastball is a groundball-inducing weapon. He pairs it with an 81-83 mph slider with frisbee-like movement and tons of sweeping action. Paone will need to reign in his control to make the most of two promising pitches, but he looks tough to barrel up thanks to the movement on both of his primary pitches. 

JoJo Parker, SS, Purvis (Miss.) HS

Commit: Mississippi State

The Mariners team had a monopoly on in-game homers at this year’s ECP. Parker and teammate Caleb Barnett were the only two hitters to leave the yard at the Hoover Met. Parker is a 6-foot-2, 192-pound shortstop and lefthanded hitter who did a nice job getting extended on an 85-mph fastball that he pulled to right field at 102 mph and an estimated 378 feet. He also doubled and singled earlier in the event, walked twice and struck out twice in nine total plate appearances for a successful offensive showing overall. Parker employs a relatively simple operation at the plate with an open setup and uphill bat path. He showed decent middle infield actions, average arm strength and clocked a 6.95-second 60-yard dash time—an average to fringy speed grade. Parker’s brother, Jake, is also a member of the 2025 class and was at the ECP on the Mariners and is a fellow Mississippi State commit.

William Patrick, OF, St. Frederick HS, Monroe, La.

Commit: LSU

Patrick is a 6-foot-2, 200-pound outfielder and righthanded hitter who flashed an exciting combination of tools, physicality and athleticism. He has explosive hands in the righthanded batter’s box with a simple swing that features a slightly uphill bat path, and in games he had two hits in 11 plate appearances with two walks and three strikeouts. Patrick flashed the leather in center field when he made a quick first step in on a shallow fly ball before making a full extension diving catch to rob a hit, and his 70-grade 60-yard dash time of 6.59 seconds was tied for 11th-quickest of the event.

Luke Roupe, RHP, North Myrtle Beach HS, Little River, S.C.

Commit: South Carolina

Roupe is a strong and physical 6-foot-5, 210-pound righthander who works from the first base side of the rubber, throws from a three-quarter slot and has a fast and short arm action. He pitched in the 91-94 mph range with his fastball and showed a pair of solid secondaries including a 78-83 mph slider that was inconsistent but showed solid sweeping action at times as well as an 85-86 mph changeup he threw with great arm speed and deception. 

Landon Schaefer, SS, Fayetteville (Ark.) HS

Commit: Arkansas

Schaefer is a tall and lanky 6-foot-3, 188-pound shortstop and righthanded hitter who stood out for his swing and consistent quality contact in games. He showed solid raw power in batting practice. While he only tallied two hits in 12 plate appearances, he found the barrel consistently and hit four balls 90-mph or harder in games. He was a bit overly aggressive in his swing decisions at times, but looks like a burgeoning slugger who will have enough power to profile at a corner position if and when he outgrows shortstop. 

Miguel Sime Jr., RHP, Poly Prep Country Day, New York

Commit: LSU

Sime Jr. is an extra-large righthander with a thick and strong 6-foot-4, 237-pound frame and power stuff to match. He struck out four of the eight batters he faced in a two-inning look with a fastball that was mostly in the 94-96 mph range and touched 97. He overthrows the fastball at times and was generally scattered with his command of it, but the velocity and riding life should make it a real bat-misser at the next level. Likewise, his 79-82 mph breaking ball had swing-and-miss traits with two-plane bite and great glove-side movement that makes it a chase pitch away from righties, but he needs to add a bit more feel to maximize its potential. Sime Jr. also flashed an 82-84 mph changeup with significant velocity separation from the fastball and arm-side fading life that made it a solid offering to lefties. 

Jace Stancil, RHP, P27 Academy, Lexington, S.C.

Commit: College of Charleston

Stancil is a strong, physical righthander with a 6-foot-2, 212-pound frame who throws with a three-quarters arm slot and works from both sides of the rubber depending on his matchup. He works with a deliberate tempo and showed solid poise on the bump, with strong feel for three pitches including a consistent ability to land his slider on the outer rail to the glove side. Stancil struck out four of the eight batters he faced in two innings, sitting in the 90-93 mph range with his fastball and generating seven whiffs with his breaking ball. His usability of the breaking ball was better than the pitch’s pure movement/velocity characteristics, though he spun it well in the 2,500-2,600 rpm range and flashed solid tilt and late bite at times. While the fastball and slider were his go-to options, Stancil did flash one 82-mph changeup that he missed with to the arm side. 

JD Stein, SS, Carmel (Ind.) HS

Commit: Uncommitted

Stein is a smaller shortstop with a 5-foot-8, 170-pound frame who stood out for his defensive actions and batting eye. He tallied just two hits in 16 plate appearances—a double to the warning track in left field that came off the bat at 97 mph and an infield single up the middle—but he worked the count consistently and drew five walks to seven strikeouts. Stein has limited raw power and features a compact, direct swing that’s better suited for hard hit line drives. He also turned in a plus 60-yard dash time of 6.75 seconds and showed solid actions, a quick exchange and body control as a defender in the middle of the infield.

Kaden Waechter, RHP, Jesuit HS, Tampa

Commit: Uncommitted (2026)

Waechter is one of the top-ranked uncommitted prospects in the 2026 class and showed why at the ECP. Listed at 6-foot-2, 180 pounds, Waechter is a lean righthander with plenty of physical projection remaining and a loose, clean delivery that looks like a future starter. He pitched in the 88-91 mph range with a bit of sink and run on the pitch, but showed an excellent ability to establish the zone with his fastball and attack in on righthanded hitters’ hands to set up the rest of his arsenal. His 80-83 mph slider is a short breaking ball with solid spin that needs a bit more power, but it was a consistent offering he could throw for strikes and backdoor to lefties. While he was more control over command in this look, Weachter stood out for his ability to change speeds, mix and match and come off the mound to field his position with athleticism. A third pitch and more power will be questions moving forward, but he has plenty of time to address them.

Reid Worley, RHP, Cherokee HS, Canton, Ga.

Commit: Kennesaw State

Worley is a lean righthander with a 6-foot-2, 170-pound frame who showed advanced feel to sequence pitches and keep hitters off-balance with quality secondaries at ECP. He threw his fastball in the 90-93 mph range for three innings, but his best pitch was without question an 82-86 mph slider with tremendous movement, two-plane break and big spin rates in the 3,000-3,300 rpm range. It was a plus pitch that he showed great feel to land in the zone, often pitching off the slider more than his fastball. Worley also mixed in a solid 84-85 mph changeup that looked like an average and effective pitch against lefthanders. If he can sharpen up his fastball command, he’ll have a quality three-pitch mix to go with great physical projection.

1. Tyler Bremner, RHP, UC Santa Barbara

Bremner is a 6-foot-2, 180-pound righthander who this spring with UC Santa Barbara posted a 2.54 ERA over 88.2 innings and nine starts, with a 30.2% strikeout rate and 6.1% walk rate. He’s one of the best pitchers in the 2025 class. With Team USA in two outings this summer he struck out six, walked two and allowed only a single hit while showing three pitches that might be plus.

Bremner works with a fluid and easy delivery that features a quick arm out of a high three-quarters slot. He averages 94-96 mph with his fastball and runs the pitch up to 98 with excellent riding life and armside run that should make it a plus offering. He has great feel to land a diving mid-80s changeup that averages more than 10 mph in separation from his fastball and has an 85-87 mph slider with hard biting action. 

2. Jamie Arnold, LHP, Florida State

Arnold trailed only Chase Burns for the top pitcher in the Atlantic Coast Conference this spring and posted a 2.98 ERA over 105.2 innings and 18 starts, with a 29.6 K-BB% that was good for fifth-best in the country. A 6-foot-1, 191-pound lefthander, Arnold added plenty of power to his arsenal this spring which pairs nicely with a deceptive slot and advanced command and makes him one of the most complete arms in the class.

With Team USA in two outings Arnold struck out eight, walked three and allowed only one single. He works with a drop-and-drive action in his delivery and throws from a sidearm slot that creates an extremely low release height that amplifies his pitch mix. Arnold sits 93-95 mph with a fastball that touches 97 and features tons of run, and also mixes in a sweepy mid-80s slider, a low-80s curveball with more depth and a mid-80s changeup. 

3. Devin Taylor, OF, Indiana

Taylor is a strong and physical outfielder with a powerful 6-foot-1, 215-pound frame who’s had a pair of tremendous offensive seasons with Indiana. He’s a career .338/.440/.660 hitter with 36 home runs for the Hoosiers and played left field and DH for Team USA this summer. While Taylor went just 7-for-27 (.259) in six games, it’s easy to see why his offensive profile is so appealing. 

He employs a crouched stance in the lefthanded batter’s box with a tight bat wiggle before taking a fairly typical leg kick and hand press in his load stage. Taylor has above-average bat speed and a level plane with his swing but enough strength for home run power to all fields. He has fair contact skills but can be overly aggressive with his swing decisions—he struck out six times to no walks with a 30% chase rate with Team USA. He profiles as a corner outfielder and has mostly played left with Indiana. 

4. Drew Burress, OF, Georgia Tech

Burress earned top-three-rounds consideration out of high school in the 2023 class, but ultimately made it to campus at Georgia Tech where had a Freshman of the Year campaign in 2024, when he led all freshmen with 25 home runs and slashed .381/.512/.821. He became Team USA’s leadoff hitter and primary center fielder this summer and went 9-for-24 (.375) in seven games with a pair of homers.

A 5-foot-9, 182-pound righthanded hitter, Burress uses his size to his advantage and rarely expands an already small strike zone. He chased just 15% of the time this spring—the best mark of any Team USA hitter—walked more than he struck out and has a strong combination of bat-to-ball skills and raw power that mostly plays to his pull side. An above-average runner with a strong arm, Burress has the tools to be a strong defender and stick in center field.

5. Caden Bodine, C, Coastal Carolina

Bodine is the top-ranked catcher in the class and followed up a 2023 Sun Belt Conference freshman of the year season with another strong campaign as a hitter and receiver this spring. He’s a career .347/.432/.564 hitter with Coastal Carolina and shared catching duties with Troy backstop Brooks Bryan for Team USA this summer.

A 5-foot-10, 197-pound switch-hitter, Bodine stands out mostly for his bat-to-ball skills. He rarely swings and misses, has walked more than he’s struck out in his college career and with Team USA walked four times to two strikeouts with a 91% overall contact rate. 

Bodine has unusual movements from both sides of the plate, specifically with a late hand raise, high back elbow and barrel tip in his load, but has made the operation work for the most part. He has a hit-over-power offensive profile and also has the above-average arm strength and solid receiving chops to stick behind the dish. 

6. Nolan Schubart, OF, Oklahoma State

Schubart was a high-profile high school hitter who showed some of the best power upside in the 2022 prep class and has become one of college baseball’s most fearsome sluggers in two seasons with Oklahoma State. Now a 6-foot-5, 227-pound outfielder, Schubart is a career .352/.480/.743 hitter with the Cowboys who homered 23 times this spring and then led Team USA with a 1.571 OPS and five extra-base hits this summer. 

Schubart has tremendous raw power and posts eye-opening exit velocities—including a 111.6 mph 90th-percentile mark this spring—but has plenty of contact questions in his game. He looks to do damage on all of his swings with fierce hacks from the left side and phenomenal bat speed but will need to improve the 63.3% contact rate he managed this spring. 

While Schubart will swing and miss versus all pitch types, to his credit he has done a nice job staying within the zone on his swing decisions and walking at a high clip. He’s a definite corner outfield profile with more than enough power to profile there. 

7. Matt Scott, RHP, Stanford

Scott is a big and broad righthander with a 6-foot-7, 247-pound frame and background as a high-profile prep prospect who ranked as a top 200 player in the 2022 class. While his career 5.57 ERA with Stanford over two seasons is unexceptional, he has solid peripherals and pure stuff to dream on. With Team USA he struck out four, walked three and allowed just two singles in two outings.

Scott throws from a high three-quarters slot and boasts a four-pitch mix, though his fastball and slider are his go-to offerings. He sits 92-94 mph with his fastball but has been up to 98 with tremendous riding life and he filled up the zone with a mid-80s two-plane breaking slider this summer. Scott also mixes in a low-80s split-changeup and 87-91 mph cutter, though both pitches need more polish. 

8. Marek Houston, SS, Wake Forest

Houston is a 6-foot-3, 185-pound shortstop who earned an early reputation as one of college baseball’s most impressive defensive infielders. After a light-hitting 2023 season with Wake Forest, Houston posted a .949 OPS this spring with Wake Forest and served as Team USA’s primary shortstop this summer. The righthanded hitter went just 3-for-19 (.158) in seven games but drew eight walks to manage a .429 on-base percentage in that time.

High-level defensive ability is the name of the game for Houston. He’s a reliable defender who has all the tools necessary to stick at shortstop and play the position at an above-average level. While he’s not a burner, he shows a quick first step with good range to both sides and pairs above-average arm strength with an advanced internal clock, no-doubt middle infield actions and footwork and impressive body control. His upside as a prospect will depend on his progress as a hitter next spring. 

9. Kyson Witherspoon, RHP, Oklahoma

Witherspoon began his college career with Northwest Florida State JC but transferred to Oklahoma this spring where he posted a 3.71 ERA over 80 innings and 11 starts. He continued to perform with Team USA. In two outings he struck out eight, walked two and allowed just one single. 

A 6-foot, 205-pound righthander, Witherspoon is solidly filled out now with broad shoulders and a well-developed frame. His arm action features an odd, hitch-and-hook movement in the back of his stroke but he fires to the plate with tons of arm speed from a three-quarters slot. He sits 95-96 mph with his fastball and has touched 99 with solid ride and cut. He uses a mid-to-upper-80s slider as his go-to secondary. 

Witherspoon also has a firm, upper-80s changeup that he uses infrequently as well as a cutter around 90 mph. There’s some inherent reliever risk given Witherspoon’s delivery and control.

10. Gabe Davis, RHP, Oklahoma State

Davis has primarily pitched out of the bullpen in college but did make five starts for Oklahoma State this spring before pitching in a relief capacity for Team USA this summer. Davis appeared in three games and struck out seven of the 12 batters he faced without allowing a hit or walk. A monstrous presence on the mound, Davis is listed at 6-foot-9, 225 pounds and throws from a relatively easy delivery and three-quarters slot. 

Scouts loved what they saw from Davis this summer. He averaged 95 mph and touched 100 this spring at OSU and was a tick higher on average with Team USA. His fastball might play up because his extension is above-average and his perceived velocity is likely greater than the TrackMan readings. He generated eight whiffs on 15 swings with the pitch with Team USA. He paired it with a hard mid-80s slider that was also a swing-and-miss offering. 

Davis showed impressive command in his brief summer stint. He’ll need to replicate that next spring and improve on his career 13.3% walk rate.

2024 Team USA CNT Best Tools

Best Hitter: Caden Bodine
Best Power: Nolan Schubart
Best Plate Discipline: Drew Burress
Fastest Runner: RJ Austin
Most Exciting Player: Tyler Bremner
Best Pitcher: Tyler Bremner
Best Fastball: Tyler Bremner
Best Breaking Pitch: Gabe Gaeckle 
Best Changeup: Tyler Bremner
Best Control: Jamie Arnold
Best Defensive C: Caden Bodine
Best Defensive INF: Marek Houston
Best Defensive OF: Drew Burress