Indiana Scout Blog : Week 5
May 2, 2024
As we approach the midway point of the spring season, our staff has logged many miles thus far traveling across the state to see some of the best talent that Indiana has to offer. Read along to find out which prospects impressed our staff this week, and as always you can stay up to date with spring scout blog coverage, here.
By : Cooper Trinkle
Caden Crowell, LHP, 2025, Valparaiso
Crowell was outstanding in my look, looking the part of a no-doubt prep draft follow for 2025. Standing at an athletic, projectable, 6-foot-4, 195 pound frame, there is still room to add plenty of strength to his athletic frame that makes future velocity projections a sure bet. The Notre Dame recruit is one of the best movers in the class, using a quick, tall lift before an athletic move down the slope - body control stands out throughout. There is some deception in the loose, slingy arm action and it works to a 3/4 release point. Crowell sat 88-91 T 92 mph on his fastball with arm-side life, settling at 88-90 throughout his five innings of work. He showed real feel for three pitches, subtracting with a changeup that drops off the table at 75-77 mph. Crowell shows tons of feel for his change, doubling up on it routinely. He rounded out a starter's mix with a sweeping breaking ball at 76-79 mph, a pitch that he has made significant strides with that holds wipeout upside as he learns to spin it firmer. Crowell punched out 14 in my look, throwing nearly 80% strikes on the night.
Brandon Logan, CF, 2025, Fort Wayne Snider
I sat on Logan for a doubleheader last Saturday and he immediately impressed with his athletic, more-physical look, standing at 6-foot, 185 pounds. Logan, a Vanderbilt recruit that holds P5 football offers, is one of the best athletes within the Hoosier State - holding tons of lean strength in the upper body with a muscular, explosive lower-half. Logan had three hits on the day and holds a table-setter's profile. His hands start back and remain quiet during a small load and he delivers the bat on a flatter path, a line drive-oriented swing. Logan showed the ability to catch up to 87-91 mph fastballs while also controlling his weight to stay back on offspeed. He provides an athletic presence in centerfield and turned in a 4.23 H-1st on an E5, while also showing off premier foot speed on the base-paths.
Mason Barth, SS, 2025, Andrean
One of the state's top in-game performers is off to a blazing start in his junior season - batting .464 with (9) 2B, (3) 3B, (2) HR, and (11) SB as we hit the halfway mark of the season for 3A #1 Andrean. Built with compact strength in a 5-foot-9, 200 pound frame, Barth has added switch-hitting back into his game this season, something we have not seen of him since he was 14 or 15. This adds another layer to the profile and he hit left-handed in my look, with the right-side being his more natural side. He hits from a lower handset from the left-side and turns the barrel on a quick, upward path. There is bat speed from the left-side that stems from the plus-plus raw strength that he possesses, and he torched a triple to the RCF gap in my look. Barth played shortstop in my look, showing quick feet and an above average arm across, but he has also spent some time behind the dish for the 59ers this spring, another interesting addition to his overall profile.
Xavier Carrera, RHP, 2025, Boone Grove
After touching 95.5 mph with his fastball at our Preseason All-State in March, Carrera was an arm that I was excited to get out to see this spring. One of the best natural athletes in the 2025 class, Carrera stands at a lean, athletic, 6-foot-3, 185 pounds and the overall arm talent in which he possesses has a chance to be special as he develops further. The arm gets inverted and works with all-kinds of quickness and whip to a 3/4 arm angle. The Indiana recruit sat 88-93 in my look, pitching mostly at 88-91 and reaching back for 92s and 93s when he wanted/needed. The fastball works with real arm-side life and he can get in on right-handers. Xavier mixed with a slurvey, 75-78 mph breaking ball that flashed late bite at times, but was inconsistent overall. His overall feel for the zone is not where it needs to be, with control coming & going throughout his outing, however the arm talent and upside are undeniable.
Davian Carrera, OF/1B, 2025, Boone Grove
Davian is a really intriguing LHH prospect with a run-producer's profile/build. The Indiana recruit stands at an athletic, 6-foot-3, 200 pounds and holds significant upside in the left-handed batter's box. Carrera is an athletic mover in the box, with hands starting higher this season allowing for a shorter path to the ball. There is some drift in the forward move, but the barrel works tight behind the back shoulder to get on-plane early and he shows impactful strength at the point of impact. Carrera showed pull-side strength in my look and has shown the ability in the past to use the whole field with the same type of impact. Aside from his offensive prowess, Davian offers defensive versatilty (Corner OF / 1B projections), along with natural arm strength and above-average straight-line speed.
Jaxon Sparks, OF/LHP, 2025, Fort Wayne Carroll
Sparks is one of the top uncommitted juniors within the Hoosier State and was outstanding in this look as a left-handed arm, showing upside as a true two-way prospect at the collegiate level. Sparks earned the win in a 5.1 IP performance, allowing just (3) hits, (0) ER, (3) BB, and striking out (9). The physical, 6-foot-1, 220 pound southpaw ran his fastball up to 91 early, settling at 87-90 and holding it well into his outing. He mixed with a breaking ball and change, showing very solid feel for all three. Sparks has feel to add & subtract with spin, softening it up to land + flashing some with sharp, late sweep at 78-80 in order to induce chase. His change works with late sink at 76-78 and he punched out a division one recruit RHH with it. It is an interesting profile - the arm has ticked ahead of schedule and he also has real bat speed from the left-side of the dish and is a 6.6 runner.
Max Reaume, C, 2025, Valparaiso
Reaume was solid in my look and is a good option for schools still looking to add a backstop to their 2025 class. A proportional, 5-foot-11, 195 pounder with some strength, Max turned on a 3-run homer in the first inning of the game to his pull-side. The operation is repeatable in the right-handed batter's box - he makes a small barrel tip to trigger the hands as he controls a simple stride forward. The swing works slightly uphill to match plane and there is some barrel accuracy to pair. Defensively, Reaume is a sound receiver with tons of arm strength from the crouch. He turned in pops that ranged between 1.95 and 2.05 and reached 83 mph from the crouch at the Preseason All-State this March.
Collin Ash, OF/LHP, 2026, Roncalli
Ash is a sophomore follow that has gained helium with our staff after a strong performance at the Preseason All-State and a strong start to the 2024 spring season. An athletic, 5-foot-10, 170 pounder - Ash profiles best as a LHH outfielder with a solid run tool (6.95) and a quick, efficient, left-handed stroke. Ash sets up in an athletic, relaxed stance and his hands load as he gains ground within the stride, creating stretch. Quick hands deliver the barrel on a flatter path, and he works on-plane throughout. There is above-average strength at impact and he should grow into more as he matures. Ash showed arm strength on the bump in this look, which translates to the outfield, and he ran his best fastball up to 85 mph with quick, compact arm action.
Trent Kulig, RHP, 2025, Andrean
Kulig turned in a quality start in my look, earning a complete game win allowing (1) hit, (1) run, (3) walks, while striking out (8). The physical, 6-foot-4, 220 pound right-hander looked to attack with a steady diet of fastballs, sitting 84-86, touching 88 mph, and showing the ability to cut and sink it. The fastball deviations allowed him to mainly work off the heater, but he showed the ability to flip over a 71-75 mph curveball on occasion, while also flashing a 77-78 mph changeup. Kulig attacks from a higher, over-the-top slot that adds some downhill action to a fastball that already cuts and sinks.
By : Conner Madding
Beck offered a quality look in his start last week. An athletic, 6-foot-0, 180 pounder southpaw that is trending upwards within Indiana’s junior class. The arm works quick and uninterrupted - producing a carry fastball that sat 85-88 mph. The junior offered a late-breaking 75-78 mph slider that induced some swing-and-miss, and he showed feel to throw it to both righties and lefties. Beck also featured a 77-80 changeup, a pitch that has improved significantly since previous looks by our staff. He threw the changeup with fastball arm-speed and it had some fading action and late sink. The Avon lefty uses a simple and balanced delivery with some effort in the operation. Beck’s control in this look was sporadic at times as he walked four and hit two right-handed hitters with his slider. The uncommitted junior finished with seven strikeouts in four and two thirds innings pitched.
Wyatt Pennington, RHP, 2025, Avon
Pennington got the ball out of the Avon bullpen and shut down Carmel in four scoreless innings. A 6-foot, 175 pounder with a quick right arm that comes from a ¾ slot. An athletic mover, Pennington worked his fastball at 87-90 mph, while grabbing a couple of 91’s and touching 92 mph once. The junior also offered a side-arm fastball with arm-side run that worked in the mid 80’s. The Avon product showed lots of feel for a 80-81 mph changeup with fading action that he used to mainly left-handed hitters. Pennington flipped over an above average curveball with depth at 71-74 mph and flashed a 78-79 mph slider. The athleticism, arm talent, competitiveness, and pitch arsenal all stood out during this look. Pennington finished with six strikeouts, two walks, and allowed zero hits. The uncommitted junior is a right-handed arm that evaluators need to get eyes on.
Jordan Williamson, SS, 2025, Pendleton Heights
I was really impressed with Williamson and his progress from previous looks in the fall. The uncommitted junior has been on the barrel everytime we have seen him this spring. A lanky, 6-foot-1, 170 pounder, Williamson showed fluid and athletic actions throughout multiple in-game looks at SS to go along with an above average arm across that works quick and loose. At the dish, he sets up in a balanced stance with a compact load of the hands as he turns the barrel on an upward plane with above average bat speed. Williamson has really taken a step up at the dish this spring, showing more impact from the right-side.
Brayden Giesler, OF, 2025, Jasper
Giesler reached based all four plate appearances in my look this week - doubling twice and working two walks. The uncommitted junior is physical, standing at 6-foot-3, 195 pounds, and hits from the left side of the dish. Giesler showed off some pull-side strength as he hammered two balls to the right-center field wall. He sets up in a balanced stance with a strong base, before a subtle load into the back leg and a controlled toe-tap stride. The swing works on an ideal bat path with plenty of natural bat speed. Giesler manned centerfield for the Wildcats in this look, showing quick lateral movements and an above average arm, although he profiles as a corner outfielder at the next level.
Colin Axel-Adams, OF, 2027, Pendleton Heights
Axel-Adams got the start in RF for Pendleton Heights in my look. The athletic, 6-foot, 170 pound left-handed hitter went two for three with a backside double down the LF line and pull-side single. The freshman outfielder sets up in a tall, open stance before a moderate stride. The barrel works level through the hitting zone with above average bat speed. An above-average runner at this time, Axel-Adams has CF upside in the long term which makes him an intriguing prospect as his swing mechanics and feel for the game continue to progress.
Brayden Stevenson, RHP, 2025, Pendleton Heights
Stevenson got the start on the bump for Pendleton Heights in my look. The Ball State recruit worked the fastball at 87-89 mph early, while settling in at 85-87 mph later on in the outing. He attacked with the fastball, sporadic at times, but managed to put up three zeros on the board for the Arabaians. Stevenson showed a slurvey breaking ball at 70-74 mph that he was confident in landing. The arm works compact and quick to a ¾ slot. The 6-foot-2, 195 pounder works to a tall balance point with a slight inward turn before a simple move down the slope. Stevenson punched two in this look while allowing one hit and walking four. The overall feel and command on the mound continue to elevate with each look, the arm talent is obvious from the projectable right-hander.
Kunz offered a solid look in his start versus Jeffersonville. A physical, imposing presence on the mound at 6-foot-5, 245 pounds, Kunz worked the fastball 84-86 mph early with some ride through the zone, while setting in at 82-85 mph. The right-hander utilized a simple, stretch-only delivery - quick leg lift to a slight cross-fire delivery, with the arm working uninterrupted to a H ¾ slot. Kunz offered a curveball at 69-71 mph and a slider at 71-74 mph, while flashing a changeup at 76 mph. The Jasper righty punched five in five innings pitched, while allowing one earned run.