ARIZONA

After Cam Cannarella, the second-highest ranked prospect on the field during opening weekend at Globe Life was Arizona outfielder Brendan Summerhill. He first showed off his toolset in front of a national audience at the 2022 Prep Baseball Super 60 when he ran a 6.54 sixty and showcased the second best bat speed at the event – 78.2 mph.

At 6-foot-3 and 205 pounds, Summerhill is a long, lanky athlete who’s a plus runner on the bases and a long strider in the outfield, which gives him a chance to stick in center field for the long run. His speed is also a tick above average down the line – consistently in the 4.20s. Defensively, his speed also plays, showing a quick first step, good reads and above average range in all directions. He also throws average and there’s little doubt that he can remain in the big field at the pro level.

Summerhill has the potential to become a five tool threat at the Major League level and wasted little time displaying these tools that have vaulted him to the top ten overall of many draft lists. Batting leadoff, he singled and promptly stole second base less than five pitches into the opening game. He has a smooth left handed swing that’s initiated with a high hand setup, upright and slightly open stance. He’s long through the zone and uses all fields. In past looks he did a better job of keeping his weight back and staying behind the baseball, but was very spread out and more “on top of the ball” at Globe Life. Last season his swing produced an 11.4 degree average launch angle (flat) and just a 9.70% InZoneWhiff% (excellent). He also recorded a max exit velocity of 109.6 mph which equates to average raw power on the pro scale. His game one home run against Clemson left the bat at 103 mph and traveled 372’. He finished the weekend 3-for-11 which was highlighted by a 2-for-4, 4 RBIs performance on Saturday against Clemson.

At the plate Mason White was consistently looking to lift and pull the baseball. As a result of this approach, his swing got long and off-time, presenting holes for a pitcher to exploit. Throughout the weekend White was generally late to the fastball and out front against off speed. However, this all or none approach does have some advantages when the ‘ALL’ is ON-TIME. White timed it up perfectly for a pair of home runs. The first was a deep home run 404’ to right field against Ole Miss. It left the bat at 108.4 mph. The second, not quite as long or majestic, but enough to jog around the bases after exiting the barrel at 101 mph and traveling 377’. White finished the three games 2-for-10 at the plate with six strikeouts.

At 5-foot-10, 195 pounds he packs a punch at the plate. His max EV last season of 113.7 mph grades as a bit better than plus. This, combined with an average launch angle of 22.3 degrees produced 31 XBH that included 19 home runs in 2024. Defensively, he’s more of a college shortstop than one who is likely to remain there at the pro level. He does have just enough arm strength and range to go along with solid average hands and instincts. Overall, White profiles as an offensive second baseman at the next level.

Infielder Mathis Meurant ranked No. 9 in our top JUCO prospects for the 2024 draft, but France native went unselected and made his way from Cochise CC (Ariz.) to Tucson. He missed the entire fall season with a hip injury and saw limited action at Globe Life (1-for-5, batting ninth and playing third base), but it’s all there for him to become a top five round draft pick this summer. The 6-foot-3, 185-pound switch-hitter possesses the size, tools and athleticism that scouts love. Meurant has plus actions on the dirt – he fields smooth and easy with plus arm strength and excellent arm action. At the plate he has a quick bat and at least average raw power from both sides with an all-fields/line drive approach. Nationally, he’s still a bit of a sleeper prospect, but expect the scouting heat to fire up on Meurant as the season continues.

The Cats’ cleanup hitter and centerfielder Aaron Walton is strong, fast and physical at 6-foot-2, 215 pounds. He has top ten round types of tools – plus run, above average arm strength and average raw power – and like White, he needs to make more consistent contact at the plate. The transfer from Samford was 1-for-8 with three strikeouts and a pair of walks over the weekend. And again like Mason White, when Walton makes contact, it is usually hard contact. His top EVs at Globe Life were 107.7 mph on a single to his pull side and 104.6 mph (397’ F8). He’s one to keep a close eye on this spring with top five round potential if he can make consistent contact at the plate.

Redshirt sophomore Collin McKinney also impressed. A 6-foot-5, 215-pound transfer from Baylor, the righthander was up to 94-95 mph with compact arm action and fair deception. He allowed just a run on three hits in 4.1 innings of work. McKinney effectively mixed four pitches – 90-94 fastball with good ride, 85 mph changeup with late dip, 77-78 curve and 81-82 slider – and most of his swing/miss came against elevated heaters.

Freshman Smith Bailey looked poised and polished during his Sunday start against Louisville. Pitching like a college veteran, the loose-armed righthander scattered three hits over three scoreless innings. Most impressive was his ability to sequence pitches, moving the ball around, working in/out, as well adding and subtracting. The 6-foot-5, 200-pounder froze a pair of Cardinals with his low-90s FB for backward KOs and continuously slowed the Louisville bats with both his 76-77 curve and mid-80s changeup. At this point, he’s a top three-to-five round follow for 2027.

TEXAS

Texas won two of their three games in Arlington with Max Belyeu and Jared Spencer running point on big-time performances. Still recovering from a month-long sickness, the five-tool Belyeu looked refreshed compared to the Cape last summer where he did not show his true talent and tools. At Globe Life the lefthanded hitting slugger both looked and played the part of a first round prospect. What began as a 2-for-5 performance on Opening Day, gained steam with a 2-for-5, one home run Saturday and exploded on Sunday vs Oklahoma State as Belyeu blistered a 4-for-5, including a double and home run with two RBIs. His Saturday home run traveled 401’ after leaving the barrel at 107.7 mph. His first inning lineout to first base was even better struck – a 112.5 rocket (below) which is just slightly less than his best bolt over the entire 2024 season (112.9). Belyeu’s other tools are also high quality, possessing plus arm strength and plus speed underway. He’s a perfect fit for right field, especially when adding above average defense.

Another Longhorn showing much improvement since my previous look was the opening day starter, Jared Spencer. Featured in Week 12 of College Crosscheck from the 2024 season, the lefthander lost control of his arsenal and was out of the game by the third inning, but against Louisville on Opening Day 2025, Spencer held his stuff and control for the greater part of 5.2 innings and 67 pitches. Most eye-catching was his fastball pumping to the plate at 95-97 and touching 98. In addition to the big heater, Spencer showed a feel for an 87-89 mph cutter with spin rates around 2500, an above average 85 mph sweeper slider and an occasional show-me, mid-80s changeup. It’s a starter’s arsenal that will be continuously watched this spring, but his longer path arm action with some dice shake in back will always present command questions and potentially a long-term move to the pen at the next level. Overall, Spencer struck out six, walked one and allowed just four hits. He is currently one of the top seniors for this summer’s draft, ranking just behind fellow southpaw Pierce Coppola (Florida).

Jalin Flores impressed defensively by making a pair of spectacular plays at shortstop, including a backhand in the hole then showing a plus arm across the infield for the out at first base. His present actions on the dirt must be polished up, along with improved consistency with his throwing accuracy to remain in spot over the long term. The righthanded hitter struggled in the batter’s box with his timing and pitch recognition, but did single twice during Sunday’s finale against Oklahoma State. When going “right”, Flores hits for both average and power. He posted a max exit velocity of 110.3 mph last season, presently grading as an average tool.

Ruger Riojas put together a solid 2024 campaign for UTSA and was very good in the fall after transferring to Texas. The 6-foot-1 righthander sat anywhere from 92-94, topping at 95 mph with his fastball. Both his cutter (86-87) and low-80s slider showed some promise as well. Sophomore Thomas Burns threw elite heat, touching 98 with super efficient spin on a 2240 rpm fastball and up to 22" IVB. He also subtracted for an effective low-80s changeup and cut it at 86 mph. Although his outing was brief, two groundouts on seven pitches, Burns impressed with not only his stuff, but how he did it with exceptional strength and mobility moving down the mound.

Currently regarded as a potential first-rounder for the 2026 Draft, centerfielder Will Gasparino is an incredible athlete at 6-foot-6, 225 pounds. He runs like a deer and possesses 70-grade (max EV of 116 in 2024) raw power. After striking out in nearly 33% of his plate appearances last season as a true freshman, early indications at Globe Life showed that he’s made a bat-to-ball adjustment. This was highlighted by an opposite field triple (100.8 mph) on a fastball at the letters against Ole Miss and a 393’ backside home run at 106.3 mph to right centerfield against Louisville. If this is truly a newly learned skill, and not just a temporary fix, look out. Gasparino could be a guy to watch for 1-1 in 2026.

LOUISVILLE

Patrick Forbes made 26 appearances and just four starts during his first two seasons with Louisville. As the Cardinals’ Opening Day starter against Texas, the 6-foot-3, 220-pounder showed an electric fastball that touched 98 and settled on 96 for most of his 84 pitch effort. A high level athlete, Forbes attacks from a low three-quarter release point with a fastball that posted a 81st percentile Whiff rate of 24.7% last season. Through two starts, he’s off to even greater success this season with a 97th percentile ranking (32.8% Whiff) as his heater consistently goes over bats and his upper-80s cutter spins tightly in the 2700-2800 rpm range. His 83-84 mph slider was good enough on opening day as he landed it consistently in the zone and was able to expand for chase at times. Forbes finished the night with 11 strikeouts and allowed two runs on five hits in five innings of work. Currently a second-to-third round prospect, he could easily jump into late first round consideration with further development of his slider, the addition of a usable changeup and continued strong performance in the Cardinals’ starting rotation.

Matt Klein isn’t the typical high-valued catching prospect who possesses a power arm and plus raw power, but he is one of the top bat-to-ball hitters in all of college baseball. The 6-foot-2, 210-pound lefthanded hitter’s top tool is his hit ability. He doesn’t hit the ball exceptionally hard, but he does square it up often. Behind the plate he showed sure hands, solid blocking ability and better than average arm strength which was consistent with our looks at him in the Cape last summer. Consistency is also rewarded in the draft, especially those with a college-heavy draft model (Angels, Twins, A’s, Mariners, Orioles, Blue Jays to name a few).

Peter Michael picked up where he left off from my last look at Purdue this past fall. Locating his 4-seam 89-91 fastball to all quadrants, it's his plus 80-81 breaker that was the finisher. A high spinner into the 2600s rpm, it has to date generated an 88th percentile (44.4%) Whiff rate this spring. He’s a later round prospect for this summer’s draft, and certainly an interesting case study on pitch development at the collegiate level. Prior to Louisville, Michael pitched to a 15.68 ERA at Northwest in 2024 and a 10.29 ERA at San Diego as a freshman in 2023.

Sophomore star Zion Rose originally came to Louisville as a catcher, and is now almost a year into converting to the outfield where his speed and arm strength profile best to centerfield in the long term. The 6-foot-1, 210-pound righthanded hitter possesses tremendous hand/eye and above average raw power, recording a top exit velocity of 112 mph last season and a current strikeout rate below 10%. Currently ranked No. 27 in the 2026 college class, Rose has started the 2025 season on fire with a .440 batting average through his first six games.

Sophomore righthander Parker Detmers showed plenty of promise in his start against the Cowboys. An imposing 6-foot-4, 235-pounder finished his start allowing four runs on three hits in three innings. He ranged 93-95 and up to 96 mph with his fastball (2450 spin rate), while also showing a solid slider at 82-83 mph with spin rates nearing 3000.