Emerson, GA: With NPI in the rearview, we're on to National Championship season and up first on the docket is 15U. The amount of high-level 2027 and 2028s were abundant from across the country, and we bring you over 4000 words to highlight the quality baseball from throughout the week. 

Whitaker Rogers, OF/RHP, 2028, Woodgrove (VA) 
The lean and athletic 5-foot-11, 165-pound LHH would provide an impressive look to open the 15u National Championship tournament at the top of the order for Dirtbags platinum. Rogers would come through with a loud knock back up-the-middle as he stays well-connected and displays a fluid LH swing with advanced use of his lower half. Strong hands/wrists stand out with present accuracy in the barrel and an aptitude to work to all-fields. Rogers exudes hitterish traits at the plate with much more to project upon throughout the frame/profile.

Caden McGhee, OF, 2027, Cherokee 
Continuing to swing it well this summer the incoming junior would put together a monster showing Friday afternoon in a 3-for-3 performance with 3 doubles ( 2 backside, 1 pull-side), 2 runs, and an RBI. McGhee stays well-balanced with leverage in the barrel and an aptitude to work to all-fields. Displays present feel for the barrel with ability to stay compact and change barrel plane to find solid contact throughout the zone. Innate pitch recognition stands out with an advanced understanding of the zone. Strong bat-to-ball skills litter the profile as well for McGhee with the ability to stick anywhere in the lineup.

Jackson Vondersaar, C/RHP, 2028, Olentangy Berlin (OH) 
The #8th ranked 2028 in the Ohio rankings would provide an electric look out of the leadoff spot for the Hit Dogs on Friday afternoon. Vondersaar would find the barrel multiple times for a couple of absolute lasers off the bat in a 3-for-5 performance with a triple and two doubles. Innate barrel feel stands out with huge bat speed and easy leverage through the zone. Adjustability in the path with excellent pitch recognition allows for Vondersaar to get on time with velo or spin. The incoming sophomore maintains great balance through impact with feel for the zone. High-floor tools litter the profile for Vondersaar with still so much more to project upon throughout the physical, athletic 5-foot-11 frame. Vondersaar would show off the two-way prowess later in the week as well as he would hop on the mound and churn out an electric start. Striking out 12 across 5.1 IP. Fastball lived 83-85 and curveball played well off the fastball at 73-76 with sharp depth (2800 + RPM).

Daniel Biondo, C, 2027, Denmark 
Fresh off earning a Future Games invite, Biondo has done what he has done over the past calendar year by living on the barrel throughout the 15u national championship. Innate barrel feel continuously stands out for Biondo with the ability to spray the ball to all parts of the field. The 6-foot-0, 165-pound RHH would put together an impressive night at the plate Saturday night. With a pair of barrels including a solo home-run and a loud single both to the pull-side. The incoming junior stays well-balanced with leverage in the barrel in a compact cut with present bat speed. Pitch recognition stands out in an advanced approach with an excellent understanding of the zone and ability to hit high velo or spin. Already equipped with an immense feel to hit the budding power potential has shown up early and often this summer with #3 here. Name to know come August 1st.

Jaycob Veloz, SS, 2028, St.Anne Pacelli Catholic 
It's hard not to get "pure-hitter" vibes when watching Veloz in the box. The incoming sophomore and '23 Junior Future game alum has steadily found the barrel throughout the 15u National Championship tournament. The RHH stays compact with fluidity through the zone in a direct path to the ball with fast hands and present feel for the barrel. Staying balanced with great feel for the zone, Veloz shows the ability to spray the ball to all parts of the field in an advanced approach. As well as exhibiting advanced actions up the middle with impressive lateral range and athleticism throughout. The feel to hit stands out with plenty of strength to project upon throughout the wiry athletic frame.

Chase Gockenbach, 3B/RHP, 2028, Lakeway Christian (TN)
Gockenbach really looked the part on both sides of the ball across an eye-opening 15u National Championship performance. The RHH would hammer baseballs throughout and seemingly produce an extra-base hit in each look. Delivers a heavy barrel with easy leverage through the zone in a compact path and huge impact in the barrel to match. Standing a physical 6-foot-1, 198-pounds, Gockenbach generates a ton of strength from the ground-up with ability to hit for power to all-fields. The incoming sophomore would show two-way prowess as well throughout the tournament. As he would compile a highly impressive stat line on the mound (8.0 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 2 BB, 10 K). Fastball lived 82-85 (T86 MPH) with arm-side run. Slider was spun over at 75-78 with sharp movement and feel for spin. There is still plenty of projection remaining in the profile/frame for Gockenbach on both sides of the ball.

Nicholas Carroll Jr., SS/3B, 2028, Toombs County
Carrol Jr. has the makings of a pure hitter at the plate. He oozes athleticism in all parts of the game with tools all around. Showed off some advanced bat speed and bat to ball skills, rarely missing his pitch and peppering the gaps. Carrol Jr. showcased a plus run tool as well, frequently taking extra bases when he could. He has been showing that he is just a natural ballplayer with plenty of advanced tools showing already. Carrol also showed off some legit 2-way ability running it up to 90 MPH on the bump with a legit S/M SL.

Tyler Hickman, C/RHP, 2029, Cartersville
The young arm showed off some live stuff on the bump this week. Featured a FB that topped out at 87 MPH and a CB at 67 MPH. The FB had some live arm side life with some sink at times as well. He also featured a CH with some promise at 76 MPH. It was an electric 3 pitch mix from the young RHP. It is easy to be excited about Hickman on the bump. He showed some advanced actions on the bump moving well with repeatable mechanics. There’s just so much to like from the 2029 RHP with so much time to add strength onto the frame.

Josh Gunning 3B/RHP, 2028, Battlefield(VA)
Uncommitted. Gunning showed a great performance in pool play pitching 3 shut out innings while striking out five. He showed a great compact delivery keeping the ball hidden and close to his body throughout his delivery. Gunning got his velocity up to 91 two times and sat in the 87-90 range most days. Gunning showed why he is the number 1 player in the state of Virginia having batters swing and miss all day. His fastball tends to run in on righties all day, his fastball had lots of run with it as well causing batters to be lost all day. Gunning also worked his curveball in as well nailing that pitch throughout his outing as well it had a sharp hook that froze batters. Gunning will continue to be an effective pitcher for time to come and will be a name to follow for a long time.

Will Schaefer OF/LHP, 2028 Fayetteville(AR)
Uncommitted. Schaefer had a great performance coming in to relief he should a mix between his fastball and curveball. Schaefer was dominant from the left side with his sweeping fastball that went in on righties all day. He showed his curveball that went sat between 75-78 with his rotation getting up over 3000 multiple times. Schaefer pitched 2.1 innings giving up no hits and striking out six. Schaefer showed why he is one of the top players in the state of Arkansas and will be a name to follow along his journey.

Noah Castillo, RHP/OF, 2028 Kamehameha Schools Kapalama Campus(HI)
Uncommitted. Castillo had a great outing on both sides of the plate, during the game the bases were loaded and Castillo unloaded on a ball and drove it to deep left center field where it hit off the top of the wall clearing the bases for a stand up double. Castillo showed in his at bats that he can drive the ball for power; he is able to generate a lot of his power from his legs where he drives the ball 90+ throughout the day. Later in the game Hawaii Elite turned to him to come in and pitch where we saw his fastball get up to 89MPH his fastball has a lot of tail to it making it difficult for batters to time up and drive. Castillo also had a slider that sat between 71-74 MPH and had 2700+RPM to it. The slider was his go to pitch when hitters were down. Castillo showed why he is a top 5 player in the state of Hawaii being able to hit for power and come in and pitch effectively he will be a name to keep an eye on in the coming years for his college decision.