2026 Prep Baseball Iowa Preseason All-State: Event Preview

March 3, 2026
Rob Allison
Supervisor, Upper Midwest

Waukee, Iowa - On Sunday, March 8th, 2026, Prep Baseball returns to Waukee’s SportsPlex West to host the 12th annual Prep Baseball Iowa Preseason All-State event. This invite-only event will feature over 200 prospects from the 2027 through 2029 classes, including over 110 players that are currently ranked in the state.

The premier spring event gives us an opportunity to take a closer view at a number of Iowa's top talents, along with introducing us to some under-the-radar and underclass prospects that have made considerable strides recently.

EVENT HISTORY

Last year's Preseason All-State featured a number of strong performances. Here are just a few that caught our attention:

Trent Grevengoed (2026, OF/RHP, WDM Valley) topped multiple leaderboards in his class, including the event’s best 60-yard dash (6.68) and highest fastball velocity (90.3 mph). He later represented Team Iowa at the Super Senior Games in Kansas City and the State Games in August. Grevengoed announced his commitment to Kirkwood in October.

Matt Meeker (2027, OF, Waukee) was as advertised, impacting the ball and showing premium arm strength inside SportsPlex West. He solidified his spot on Team Midwest for the 2025 Prep Baseball Future Games, where his offensive performance drew significant college interest, including Arkansas. Meeker announced his commitment to the Razorbacks in October.

Dawson Oppelt (2026, RHP, Dubuque) made his Prep Baseball debut at the Preseason All-State, running his fastball into the upper 80s and topping at 88.2 mph. He remains the top-ranked uncommitted prospect in the state’s 2026 class.

LOOKING AHEAD TO SUNDAY

The 2026 Prep Baseball Iowa Preseason All-State is poised to be an electrifying event, bringing together an array of talent from across the state. With a staggering volume of ranked players in attendance, totaling 114 individuals, this showcase promises to be a big stage filled with Iowa's top prospects.

Here are just a few of the notable uncommitted prospects from the class of 2027 attending this year's Preseason All-State:

Ahvyance Taylor OF / RHP / Johnston Senior High School, IA / 2027

Rankings StateRank: 12 / POS: 5

Taylor brings game-changing speed and impact at the plate, using the middle of the field with authority. A solid athlete defensively, he has a playable arm and the versatility to handle both infield and outfield roles.

Raine Pitre OF / RHP / Iowa Falls Alden, IA / 2027

Rankings StateRank: 15 / POS: 7

A legitimate two-way prospect at the next level, Pitre shows a simple, repeatable arm action and clean mechanics on the mound, running his fastball up to 87 mph. At the plate, he’s recorded exit velocities of 90 and 92 mph, showcasing real offensive upside.

JP Elbert C / SS / Dubuque Wahlert, IA / 2027

Rankings StateRank: 16 / POS: 3

Elbert’s strong arm plays behind the plate, reaching 82 mph and producing pop times between 1.89 and 2.01. He stands out for his defensive reliability and leadership in managing the game. Offensively, he features twitchy bat speed and a line-drive approach that leads to consistent hard contact to the middle of the field.

Sam Bartlett RHP / OF / Iowa City West, IA / 2027

Rankings StateRank: 18 / POS: 4

Bartlett enters the spring as the top uncommitted arm in Iowa’s 2027 class. His fluid mechanics create easy life on the fastball, and he complements it with a solid three-pitch mix that features above-average off-speed offerings.

RANK	PLAYER	POS	SCHOOL
12	Ahvyance Taylor	OF	Johnston
15	Raine Pitre	OF	Iowa Falls Alden
16	JP Elbert	C	Dubuque Wahlert
18	Sam Bartlett	RHP	Iowa City West
19	Tyler Honkomp	OF	Northwest
20	Christian Sawyer	RHP	Iowa City West
21	Jeremiah (JJ) Phillips	OF	Pleasantville
22	Max Martin	3B	Ames
26	Ty Heydon	C	Coon Rapids-Bayard
28	Colton Moore	SS	Norwalk

The Preseason All-State is also a venue where committed prospects can continue to show progress and work towards participation in future national events. Notable attendees for this year include:

Beau Morio C / 3B / Cedar Rapids Xavier, IA / 2027

Rankings StateRank: 6 / POS: 1 OverallRank: 485 / POS: 51

Beau has solidified himself as the No. 1 ranked catcher in Iowa’s 2027 class and committed to the University of Iowa. At 6-foot-2, 210 pounds, he pairs quick footwork and a clean exchange with an above-average 80 mph arm, producing pop times between 1.97 and 2.02. Offensively, he shows power to all fields and consistently creates backspin carry, particularly to the right-center gap.

Brady Smith RHP / 3B / Dallas Center-Grimes, IA / 2027

Rankings StateRank: 11 / POS: 3

The 6-foot-1, 178-pound right-hander is an athletic, quick-twitch mover on the mound and committed to St. Thomas. His pitch quality is already above average, and with his frame, there is projection for added fastball velocity and sharper breaking stuff. He also features one of the best changeups in the 2027 class.

Jack Loutsch LHP / OF / Ankeny Centennial High School, IA / 2027

Rankings StateRank: 24 / POS: 2

Loutsch has a lean, athletic build with an easy, fluid arm circle and a low three-quarter slot. He remains highly projectable on the mound, with continued velocity gains only enhancing the overall quality of his arsenal. Loutsch is committed to DMACC.

FULL ROSTER

ITINERARY

SCHEDULE: AM Session

Check-in for All Position Players: 7:45am-8:00am
Event Overview: 8:15am
Event Start: 8:30am
Check-in for Pitcher Only: 11:45am
Event Completion: All players will be done on/before 1:00pm

SCHEDULE: PM Session

Check-in for All Position Players: 12:00pm-12:15pm
Event Overview: 12:45pm
Event Start: 1:00pm
Check-in for Pitcher Only: 4:15pm
Event Completion: All players will be done on/before 6:00pm

Please bring snacks and drinks as events can run long, especially depending on your position.

Click here to learn more about our tech partners that have enhanced our players showcase experience. Partners like TrackMan, Vizual Edge, and Blast Motion have helped both our in-event evaluation process, as well the compilation of our post-event scouting reports – and they're also a tool for our players to learn more about their measured and collected data, that can be applied to improve upon their game.