Player to Watch: Uncommitted 2027s To Know At State
July 19, 2026
Tyler Cropley
State Director, Prep Baseball Iowa
IOWA - The 2026 IHSAA State Tournament begins on Monday, which means college coaches from all levels will get an upclose and personal look at uncommitted prospects on the state's biggest stage. Here are 7 names that every recruiter should circle.
For all the state tournament action >> IHSAA Baseball Tournament Central
George Blake OF / LHP / Indianola High School, IA / 2027
Blake continues to look the part of one of Iowa's premier two-way prospects. At 6-foot-4, 180 pounds, there's still plenty of projection remaining on a long, athletic frame. The left-handed hitter stays short to the baseball with a clean path through the zone, consistently driving hard contact from gap to gap. He pairs that with above-average athleticism, turning in a 6.61-second 60-yard dash, a 96.2 mph exit velocity and 91 mph arm strength from the outfield. On the mound, Blake attacks from a lower three-quarter slot with an 85-88 mph fastball that continues to trend upward. His production has matched the tools, leading Indianola with a .423 batting average while striking out 63 hitters over 49 innings.
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JP Elbert C / SS / Dubuque Wahlert, IA / 2027
Elbert impacts the game in just about every phase. Behind the plate, his 82 mph arm strength translates to consistent 1.89-2.01 pop times while providing steady leadership and defensive reliability. The athleticism also allows him to handle shortstop when needed. Offensively, he generates quick bat speed with a simple, line-drive approach geared toward the middle of the field, producing consistent hard contact. He's hitting .392 with a team-best 41 RBIs and has also logged 28 strikeouts across 17 innings on the mound.
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Ahvyance Taylor OF / RHP / Johnston Senior High School, IA / 2027
Few players in the class possess Taylor's combination of athleticism and game-changing speed. He pressures defenses every time he reaches base and has enough strength to impact the baseball, working primarily through the middle of the field. Defensively, he's an athletic outfielder with a dependable arm and the range to cover plenty of ground. His speed has translated into production, leading Johnston in triples while ranking near the top of the team in total bases and runs scored.
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Ty Heydon RHP / C / Coon Rapids-Bayard 6-12 Attendance Center, IA / 2027
Few players across the state have been as valuable to their club as Heydon. He's dominated on both sides of the ball, hitting .609 with eight home runs, 15 doubles and 64 RBIs while also posting a perfect 6-0 record with 83 strikeouts in 46.2 innings. The physical right-hander moves well on the mound and competes in the strike zone, while his present strength at the plate allows him to drive the baseball with authority to all fields.
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Phillips brings one of the louder toolsets in the class. The athletic outfielder has posted a 103.8 mph exit velocity, runs a 6.81-second 60 and has reached 91 mph from the outfield. His offensive production has been just as impressive, leading Pleasantville with 10 home runs, 64 RBIs and a 1.541 OPS while hitting .505. The ball jumps off his barrel, and his gap-to-gap approach allows him to impact every part of the field.
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Lyncoln McCaffrey 2B / C / Sioux City East, IA / 2027
McCaffrey has been a key contributor to one of Iowa's most explosive offenses while showcasing the versatility to play all over the infield, spending most of the spring at third base. The long, athletic frame continues to add strength, and he consistently drives the baseball back through the middle of the field. A 6.69 runner with a 95 mph exit velocity, McCaffrey has hit .330 with 12 extra-base hits while swiping eight bases in eight attempts.
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Lewis Waterbury LHP / 1B / Liberty High School, IA / 2027
Waterbury has anchored Liberty's pitching staff throughout the season, striking out 39 hitters over 36 innings with a 3.11 ERA. He works with clean tempo and an efficient delivery, creating quality rhythm from start to finish. His fastball has reached 85 mph, and he complements it with an above-average changeup that gives him a reliable weapon against both right- and left-handed hitters.
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