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2026 Great Lakes Preseason ID: Quick Hits

March 2, 2026
Cooper Trinkle
Scouting Director

Our 2026 Preseason ID tour featured a trip to the Region for Week #4. Our Great Lakes Preseason ID featured a strong crop of underclassmen, along with a good chunk of 2027s boosting their stock. Find notes on underclassmen with high-end projections, recruitable 2027s, underclassmen who boosted their stock, more notable performances, and a list of follows, below...

Find the full event statistics, at this link. 

Underclass Top Prospects

Cooper Gear OF / Valparaiso, IN / 2029

+ The top-ranked freshman hitter in the state, #2 overall in the 2029 class and #85 nationally, Gear continues to establish himself in each look. Strong, mature look at 5-foot-11, 190-pounds. Burned a 6.76 60-yard dash to start the day and the run tool is ticking towards the future-plus projections we had on him. Commanded the attention of everyone in batting practice as he went 97.4 at peak; averaged 88.6. Starts in a grounded setup with a small bat wrap, uncoils with some explosiveness as the hands match plane for all-fields impacts. Starting to tap into some power; hit tool is highly advanced. Also reached 86 from the OF. The floor was already high and the toolset gains Gear showed at this event keep pushing the ceiling higher and higher. 

Jack Baumgardner LHP / Valparaiso, IN / 2028

+ "Light-but-right" candidate from last year showing big jumps. One of the bigger breakout prospects from this winter's showcase circuit as projections are beginning to come to fruition. Massive, 6-foot-5, 210-pound frame has packed on noticeable strength. Showcased as a two-way and showed intriguing bat strength with triple-digit exits at peak, but I leave more bullish on the upside on the mound. Stretch-only look. Shorter inward turn lift w/ controlled drop-and-drive; lands square w/ balanced finish. Short, compact arm circle shows clear acceleration to the front. First fastball touched 87.9, proceeded to pitch at 83-85 from there on out. Fastball showed some arm-side run. Low-70s SL played with sweep and flashed an above average look, sunk a CH at 72-75. I am excited to get eyes on Baumgardner this spring to see if he can translate the stuff he showed in this 'pen to a game setting, but he established himself as one of the higher ceiling southpaws in the class at this event. 

Leon Torres OF / Andrean, IN / 2028

+ One of the more intriguing prospects in the class with a high-end frame. There is a graceful ease to the movement patterns despite a future-physical 6-foot-2, 190-pound frame. Burned a 7.17 60-yard dash, future strength will likely develop that tool into an above average one. The left-handed bat presents the biggest chunk of the value; immense power potential. Hits from a wider, closed base with a deep, arm-barred handset. Makes a small tip-to-trigger before whipping the barrel head on a semi-uphill path. Some length on the backside of the swing, some tendency to get handsy and disconnect, but when synced - it is a high-end look undoubtedly. Exits peaked at 96 w/ more in the tank. Also turned in an 86 OF arm. Profiles as a power-hitting RF. Will be a priority follow for our staff leading up to 8/1.

Beckett Reaume OF / Valparaiso, IN / 2028

+ Continues to refine both his baseball skillset and athleticism/physicallity with each look. Now 6-foot-3, 205-pounds with a run-producers look, Reaume stood out in batting practice with exits reaching 98.5. There is quality rhythm in the setup that flows into launch, and he repeats the operation well. The hands are quick, and the barrel is heavy, producing g2g impacts with present pullside juice. He ran a 6.99 and reached 85 from the OF to roundout a solid, well-rounded toolset. In total, the corner OF has a chance to end up with raw power and the hit tool should allow him to get to it consistently. Strong follow. High-character, great makeup. 

Zac Alexander SS / Hanover Central, IN / 2029

+ Alexander is one of the more athletic freshman I've seen on the showcase circuit this winter, improving his stock as much or more than any 2029 position player in the class. He is athletically gifted with a 5-foot-11, 175-pound frame that should end up with a speed/strength look at maturity. He ran a 6.97 before taking a polished, athletic round of infield where he showed a solid abv avg arm across for the age. Offensively, he hit from both sides with the right-handed side clearly more polished. On the right side, it is a heavy drifty forward move but when synced he is able to unleash quick hands on a steep-but-direct path. There are clear refinement points, but the launch quickness and explosiveness that he flashed really caught my eye. The left side is a work in progress, but has a chance to polish into usable and fits the profile. Holding speed/power upside at a premium defensive position, Alexander will be a close follow this spring and summer and leaves this event as one of my personal picks-to-click in the class. 

Recruitable Talent

JT Rozanski RHP / Lake Central, IN / 2027

+ Athletic look with projection to the 6-foot-1, 175-pound frame. Smooth pace to balance, slight uphill tilt as he moves down the slope. Separates hips/shoulders well as he makes a shorter stride that lands square. Finishes w balance. Loose/compact arm w/ noticeable arm speed. FB 87-88, touched 89, controlled the zone with it, avg life. Spun a short cutter/slider at 78-80 and was able to get 2-plane depth on a 74-76 breaking ball that appears as his best secondary. 77-78 CH appears as a usable fourth. Huge standout in his first event and will be a close follow for a new-look Lake Central pitching staff this spring. 

Sully Fleming OF / Chesterton Senior High School, IN / 2027

+ Fleming continues to trend well and has a chance to really breakout this spring. The 5-foot-11, 165-pound frame is athletic and he's got long arms/legs with room left to grow into. He burned a 6.72 60-yard dash to begin the day, and followed by reaching 88 from the OF. In batting practice, the impacts were loud. I caught the end of his round and saw familiar upper body moves compared to last fall but a stronger, wider base at start. He rotates very well, evident by the 100-plus exits he produced, and he was able to impact from gap-to-gap with present pullside juice starting to shine. He's made significant strides since the fall, and there is still room for more growth in the frame. 

Anthony Rochford OF / Chesterton Senior High School, IN / 2027

+ Showing excellent strides in his development versus his performance at this event last year, Rochford left this event as a winner after posting the top exit velocity of the day. He sets up in stock stance with a short stride as his hands remain quiet and connected into rotation. The turn is tight and he works in-balance throughout. There is clear strength at impact resulting in 102+ exits at peak, and he was able to drive the ball from gap-to-gap as he hit against a firm frontside allowing the barrel to work with length out-front. To pair with bat strength, Rochford turned in a 6.82 60-yard dash at this event. It is a LF profile with arm strength still developing, but the +10 mph exit velocity gains and 60 decreasing by half a second over the course of a year speaks to the work ethic and overall improvements he's made in the past 12 months. 

Drew Horvath RHP / Morgan Township Middle/High School, IN / 2027

+ 6-foot-1, 175-pounder with an athletic look and broader shoulders. Gradually builds pace in the delivery; swinging lift is followed by a drop and drive type move that he lands square out of. Long arm swing works to a higher slot. Pitched at 83-85 w quality control; flashed carry. Shorter 2-plane spin at 72-74, mixed a sinking upper-70s change as well. Chance to fill a starter's role at the next level with athleticism for more jumps in stuff, 3 usable shapes, and control for all. 

Tommy Pastoret SS / Valparaiso, IN / 2027

+ Proportional look at 5-foot-11, 180-pounds. Compact strength. Started the day with a 7.02 60-yard dash before taking a fundamental round on the infield with an average arm across the diamond. Infield actions are playable, looks the part of a next-level defender there. On the offensive side, he set up balanced before a short load that featured a hanging leg kick stride. On-plane swing played with some length, but synced it up well for gap-to-gap line drives and some pullside impact. Exits reached 91-plus at peak; showed abv avg feel for the barrel. 

Underclassmen on the 📈

+ SS G Kirkland, 2028, Chesterton: A riser from the Fall State Games last year, Kirkland continues to elevate his toolset with a chance to breakout for Chesterton this spring. Wiry athleticism stands out in the 6-foot, 155-pound frame. Continues to elevate footspeed; turned in a 6.76 60-yard dash at this event. Shows sound actions on the infield with a loose, playable arm across that plays with above average strength. Offensively, repeats a quiet gather consistently before turning the barrel deeper in the hitting zone and keeping it on-plane throughout. Path allows for all-fields hard contact. Exits reached 92 mph. 

+ SS Nathan Sheets, 2028, Crown Point: A breakout from this event bound to be one of the biggest risers in our next 2028 rankings update; Sheets showed a quality toolset across the board with clear college-level twitch shining in all facets. Listed at 5-foot-6, 130-pounds and appearing at least 2-inches taller and 15+ pounds heavier, Sheets turned in a 6.74 60-yard dash to begin the day. He then moved to the infield evaluations and translated foot quickness there, firing mid-80s bullets across the diamond and reaching 86 at his best. His batting practice was impressive, repeating  a quiet gather and controlled/adjustable toe tap consistently. He turns the barrel on an upward plane for exits peaking at 94 mph, while also averaging 88 mph throughout the round. Sheets is yet another high follow emerging from Crown Point's 2028 class. 

+ C Hunter Segal, 2028, Lake Central: Providing a physical look at 6-foot-1, 195-pounds, Segal did his best work in the right-handed batters box with loud impacts. He starts wide before coiling with a short inward turn, and uncoiling with authority as he delivered a heavy barrel on-plane for 97 mph exits at peak. The swing is simple and should translate to gameplay well. Chance to hit and hit for power. Defensively, showed avg to better hands with a 76 mph arm from the crouch that is elevated by a quick transfer. Continues to make strong strides in development, good follow in the area.

+ LHP Peyton Treece, 2029, Valparaiso: 6-foot-1, 175-pounder who checks nearly every box we're looking for when evaluating young arms. The frame projects well with a lean look and broader shoulders. The delivery is simple and the arm works in a clean, compact fashion as it gets to a wider, 3/4 slot. He pitched in the upper-70s and ramped it up to 81 on his best bullet, with future jumps appearing as a very safe bet. He shaped a low-70s slider with short sweep and also showed a low-70s change that has upside and plays presently with some sink. Another high follow emerging in Valpo's 2029 class.  

Quick Hits

+ 2028 RHP Carter Eriks, Crown Point: Lean, high-waisted, 5-foot-9, 130-pound frame; just scratching the surface of where the frame will get to. Immature look, growth to come. Clean, balanced operation with loose, full arm stroke. Arm action will hold future jumps. Pitched in the low-80s (T82) with heavy ASR to the FB. Showed 2 distinct breaking ball shapes, as well, an upper-60s CB (2300+) and a low-70s SL (2200+). Some slot drop on a low-70s change; appears as a usable fourth. Plenty to like here with more to come. Good follow. 

+ 2028 RHP/IF Anthony Feliciano, Griffith: Lean, wiry, 5-foot-10, 145-pounder. Stood out on both sides of the ball. Athletic look on the bump with clean/quick arm action that flips up on-time. Fastball played 80-83 with some arm-side run and occasional carry life. Breaking ball played with lateral tilt in the 68-71 mph range, showed a low-70s split as well. Some potential as a LHH IF, as well, with a loose left-handed swing that produced upper-80s exits. Strength gains will pay dividends on both sides. 

+ 2028 IF Isaac Gertzen, Chesterton: 6-foot, 192-pounder with stockier look and present strength. Burned a 7.09 60-yard dash to begin the day. Stood out most offensively; simple right-handed stroke with some explosiveness to the launch for 96+ peak exit. Downhill/direct path should allow for backspun contact. Profiles as a 2B/3B type with sure hands and an above average arm across. 

+ 2028 LHP Henry Macri, Andrean: Proportional build at 5-foot-9, 175-pounds. Makes a short, wider lift as the torso hangs over the rubber. Full circle arm stroke works to a higher OTT look. Spun a 79-82 FB in the 22-2300s for a heavier look w cut; controlled well. 68-71 mph CB played off of it with depth. FB/CB tunnel works well; also showed a low-70s change. 7.10 runner who also reached 87 from the OF.  

+ 2028 C Gavin Stewart, Valparaiso: Sturdy look to the 5-foot-8, 185-pound frame. Best tool is the raw arm strength he showed from the crouch; up to 81 there. 2.1-2.3 pops have room for improvement as the exchange quickens, but quality foundation with the raw arm strength. In the box, hits from the left-side and sets up in a strong-based stance. High front leg hip hike before working across the body with a level stroke that finishes lower. Some strength; exits peaked at 92 mph. 

+ 2028 1B Caleb Thomas, Boone Grove: Sturdy strong look at 6-foot-2, 220-pounds. Stood out most in the box with a future run-producer look. Wide stance, short repeatable load as he gets the front toe in the ground early. Transfers weight into the baseball as he uncoils with explosive bat speed that plays short-to, long-thru. Exits peaked at 102-plus. Good follow with more strength likely. 

+ 2029 OF Jayden Carpenter Mansfield, Lake Central: Athletic, twitchy, 5-foot-9, 160-pound freshman. Burned a 7.17 60 to begin the day with the feet looking like a future well-above average tool. Raw-but-athletic in the box. Starts wide w/ heavy backshift gather; works behind the ball with twitchy right-handed stroke. Has some adjustability with quick hands. Exits peaked at 89+. Also showed an 84 mph arm from the OF to roundout a quality toolset for the age. 

+ 2029 SS Brennon Holland, Andrean: While the metrics don't jump off the page, Holland showed clear advanced actions on both sides of the ball. Defensively, there is clear feel on the infield with feet that play on-time and quicker on the infield than they do in the 60 at this stage. Confident hands with the glove-to-hand to match. 80 mph IF arm plays quick out the hand and is an above average tool for the age. S/R; both swings appear usable. Gets deep into a crouch as he gathers from both sides. Hands are quick and the barrel plays with length out-front from both sides, as well. Swings mirror each other. Maturity/strength will pay dividends, good follow in the freshman class.

+ 2029 C Niko Slavich, Illiana Christian: Athletic, 6-foot, 165-pound frame projects well. One of the better 2029 catchers on our showcase circuit this winter, definite follow moving forward. Solid arm strength, 75 from the crouch, with 2.19-2.26 pops. Average to better receiver. At the dish, starts in a balanced stance w a slight drift to the forward move. Loose-wristed swing works in a flicky, uphill fashion for 91-plus exits at peak. Good follow.  

+ 2029 1B/RHP Logan Scheeringa, Highland: Physical look for a freshman with a sturdier, 6-foot-4, 200-pound frame. Starts in a wider stance w/ simple, repeatable moves. Handset works connected to the back shoulder as he turns the barrel on a more-direct plane w/ occasional steepness in the path. Present strength at impact; 98+ exits at peak. Also showed an abv avg arm across the infield and on the mound; up to 80.6 mph in his 'pen. Good follow w a future run-producer look. 

Follows

+ 2027 OF Isaac Ochoa, Lake Central
+ 2027 RHP Aidan Wyatt, Valparaiso
+ 2028 LHP/OF Jordan Balas, Chesterton
+ 2028 OF Ryan Espinoza, Hanover Central
+ 2028 OF Landon Fedak, Crown Point
+ 2028 C Logan MacCartney, Crown Point
+ 2029 C Isaac Flores, Hanover Central
+ 2029 SS Quinn White, LaPorte