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2026 Post-Spring Rankings Update: Class of 2029

June 16, 2026
Cooper Trinke
Scouting Director

The class of 2029 rankings receives a quick update as this class finishes their first season of varsity baseball. While hard to fully factor in stats from their rookie season, those who made an impact at the varsity level at such a young age do see a bump in this update. All-in-all, the movement patterns, skill, growth potential, and athleticism each player possesses are the most valued traits for us at this stage. The floor versus ceiling debate at this stage is still the toughest, but we now have at least 18 months of track record with this class in order to expand the list to 120 names. Still much more of an identifier list than a set-in-stone order, learn about our top ten prospects for this update, along with some risers from both the varsity spring and early summer showcases. 

FULL LIST OF 120 2029s

New No. 1️⃣

LHP Townes Cinninger takes over the top spot as he has begun to show the makings of an elite pitching prospect for the class. While the floor of a 6-foot-3 lefty with a starter profile and quality stuff is set high, the ceiling is even higher. The movement patterns and prisitine arm action should allow for jumps to continue, while he offers a present mid-80s fastball and two quality secondary offerings to pair. For Saint Joe this spring, Cinninger posted a 4-1 record on the mound with a 2.62 ERA and racked up 33 strikeouts to 12 walks over 24 innings of work. There is some two-way upside to dream on with a 7-flat 60 time and clear power potential with the bat, but the upside Cinninger offers on the mound moves him to the top of the class in this update. 

Townes Cinninger - (06/16/2026)

While LHP/OF Adler Kellams (Fort Wayne Carroll) and OF Cooper Gear (Valparaiso) move down one spot in this update, they remain as premier prospects for Indiana's 2029 group. Kellams, an ultra-competitor who had a huge spring for Carroll, remains highly regarded due to elite arm talent and foot speed. The floor he presents as a two-way prospect is as high as any player in the class, and the same could be said for Gear, who gained valuable experience as an everyday starter in one of the state's toughest conferences as just a freshman.

Another pair of two-way players are featured back-to-back at No. 4 and No. 5 in Cain Sims and Paulie Hobbs. Sims boasts the best present day toolset of any player in the class, pairing a 103.8 mph peak exit velocity with an 89 mph fastball to go along with an ultra-athletic and physical 6-foot-2, 195-pound frame. Hobbs provides similiar massive power and arm talent to pair with advanced physicality, and he is coming off a spring where he emerged as one of the top pitchers on a quality Hanover Central club, along with finishing the spring hitting in the 3-hole for the highly ranked Wildcats. 

Our favorite righties in the class remain back-to-back at the No. 6 and No. 7 spots in Colten Russell (Franklin Central) and Keagan Linder (Tri-West). Both show the makings of what we look for in righties in the top ten - advanced fastball velocity and the ability to use multiple pitches, along with projection-type frames that should hold jumps. Both gained significant varsity experience this spring which should pay dividends in their development. 

Our top ten is rounded out with three exciting bats within the class. OF/1B Isaac Marshall (Heritage Christian) sees a slight bump after maintaining a .324 average and leading the Eagles (Elite Eight squad in 2A) in homers as just a freshman. His left-handed power potential is enticing, as is the toolset that our #9 ranked player, SS Alex McCord presents. Finally, IF Oliver Wilkinson (Mt. Vernon) elevates into the top ten for the first time. The sweet-swinging left-handed hitter showed well at the varsity level this spring, and has done nothing but hit in the early weeks of the summer circuit. Wilkinson pairs 6.8 speed with mid-90s exit velocities to bring a highly-valued offensive skillset to the table. 

Varsity Standouts on the 📈

+ OF Kiptyn Kluesner (Jasper) - rising 4 spots to No. 16 overall
+ IF Christian Wessel (Avon) - rising 16 spots to No. 24 overall
+ OF Knox Simmons (Evansville Mater Dei) - rising 21 spots to No. 25 overall
+ OF Braxton Kellermeier (Avon) - rising 16 spots to No. 26 overall
+ LHP Ben Zartman (Warsaw) - rising 7 spots to No. 31 overall
+ SS Christopher Pumphrey (Seymour) - new to the rankings at No. 34 overall
+ SS Sam Kriner (Roncalli) - rising 13 spots to No. 53 overall
+ RHP/OF Clayton Atchison (Morgan Township) - new to the rankings at No. 56 overall
+ SS Donovan Merriwether (Evansville Harrison) - rising 23 spots to No. 57 overall
+ RHP Grady Mayfield (New Albany) - new to the rankings at No. 77 overall

Summer Tournaments and Showcase Risers

+ SS Mack Williams (Evansville Memorial)
+ SS Legion Gargett (Cathedral)
+ C Will Sollmann (South Bend Saint Joseph)
+ C/3B Jackson Simerly (Cathedral)
+ OF Deklan Brenneman (Homeschool)
+ RHP Chris Patton (Hamilton Southeastern)
+ SS Cole Cosey (South Bend Saint Joseph)
+ C Conner Peters (West Lafayette)