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2026 Preseason Preview: Quick Hits

March 20, 2026
Cooper Trinkle
Scouting Director

Our annual Preseason Preview, held at Pro X on the campus of Grand Park, brought 80-plus prospects to showcase their skillset in front of our staff prior to the high school season getting underway. Several players showed well for themselves, and we go in-depth on 35 of those players in this article. Read along to find top prospects, along with quick hits seperated by grad class, and a follow list to conclude. 

Find the full event statistics, here. 

Top Prospects

Mason Meyer OF / C / Mt Vernon High School, IN / 2027

+ Just coming off hoops season, Meyer still showed as himself, easily one of top hitters in the class in terms of pure hit-tools; arguably one of the best in the state regardless of class. There is compact athleticism and strength in the 5-foot-10, 170-pound frame. His batting practice was one of the most complete looks I saw in the winter at any event as he showed a familiar operation with lightning in the hands. He peaked at 101, averaged 94-plus, and hit 8/12 ball at 95-plus. An Arizona State recruit, Meyer continued to show the well-rounded tools we've seen traditionally, burning a 6.71 in the 60 along with showing a 92 mph arm from the outfield. 

Benjamin Schaeffer OF / LHP / Mt Vernon High School, IN / 2027

+ The familiar silk in the left-handed batter's box was on display as Schaeffer peppered balls across the cage for a mature round. Peaking at 99 mph and averaging 91-plus throughout, Schaeffer showed familiar rotational abilities with a barrel that stays in the zone for a long time. The feet took another step over the offseason as he turned in a 6.75 60-yard dash. Bellarmine recruit. 

Holden Hughes RHP / New Palestine High School, IN / 2027

+ Hughes ended our winter showcase season with a loud showing, sure to be one of the biggest winners in the 2027 class as they head into their junior season. The advancements were loud for the durably-built, 6-foot-2, 210-pounder. Showing big improvements in his stuff, Hughes pitched at 89-90+ with moderate effort and a familiar, loose, slingy arm action that releases from low 3/4. There is true sinker/4S manipulation to the FB, though the sinker fits the profile more. The slider is a solid average pitch, an upper-70s offering that averaged 2327 RPM and 11" of sweep, but the splitter he showed has swing-and-miss pitch written all over. Killing spin on it while creating devastating arm-side sink, Hughes threw the split at 82-84. A traditional strikethrower showing huge jumps, look for Hughes to rise in a major fashion in our next 2027 rankings update. 

Chase Holmes  RHP / SS / Zionsville, IN / 2029

+ Showing as one of the more-advanced 2029s we saw this winter, Holmes looked the part of a must-follow in the class at this event. He is athletic with room for growth in the 6-foot, 165-pound frame. I like the upside on both sides, but as a shortstop he showed a well-above average run time for the age (6.9), a loose, athletic right-handed swing, and playable actions on the infield with an arm that reached 86 mph there. On the bump, the loose-moving arm stands out as he cut a 83-85 mph fastball, and showed a firm cutter/slider at 75-77. There was arm-side sink on a 78-79 change, as well, and at least average control of the three pitch mix. 

Hudson King 3B / Forest Park Jr-Sr High School, IN / 2027

+ One of the more-physical frames of any uncommitted hitter left on the board in the 2027 class, King had a solid showing at this event while just coming off a winter on the hardwood. A 7.1 runner standing at 6-foot-4, 200-pounds, King used a strong-based stance and simple moves before a direct hand path leads a barrel that plays with natural lag. Reaching 95-plus exits, King holds power potential with likely more juice to show once he is in full baseball shape. To round out a quality toolset that adds to an enticing frame, King showed playable actions at the hot-corner with an 86 mph arm across. 

Gavin Denton C / Western High School, IN / 2027

+ Strong-framed, 5-foot-11, 210-pounder committed to Dayton. Above average receiver with plenty of arm strength, reaching 80 from the crouch with sub-2 pops. Solid average to better receiver, and the bat should play at the next level - his best tool present. Hits from a strong base with connected hands at launch and works on-plane throughout the swing. Present strength at impact, reaching 100+ at peak, and repeats the swing well with consistent hard contact. One of the top offensive catchers in the class. 

Quinn Westerfeld OF / Western Boone Jr-Sr High School, IN / 2027

+ A left-handed hitter that we think could really blossom at some point, Westerfeld showed familiar silky smooth patterns in the box that leaves future projections bullish despite lackluster metrics. The load is well paced as the hands lift the barrel to a vertical position at launch, before then launching on a direct path as the barrel falls into the slot. The exits peaked at 92.5, but it is easy to suggest that number jumps when strength is packed onto the 6-foot-3, 185-pound frame. He is a fringy runner who also reached 83 from the outfield. 

Landon Taylor OF / LHP / McCutcheon, IN / 2028

+ There are plenty of present traits to like with Taylor, along with real projection left to a wiry, 6-foot-1, 165-pound frame. Looking the part in the left-handed batter's box, Taylor whips the barrel head through with plenty of speed and leveraged balls to the tune of a 96 mph peak exit velocity. There were some inconsistencies, but he flashed the look of a prospect on the offensive side. On the mound, the floor looks to be higher as he pitched at 81-83 with moderate-to-above effort from the left-side with big carry properties to the fastball. He spun it well for two shapes; a 68-69 CB that averaged 2360 RPM, and a 70-74 SL. He showed a 73-76 change with flatter arm-side run, while getting tumbling action on a low-70s splitter. With interesting traits littering the card and a frame that is projectable, Taylor emerged as a quality follow in the sophomore class at this event. 

Jamie Brundage RHP / 3B / New Palestine High School, IN / 2028

+ Another New Pal arm that showed well, Brundage emerged as a quality follow in the sophomore class. With present strength to a 6-foot-2, 200-pound frame, Brundage used a drop-and-drive before a continuous arm worked with some effort to an over-the-top slot. He pitched at 82-85, touching 86 with riding properties to the heater. He spun a looser, low-70s curveball, along with a tighter cutter/slider in the mid-70s, with some ability to turnover a mid-70s change. Strong follow in the class. 

Will Countryman LHP / 1B / St Theodore Guerin High School, IN / 2027

+ Countryman is a projection take we've followed for awhile, and he is starting to learn to sync up the levers while adding quality strength this winter to his 6-foot-6, 210-pound frame. He makes a tilt-and-topple move towards the plate as he lands soft and square to home, while the arm works looser on the backside while gradually building speed. Countryman pitched at 81-84 with the fastball, and grabbed an 85 for his best bullet. The mid-60s breaking ball is still in the development stages, and he showed a 72-75 change to round the arsenal. 

Quick Hits

2027s

Video embedded into player name if not shown below

+ Dean McGaughey, C/3B, Southmont: Quality athleticism in a 6-foot-1, 185-pound frame with some strength. 7.00 runner. Starts open with hinged setup and laid-back barrel. Short load as he wraps to a strong launch position. Delivers the barrel on-plane; peaked at 97 mph. Defends well at both positions with above average arm strength showing from the crouch (81 mph; 2.01-2.11) and across the diamond (86 INF velocity). 

+ Taylor Markham, MIF, Lebanon (OH): Ohio native who showed well at this event. Showed loose, quick, accurate hands from the left-side of the dish with some polish to the swing. Sprayed the ball well showing clear bat-to-ball feel; exits peaked at 95.5 mph with likely more to come. Looked the part of a sure-handed defender with an average arm across the diamond. Clear upside and value in the left-handed bat, with athleticism present in the 5-foot-10, 160-pound frame. 

+ Mason Shipley, RHP, Danville: Projection take with plenty of room to fill out a 6-foot-3, 180-pound frame. Simple step-and-throw delivery as the longer, clean arm swing works in-sync with the frontside. Pitched at 82-84.5 with some arm-side life to a well-controlled fastball. Breaking ball is a present average pitch, working 72-75 with 2200+ spin, but there is upside in that pitch to continue to take strides. Sank a mid-70s change to the arm-side to round out three usable offerings. Chance for jumps; good follow. 

+ Liam Zorger, LHP/OF, Guerin Catholic: Athletic, twitchy, 2-way performer from Guerin. I liked the look on the bump; pitches from a unique, lower slot with some life to an 83-84.6 mph fastball. Mixed with a flatter, 76-79 slider and both a mid-70s split and change. Offensively, works down-to with some length out-front, exits peaked at 94-plus at this event, and 99-plus at the Preseason All-State last week. 7.01 runner. I think there is legitamite two-way upside at the college level, though I think the arm may warrant interests from higher level schools due to the unique left-handed look he brings there. 

+ Nick Crowley, C, Munster: Sturdy, strong, 6-foot-1, 215-pounder. Showed bat strength in the right-handed box; his best present tool. Hips clear space with a small drift as the hands prepare to launch; swing plane works uphill. Exits reached 101 mph at peak; averaged 86-plus with in-the-air contact prevelant. Arm is an above average tool for the class reaching 80 mph from the crouch. 

+ Grant Wolf, RHP/OF, Fishers: Strong, 6-foot-2, 205-pound two-way prospect. 7.2 runner who starts from a taller, balanced stance. Short load/stride, hand path works tight, hits against a firm front leg. Some strength at impact resulting in a 95-plus peak exit velocity. Reached a personal best of 90 mph from the outfield. The look on the mound brought an 84-85 mph fastball and tighter spin to a mid-70s slider than we've previously seen. 

+ Kiptyn Phillips, OF, Homestead: Strength evident in the 6-foot-2, 195-pound frame with explosive movements in the box. Starts with the back leg posted in an open stance with slightly coiled hips. Minimal hand load; works behind the ball in a rotational swing. 94+ exits at peak; also turned in a 7.1 60-yard dash. 

+ Brody Cain, OF, Guerin Catholic: 2027 follow who showed toolset improvements this offseason. 6.89 runner with athleticism in the 5-foot-9, 170-pound frame. Arm is the best tool for Cain as he reached 93 mph from the OF. Offensively, hits from a balanced setup with simple moves and a direct, loose-wristed swing that worked from gap-to-gap and reached a peak of 94-plus. 

+ Ethan Buelt, OF, Fishers: Well-rounded toolset shown. Lean, twitchy athlete who stands at 5-foot-10, 155-pounds. 6.9 runner; hit from a wide, slightly open stance and synced simple moves consistently. Quick hands stand out in the RH box; exits reached 93-plus at peak. Also showed an average outfield arm, reaching 84 mph there. 

+ Isaac Richardson, UTL, Beech Grove: Stocky, 5-foot-8, 175-pounder. Best work was done in the batter's box where he showed a deeper backshift load with connected hands as he coiled into the backside and uncoiled with rotational strength. Exits reached 100-plus, went north-of 95 3x. 7.07 run time is a solid average time. Has showcased in the infield, outfield, and at catcher for us; showed an 81 OF arm and 77 IF arm at this event. 

+ Noah Hayes, 1B/C, Fort Wayne Canterbury: Lengthy, 6-foot-3, 190-pound frame. Did his best work in the box where he showed a loose-wristed, more-downhill path that produced low, firm contact with exits peaking north-of 98 mph. Clear hand speed and above average bat speed shown; chance for more bat strength as mass is added to the frame. Primary C, profiles best at 1B, with developing arm strength shown. Average runner; turned in a 7.2.

+ Jackson Grayson, C, Franklin Central: Strong-framed backstop standing at 5-foot-11, 185-pounds. Hovered out of a narrow setup with minimal hand load before working uphill with strength; 95-plus exits. Showed an above average arm from the crouch as he reached 81 mph for pops ranging from 2.04 to 2.17. Good follow this spring; saw some varsity action for Franklin Central last year as a sophomore. 

2028s

+ A pair of 2028 arms stood out in RHP Jonathon Cline (Brownsburg) and RHP/2B Korbyn Keen (West Lafayette). Cline (clip below) oozes projection standing at 6-foot-4, 165-pounds with clear upside remaining. He is a clean mover with a loose/whippy arm stroke that produced a heater at 80-82; projects for much, much more in the future. Some feel to spin a 72-74 breaking ball and turned over a 73-76 change well. Though far from a finished product, Cline could make big jumps quickly and emerged as a quality follow at this event. Keen fits a similiar mold, bringing a young look to a 5-foot-10 frame that appears to have more growth in it. Keen pitched in the low-80s with a quicker arm stroke that releases from a mid 3/4 slot, and he controlled his arsenal well. He spun a tighter 68-71 slider for strikes and created arm-side run on a 73-75 change. There is some two-way upside for Keen who listed himself as a primary 2B; reached a 94-plus peak exit with average run and throw tools. 

+ 2028 catcher Keenan Waitek (Hamilton Southeastern) showed a nice right-handed swing that was familiar from the Fall State Games in 2025. He sets up in an athletic stance and deploys a short takeaway to load the hands as he makes a positive forward move. The bat works on an ideal plane with some strength at impact; 93 mph peak at this event and has reached higher previously. The arm took a step in the right direction; up to 78 from the crouch with 2.02 - 2.2 pops. 

+ A pair of 2028 shorstops emerged as follows at this event in Zach Frady (Washington) and Zack Logston (Hagerstown). Frady showed a well-rounded toolset with some twitch in his 5-foot-11, 170-pound frame. Starting with higher hands in an athletic setup, Frady took intentful hacks while working short-to-long with exits up to 95 mph. There is clear strength when his moves sync up, and his 7.15 60 and 84 mph infield arm are both solid average to better tools for the class. Logston, on the other hand, stood out with a long, projectable, 6-foot-2, 160-pound frame. A 7.1 runner, Logston turned the barrel for an on-plane look with exits up to 89.5, and room to project more there. There is some twitch in the hands that stood out, and he works in-balance throughout. He showed sure handed actions and some foot quickness on the infield, though the arm strength is still developing. 

2029s

+ Two of my favorite freshman from the day were SS Henry Dodds (West Lafayette) and LHP Alex Countryman (Guerin Catholic). Dodds, an athletic, 5-foot-10, 160-pounder, showed quality actions with a solid baseline of measurables for the class. He hits from a balanced base with quick hands that showed quality feel for the age at this event. His left-handed swing works with a smoother-pace to it, and he reached a rounded peak of 86 mph. On the infield, Dodds played with feel and pace as he showed sure hands and a quick exchange. The arm is at least average to better for this stage, and he got into it in a playable fashion. Countryman (clip) is a towering 6-foot-9 southpaw who showed surprising feel for a prospect as large as he is at this stage. He pitched a 79-80 with a loose arm on the backside, and controlled it at an above average clip. He also controlled a 72-75 change down in the zone. He showed a big, 62-63 breaking ball, but it is still in the developing stages. He will be a southpaw we monitor over the course of his career, with immense upside if development occurs. 

+ A pair of outfielders showed similiar looks and emerged as freshman follows in Brody Buczolich (Saint Joseph) and Drake Carnahan (Fishers). Buczolich, a 5-foot-11, 170-pounder worked on-plane with a connected right-handed swing that was good for a 91 mph peak exit. He showed the ability to lift pull-side, while also turning in a 7.13 60-yard dash and reaching 83 from the outfield. Carnahan (clip below), an athletic, 6-foot-1, 175-pounder, showed improvements across the board from last summer. He starts tall and uses a short, simple stride before quick hands lead a direct, downhill barrel. He reached a peak of 92-plus, while also turning in a 7.10 60. The arm appears to be his best tool; reached 86 mph from the outfield. 

+ A couple shortstop looked the part of follows at this stage in Garrett Lowry (Avon) and Gavin Spalding (Floyd Central). Lowry (clip) provided a younger looking frame, but the movement patterns are very good for this stage and he showed a promising hit and glove tool. There is some quickness in the hands that led to exits at 86-plus at peak, and he also turned in a solid 60-yard dash time for this stage at 7.08. There is length to Spalding's 5-foot-11, 170-pound frame to suggest future growth, and he too showed solid actions across the board. He looks the part on the infield with sure hands there, and reached into the low-80s across the diamond with the arm looking like his best present tool. A 7.3 runner, which is a solid average tool for this stage, Spalding hit from a wide base with a down-to-level swing that showed solid flashes. He has some bat strength, as well, reaching 88 mph for a rounded peak. 

+ Two more freshman hitters stood out in 3B/C Jackson Simerly (Cathedral) and SS/P Jacob Linton (Lebanon). Simerly has some present physicality in his 6-foot-1, 185-pound frame and hit from a pre-coiled, more-upright stance. He used a tall-and-fall type forward move before working uphill with above average strength for the age; peaked at 91-plus. He is a solid average to better runner, turning in a 7.21, with a 74 mph arm from the crouch and capable actions behind the dish and on the infield. Linton looks the part at 6-foot-2, 185-pounds while standing the left-handed box. The swing showed flashes with a peak of 92.6 mph and occasional hints of power potential showing. A 7.22 runner, Linton reached 79 across the diamond, and showed best as a right-handed arm where he reached 82.5 on his best fastball. 

Follows

+ 3B Aaron Peetz, 2027, Franklin Central
+ 3B Jeriah Self, 2027, Lawrence North
+ C Aden Batz, 2028, Illiana Christian
+ LHP/OF Kolson Conner, 2028, Indy Lutheran
+ C/1B Nyles Fish, 2028, Plainfield
+ RHP/C Logan Hash, 2028, Noblesville
+ RHP/3B Jaxon Hollingshead, 2028, Carroll
+ OF/C Jaxson Miller, 2028, Lawrence North
+ OF/RHP Chase Ostrom, 2028, West Lafayette
+ OF Brendon Blaise Godette, 2029, John Glenn
+ CIF/RHP Riley Buszkiewicz, 2029, Saint Joseph
+ 1B Liam Higginson, 2029, Hamilton Southeastern