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Indiana Fall State Games: Fab Frosh

October 13, 2025
Cooper Trinkle
Scouting Director

The Indiana Fall State Games have come to a conclusion and brought a strong contigent of uncommitted prospects from around the state to Championship Park. To begin the post event coverage, our staff will work backwards and highlight the underclass prospects first. There was more recruitable talent than underclassmen with the invite-only nature of this event, however, a strong crop of underclass prospects were identified as follows prior to this event and given the opportunity to compete against older competition. We begin with the freshman - with a crop of slam-dunk, 'next-up' 2029s making a name for themselves here...

Fab Frosh⭐

+ While several '29s made a strong impression, none were louder than that of LHP/OF Adler Kellams (Fort Wayne Carroll). In short, the wiry, 5-foot-11, 165 pounder does everything at an advanced clip to date. There are real two-way abilities that are some of the most advanced that I've seen at the age. While the highest ceiling position is still in question, and doesn't need to be answered anytime soon, the athlete is what is valued most - along with a toolset that would standout even if he was junior.

He began the day by burning a 6.69 60-yard dash, the 5th best time at the entire event (which included a majority of 2026-2027 grads). He then took to batting practice, where his exits peaked at a rounded 97 mph during a round where his average ball in play was 87.5 mph and nearly 50% of his swings left the bat at 90+. The swing works from a grounded setup with high hands that create a direct path with some loud leverage abilities and the best average bat speed of all 29's in attendance. For reference, the 72.9 mph average bat speed that he produced during batting practice would've been a top 5 mark for our Future Games squad from July, a group of 2027s that currently boasts 10 position players that are committed to P4 programs.

His 91 mph OF arm was the second best at the State Games, far surpassing his 2029 peers, and that tool showed in a major fashion on the bump, too. It is quite impressive that Kellams, again 2-3 years younger than most at this event, produced that best fastball velocity amongst all southpaws at this event. Kellams sat 83-86, and touched 87.4 mph on his best bullet with carry properties that abused opposing hitters. He flashed a mid-70s breaking ball with certain upside, as well. In summation, this is a slam dunk prospect with an aggressive, competitive nature that only elevates some of the most advanced abilities I've seen of an incoming freshman. 

+ Another one of our early favorites in this class is '29 SS/RHP Alex McCord (Cathedral). Reminding me in many ways of Aiden Reynolds at the age, the aggressive nature and unwavering confidence McCord shows is different, and his physical abilities ooze 'unteachableness'. The toolset is advanced on the offensive side, where I see the highest ceiling, and like Kellams - McCord showed bat speed data that would've fit right in amongst the crowd of P4 prospects that we had on our 2027 Future Games squad (72.4 mph avg bat speed). The peak exit velocity of 100.1 mph that he produced in batting practice would've been 3rd on our '27 Future Games squad, trailing only Isaiah Snavely (T30 player in the country) and Liam Delp (Michigan commit). McCord AVERAGED 93-plus off the bat, which was the second best at this entire event. To sum up the data, McCord moves the bat at a highly-advanced rate and his ability to impact the baseball is off-the-charts for the age. His approach plays to his strengths, meaning - he does not get cheated. He looks to do damage, always. The power potential here is evident and there are some mechanical advantages to the way he holds angles in the upper body that allow for proper ball flights that suggest over-the-fence power will be prevelant when he reaches full maturity. To add to an advanced offensive profile, McCord turned in a 7.15 60-yard dash, allowing for speed/power potential in the future. Likely to debut as our top-ranked shortstop in the class, with the offensive profile carrying most of that, he does show fundamental actions on the dirt with the ability to make out of funnel plays - along with easily enough arm strength to stay on the left-side long term, reaching 88 mph across at this event. 

+ RHP Colten Russell (Franklin Central) toed the rubber for a dominant stint that included (5) strikeouts in (2) innings of work versus a lineup of 2028 grads. The 6-foot-2, 175-pound frame still holds ample projection with plenty of room to grow as he matures. Russell, a former JFGer along with Kellams and McCord, boasts a highly-advanced operation with serious silk and ease to the delivery and arm action. The arm action is clean with a compact nature and advanced arm speed for the age, while the delivery shows serious repeatability while working in a simple fashion. Russell pitched at 83-85 mph on a sinking fastball that got swings-and-misses due to a heavier nature, with groundball contact prevelant when it was contacted. He spins one of the best breaking balls I've evaluated in the class, a 70-73 mph SL that works with some bite already. This is the third outing I've seen from Russell, and strikes have come at a quality clip in all. The younger brother of a former 1st rounder, Russell boasts several traits that allow for present success, along with a host of upside traits that project him to be one of the top arms in this class in the long-term.

Breakout Performances

Four 2029s, listed alphabetically, that have stood out in early evals, and cemented themselves as names to know for the class at the State Games...

+ LHP Royal Durham, Noblesville
Checks virtually every box imaginable for evaluating a pitcher at the age. As close to a starters' profile as it gets for the age, showing control of three above average pitches with athleticism in the 6-foot-2, 170-pound frame. Repeats the delivery at an above average clip with a clean arm that will speed up as he matures into more strength. Works in-line. Fastball played w abv-avg spin in the 79-81 range, spun an upside breaking ball in the mid-60s, with gloveside control of a low-70s CH. 

+ OF Kiptyn Kluesner, Jasper
High-motor, L/L OF that fits a CF/tablesetters' profile. Very, very strong bat-to-ball with proper swing decisions shown over the course of several looks. Some quirk to the left-handed stroke, but I value the ability to put bat on ball here and his sub-7 60 times make a CF projection safe. The swing will likely clean up with strength, especially the front side, but he uses the whole field and did impact it for 88-plus exit velos on the top-end, a solid number for the age. Strong follow from a Jasper program that really fits his playing style. 

+ OF Caleb Smith, Center Grove
The MVP on the offensive side for 2029s, Smith made a loud impression at his first Prep Baseball event after catching our eye throughout the fall circuit. Recent move in from California, and the comfortability/feel he shows in the box is what you'd expect of a Cali kid. A switch-hitter, Smith sets up in a wider, open stance from both sides with a small coil that get his back to even. The hands work with some free-flow, and there is some real, innate flick to the way he presents the barrel. Loose-wristed with twitch in the hands, Smith's 90-plus showcase exits were impressive considering the upside that the 5-foot-10, 140-pound frame still holds. MVP honors came after he collected four hits in two games, including a pull-side homer from the right-side, and (3) hits from the left-side (multiple RBI) against low-80s velocities. Is not a runner yet, a tool strength will bring more of, but the arm worked in a clean fashion & was up to 83. 

+ SS/OF Oliver Wilkinson, Mt. Vernon
Wilkinson made a big impression after performing as one of our favorites during the Rising Stars circuit. Athletic, 5-foot-10, 155-pound build with a high-waisted look and apparent growth still left. Burned a 7.22 60-yard dash with that tool looking the part of at least a future above average if not better. His left-handed bat stood out as his most impressive tool, and mechanically it is one of my favorite swings in the class to date. Works behind the ball with a grounded lower-half and creates impressive length through the zone to produce proper ball flights. Reached 91-plus exits during batting practice before collecting two in-game hits, one of which was a triple the he juiced off the CF wall. His best future position is still TBD, but I value the athlete and the offensive profile, both of which are very advanced for the class. 

Freshman Follows

*Impact performers that caught our attention moving forward, with in-event highlights embedded into their name, if applicable*

+ SS Cayden Adley, Munster

+ C Bowen Akers, Carmel

+ RHP Ben Jacobson, Zionsville

+ RHP Davis Pitts, Hamilton Heights

+ 3B/C Jackson Simerly, Cathedral

+ SS Mack Williams, Evansville Memorial

+ LHP Ben Zartman, Warsaw