Indiana Natives in the MLB: Then & Now
December 1, 2025
While the Hoosier State has basketball as the long standing power sport, baseball continues to gain traction throughout the state with big leaguers coming from every corner. The Prep Baseball presence has long been felt in our borders, offering our players unrivaled scouting coverage as we cover our great game.
For fifteen-plus years, the Prep Baseball Indiana staff has seen several players move on & play professional baseball, including some who have reached the highest level. Our background with these players continues to climb, and of the 19 players from Indiana who played in the MLB last year, 13 (nearly 70%) of them attended a Prep Baseball event while they were in high school, and a handful of others were known well and covered by our staff as high school prospects. For Indiana baseball fans, and players curious what these big leaguers looked like as teenagers, I've compiled all 13 profiles, including scouting reports and video, below.
Important to note, all development paths are not the same. Of this group, nearly 50% were selected to play at the Future Games (a couple came through before the Future Games existed), and over 20% were Super 60 participants. Players like Will Klein, a primary catcher who picked up pitching later on in his high school career and starred for the LA Dodgers in the World Series this year, or even Jacob Hurtubise - a flat-out winner who just continued to game and willed himself to the big leagues, show that development is not linear.
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Sam Bachman RHP / Hamilton Southeastern, IN / 2018+ From the 2017 Indiana Top Prospect Games: Stocky 6-foot-1, 205 pound right-hander had a dominant inning at the TPG. Striking out 4 and getting a weak ground ball to first base, Bachman showed increase feel and mound presence. Sitting 89-90 with just about every fastball, he was much more comfortable attacking the strike zone. Breaking ball was 71-75 with late depth. Clean, loose arm swing. Hips open, foot squared at land. Finishes through a firm front foot. High follow in 2018 class. |
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Tucker Barnhart C / SS / Brownsburg, IN / 2009*Attended the Super 60 in 2009 + Committed to Georgia Tech. A Louisville Slugger Preseason All-American, Barnhart is coming off a statistically phenomenal season in which he batted .417 with 10 homers, nine doubles and 39 RBI while achieving a .986 fielding percentage behind the plate. Has been on the varsity since his freshman year. 2008 Stats: .500 ba, 38 rbi, 11 hr, 10-2b, 40 hits |
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Matthew Gorski OF / Hamilton Southeastern, IN / 2016+ 2/7/16 SUPER 60: The wiry-strong 6-foot-4, 190-pound Indiana recruit showed raw, plus athleticism in all phases, including shattering the Super 60 exit velocity record with 106 mph with wood off a tee. Gorski opened the day by running a 6.67 laser-timed 60. Offensively, Gorski displayed big raw pull-side power potential. Hits from a slightly open setup, gets square, significant arm bar in load but manages to pull his hands through; generates plus bat speed, explosive lower half and gets extended through contact well; basically, he takes man-hacks. Ball jumps off his bat with backspin carry; struggles to repeat swing, but with some fine-tuning and as he fills into his frame, Gorski has big right-handed power potential. Defensively, he plays both MIF and outfield – recorded 89 mph from both positions – though likely will profile as a right fielder at the next level. |
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Jacob Hurtubise OF / Zionsville, IN / 2016+ From 2015 Indiana Top Prospect Games: The 5-foot-11 155 pound outfielder ran a 6.54 60 yd dash. In the outfield, he showcased a plus arm with throws that had carry and were between 89-91mph. Hands are soft and exchange is quick. Offensively, he has a slight open stance. Bat path is short and hands are average. Exit velocity was 83mph. |
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Drey Jameson RHP / OF / Greenfield Central, IN / 2017+ Feb 2017 Super 60: Ball State recruit. 6-foot, 165-pound right-handed pitcher, wiry-thin build, narrow shoulders, overall quick-twitch athlete. Quick, loose, athletic arm, high-3/4 slot; rhythm and tempo in delivery. Worked fastball at 88-89 mph, mostly straight. Throws two breaking balls: curveball ranged between 78-79, slurvy shape; slider ranged between 80-81 with some sharpness. Also threw a 78-80 mph changeup, excellent feel for pitch, thrown for consistent strikes with arm-side sink. Overall high-level athlete, ran a 6.52 60 at a previous PBR event. |
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Nikolos Kavadas 1B / Penn, IN / 2017+ From 2015 Top Prospect Games: Kavadas is a 6-foot 205 pound left-handed hitting outfielder with a good approach at the plate. He hits from an athletic setup, using a slight leg kick. His load is smooth and displays quick hands through the zone with a level path. He gets to extension, consistently barreling up the baseball with some pop. Has shown the ability to drive the gaps. Defensively, possesses solid actions with fluid footwork and a quick, clean exchange. Throws from the outfield topped out at 89 with carry at the Top Prospect Games in June. |
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Will Klein RHP / C / Bloomington North, IN / 2017+ 10/18/15: Strong, physical frame at 6-foot-4, 210 pounds. Recorded pop times of 2.15-2.25 and was 80 from the crouch. Possesses a quick arm action once he gets to his arm slot. Transfer is long with a tendency to pop straight up out of the shoot. At the plate hits from a tall, open setup. Bars the front arm during the load. Lower half collapses at times. Possesses above average bat speed with a level path to the baseball. Pull-side type hitter with some pop. Recorded a high exit velocity of 88 mph off the tee. PITCHING-6-foot-4, 210 pound righty pitches from an over the top slot with arm speed. Stiff arm action. Over the head pump delivery, inward turn. Shows some rhythm. Good line to the plate, lands square. Fastball was 84-87, down in the zone but erratic. Sweeping breaking ball at 70-71. Changeup was thrown with fastball arm speed at 78-82 showing sink action. |
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Chayce McDermott RHP / Pendleton Heights, IN / 2017+ From 2016 Preseason All-State: 6-foot-2, 167 pound righty pitches from a loose, high ¾ arm action with quick arm speed. Good balance, easy effort with smooth rhythm in the delivery. Good direction. Fastball was thrown for a strike at 85-86. Breaking ball was thrown with fastball arm speed showing an 11/5 shape with sharp break at 69-71. Changeup was straight at 78-80. One of the top uncommitted 2017 arms in the state. |
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Zach McKinstry SS / Fort Wayne North Side, IN / 2014+ 2014 Super 60: The No. 3 prospect at the Indiana Preseason All-State Showcase as a sophomore in March 2012, McKinstry stood out for his actions on defense. He was smooth with good footwork, a quick release and strong arm. His defense has developed with his maturation and he is one of the top defenders in the state currently. He hits with a balanced setup from the left side and produces gap-to-gap power with an easy swing. He draws comparisons to Josh VanMeter, the Padres fifth-round pick in 2013. McKinstry is committed to a mid-major baseball program like VanMeter was and started to gain momentum late in the fall. VanMeter benefited from more exposure on the showcase circuit, but McKinstry has similar abilities. While he lacks the power VanMeter possesses, McKinstry is a better runner and is comparable on defense. McKinstry’s tools put him in a position to potentially climb draft boards this spring. |
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Ryan Pepiot RHP / 3B / Westfield, IN / 2016+ Future Games 2014: Pepiot is a 6-foot-2, 190 pound 2016 with a strong, athletic build. He has shown the ability to play multiple positions on the field. On the mound he uses a long 3/4 arm delivery with a fastball that's been up to 87 with heavy, downhill plain. His breaking ball shows a sharp, late break at 74-76. His 78-80 mph changeup has some sink and deception. At 3B he showcases good hands and feet with a clean transfer and arm strength. At a showcase earlier this summer, he showcased behind the plate with pop times between 1.98-2.10 and was 77 from the crouch. Offensively, he uses a balanced setup and starts slightly open. He possesses above average bat speed (84 mph exit velo) and pull side power. His hands work and consistently gets to extension, displaying the ability to hit for both power and average. |
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Jack Perkins RHP / OF / Kokomo , IN / 2018+ 8/2/15 FUTURE GAMES: Perkins is a 6-foot, 180 pound right-hander with a live arm on the mound. A member of Team Indiana at this year's Future Games, Perkins possesses a fastball that reaches the upper 80's consistently. The fastball has good life with good command. He pitches from a loose, high 3/4 arm action with good balance and rhythm in his delivery. His breaking ball sits in the 71-73 range with late break while his change up is 76-78. |
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Andrew Saalfrank LHP / 1B / Heritage, IN / 2016+ 8/8/14 Future Games: While the 6-foot-3, 185-pound left-hander didn’t flash the sexiest fastball velocity, checking in at 85-86 mph, Saalfrank was arguably the biggest riser at the Future Games thanks to his hellacious curveball. His 76-78 mph breaking ball is a plus offering – certainly one of, if not the best, secondary pitch of the event. It is a true swing-and-miss pitch, as he showed against Team Illinois on Saturday. In two innings, he struck out two, yielded no hits, and showed off his athleticism fielding four tappers to his left and right for outs. His arm is athletic and loose, and should continue to add velocity in the coming years as he fills into his frame. |
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Craig Yoho SS / RHP / Fishers, IN / 2018+ 8/6/16 FUTURE GAMES: 6-foot-2, 185-pound infielder and right-handed pitcher, athletic build with proportional strength. Legitimate two-way prospect. Right-handed pitcher, fastball sat 85-87 with 64-67 curveball and 79 changeup. Short, quick, athletic arm, swinging gate delivery, consistent strikes. Also showed plus arm strength at shortstop and strength at the plate. |
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Bryan Hoeing RHP / SS / Batesville, IN / 2015+ 5/5/14: The No. 2 ranked prospect in Indiana's 2015 class sat 88-91 most of the game with his fastball, touching 93 twice and 94 once in the third inning. Sat 86-88 from the stretch. The 6-foot-6 Louisville commit possesses a plus breaking ball with depth at 72-76 and has the confidence to throw it in any count. Throws an 83-87 2-seamer with some movement and a 75-77 mph changeup for a strike. Hoeing's arm speed appeared to be quicker than the last time we saw him; ball jumps out of his hand from a 3/4 arm slot. Works at a good pace with easy effort. |
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Colson Montgomery SS / Southridge, IN / 2021+ 5/08/21: Indiana commit and 2021 top ranked player, Montgomery is a two way athlete that looks the part on the left side of the infield. Moves well laterally but should continue to develop defensive actions. Above average arm that will improve. At the plate does not miss the opportunity to take a healthy swing. Currently a double and triples hitter with high athleticism, the physique does not seem finished and could produce more power as it develops. Kept his team in the game with a late inning double driven deep. Has the ability to take over a game in every facet. Aggressive runner did not shy away from taking an extra base.
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