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Midwest Super Sophomore Games: Team Indiana Takeaways - Position Players

August 6, 2025
Cooper Trinkle
Scouting Director

The abundance of power arms is the most notable trait for this class to this point, but with that being said, the bats amongst Indiana's 2028 class are not to be slept on in an capacity.

There is real star power at the top that we've become familiar with over the two-plus years we've followed this group, but this weekend brought the opportunity for some new faces in the group to shine. Several prospects launched themselves into premier status during the circuit this summer, or on the varsity diamond this spring, to earn the invite for this prestigious event, and they add quality depth to the high-caliber prospects that currently sit near the top of the list.

Find the full breakdown of Indiana's up-and-coming sophomore bats below, with a link to learn about (what could be) the best pitching crop the state has seen in recent years, HERE. 

Impact 5

Impact bats that comprise the upper-echelon of position player prospects in this class to date, joined by INF Jack Whaley who missed out on this event due to injury...

+ SS/3B Dylan Murphy
Murphy continues to cement himself as the clear-cut No. 1. The in game ability to drive the baseball is beyond advanced for the age & I project plus power to come to the forefront at somepoint. The speed-power combo of a 6.72 60 & exits up to 101.4 is in the upper-echelon nationally in this class and he produced them while participating as the youngest true position player on roster. There is still a leaner, athletic look to the 6-foot-3, 200-pound frame to suggest even more power is on the way, with added strength a strong likelihood considering the lineage. The physicality brings a level of unteachableness, but the makeup really shined throughout the weekend. He approaches with an even-keeled, hulking presence and there is real intention that showed up in his game and preparation. For me - It was the indoor pregame batting practices. He looked the BP part of a college sophomore at times, backspinning pure, firm liners that rifled to the back of the cage. He showed much of the same in game with a pair of productive backside swings, a single and SAC fly, before unleashing a 94 mph 2B off the wall and a 98 mph HR, both to LF, later in the weekend. There is occasional swings/misses up with the direct nature of the whippy-but-impactful path. Defensively - showed top 2-3 softest hands of the group. Glove-to-hand ability is advanced. Feet are efficient and he takes angles well. Rangy nature due to the frame. Future position depends on the arm and how the body trends. Shows above average arm strength with average carry. Still a chance to stick at SS, but make no mistake, the athlete and the bat bring the high-end value here. 

+ SS/P Billy Miller
While Miller was impressive on the bump, up to 90 for two scoreless frames, I leave even more impressed with him as a position player. I feel best about Miller sticking at short long-term amongst this infield group, playing on the dirt with an even-keel, low-pulse presence. The hands are sticky and he makes the routine play with ease. There is an occasional tendency for the feet to get stagnant, but he makes up for it with real infield arm strength, up to 89 mph during workouts, and able to get into it quickly. Shows above average glove to hand. The steady presence he provides defensively also shows up in the offensive approach. Miller was the most productive hitter amongst regulars, turning in barrel-after-barrel against some of the premier arms in the Midwest. There is an innate ability to control the forward move and his short, flicky stroke plays with accuracy and flashes of impact. He adjusts down well due to the nature of his lower half which helps him against spin. As he adds strength to his 6-foot-1, 165-pound frame, impacts are likely to elevate, but the feel to spray the ball across the yard and find the barrel consistently is what I value here offensively. He also ran a 6.73 60-yard dash and that tool shows up underway on the bases and laterally on the dirt. In summation, Miller brings an old-school, ballplayers' vibe with as real as a chance as I've seen to impact the game as a two-way player at the next level. 

+ CF Mason Biernacki
5-foot-10, 165-pounds but commands significantly greater attention than his smaller frame would lead on. Packing a serious punch, Biernacki turns the barrel tight with mean intentions and made a big impact on the event as a grinder who brought explosiveness to everything that he did. Using every ounce of his 165-pound frame in a controlled-but-violent manner, the right-handed hitter got off big hacks in advantage counts while producing a handful of hits in gameplay and showcase exits eclipsing the 100 mph mark. There is also real feel to shorten to a heel-lift stride w/ 2k that makes him an even tougher out, too. The motor is outstanding and is elevated by future-plus foot speed that plays in the 6.6-6.7 range in the 60-yard dash. He can flat out go in center, quite possibly the best OF defender amongst the group rivaled by Koonce, and his speed shines there as does the future-plus OF arm he brings to the table. Embodying the phrase "undersized is the new 6-4" - Biernacki brings real dynamic abilities in all facets, and brings the same special type of speed/power present as Murphy that is only rivaled by few in the Midwest and nationally. 

+ CF Andrew Noble
Noble continues to grab helium throughout a monster summer, and he showed no signs of slowing down at this event. Quality reports came from Ian Smith at LakePoint this summer, raving about the hit-ability Noble showed at the 15u National Championships. He showed much of the same at this event, collecting (4) hits with virtually every batted ball leaving 90+. He has taken a big step up from last summer, landing much softer on the front foot to allow his adjustability to shine, but also with his ability to stay within his approach. There is a clear focus on driving the ball the other way that led to his in game success, and was also apparent during his batting practice rounds. More pull-side production will continue to elevate him as a prospect, but the compact stroke plays with natural lag that allows him to easily line balls to the opposite gap to establish a safe, hitterish floor. There is minimal S/M, with 94-plus showcase exits produced with ease, and all is elevated by the plus run tool he shows. At 6-foot, 180 pounds with highly-advanced explosiveness - Noble brings CF upside to the table with 2024 grad Cole Decker of Indiana University as a current comp. 

+ CF Canyon Koonce
While the week wasn't as productive as Koonce would like, the talent still shined clearly for one the classes' most skilled players. The Brownsburg native took professional batting practice rounds with a near 97 mph showcase exits coming from a picturesque left-handed stroke. The run times have flashed plus and he is a very good defender in CF, as well. He was off-time for parts of the weekend, with some unlucky trips and just one hit to take away with. Regardless, this is potentially the best swing in the class. Balanced, confident takes against any and all pitches, his tight, fluid stroke covered the plate with ease while also providing a glimpse at some pull power throughout batting practice. Get on board now: the kid can flat hit and that eval does not change after a seemingly unproductive weekend here. 

Winners 📈

A pair of risers throughout the summer that continued their ascent for Team Indiana

+ SS Callum Birdzell
Birdzell may have had the biggest impact on the position side of things, establishing himself amongst the best shortstops in the class. Few have the pristine frame and projection that the 6-foot-3, 175-pound, shortstop exhibits on the diamond. Able to slow the game down with graceful ease, Birdzell flowed well at shortstop throughout the week where he showed confident hands that led to his ability to make every play. He has 6.8 speed that shows in the form of above average range at short, and though the arm only played at 82 in workouts, it carries across with a higher look. There is some ridigness to the right-handed stroke, but the ability to work inside the ball and flush contact to the big part of the field will only continue to elevate as he learns to consistently catch the ball out front and adds strength. Although, Birdzell was uber-productive on the weekend with (4) hits in total, including a pair of 3B and two 95+ in game exits. Continued polish and physical strength could push Callum even higher next spring/summer...

+ C Cooper Nichols
Nichols rise with our staff has been well-documented this summer, a standout at multiple events that is quickly establishing himself as the No. 1 backstop in the group. The offensive ability is what I leave most bullish on, with innate feel to backspin the baseball that will bring legitamite power potential as he packs further strength onto a 6-foot-3, 190 pound frame. Aggressive at the plate at all times, he builds energy off the back leg in moving strong through impact with intent to do damage to produce a pair of 95+ in game barrels and similiar exit velocities in batting practice. As a defender, there is some polish to still be done, but he receives at an above average clip for the age with a transfer that leads his catch-and-throw abilities. While the 75 mph arm from the crouch doesn't necessarily jump off the page, it did play higher with the glove-to-hand shown and there is real aptitude to suggest adjustments will be made. An offseason attacking the weightroom could pay serious dividends for the Fort Wayne Carroll native that shows (some) Dunlap shades at the age...

N2K

Four name-to-know bats from this group that provide high-floored, skill-based strengths that physical development could help to skyrocket...

+ RHP/C/3B Spencer Schiff
The future home for Schiff is still TBD and could go several ways, but make no mistake, this kid is a winner. Stockier with budding athleticism in a younger-looking, 6-foot, 170-pound frame, Schiff was a 'workout winner' after turning in 98+ exits in batting practice with a sub-7.00 (6.95) 60-yard dash to go along with the best arm from the crouch (77 mph) amongst the top backstops in the Midwest. To this point, the arm is the best tool, and he dazzled with a swing-and-miss filled outing on the bump with a heater up to 86 and one of the better breaking balls on staff. With that being said, he can really hit, too. Short & simple with minimal forward move, the operation is repeatable and came with a pair of in game barrels also. He is more than athletic enough for the corner infield while providing more of a throw-over-catch presence as a backstop. For now, it is a true two-way profile with the bat leading the offensive side, but I heavily value the makeup here along with the advanced arm talent and accurate barrel that plays with flashes of real heaviness. 

+ OF Hayden Zellers
Zellers fell unlucky to an unproductive weekend but still flashed the sweet left-handed stroke we've become accustomed to. Standing at 6-foot, 160-pounds with a lean, wiry frame - Zellers sprayed liners at 93-plus in batting practice while turning in a 6.8 60-yard dash as well. The left-handed path is what I value most, complimented by the run times, both to be elevated by necessary strength gains this winter. He is above average in the outfield with a real chance to play CF long-term. If strength is added, Zellers feels like a candidate to make leaps next spring/summer. 

+ MIF Donovan Craig
I absolutely loved what Craig brought to this group - a high energy, baseball rat that is rarely cheated offensively. His 5-foot-8 frame packs a punch with 96 mph showcase exits stemming from real twitch. While the 6.94 run time isn't wowing - the 10/30 yd splits tell the story. His 60 finished 21st at the event, while he was 10th in both the 10 (1.57) and 30 (3.75). In short, the run time plays higher between the lines and pair well with the aforementioned ability to impact the baseball. He sets up in a wide-stanced, crouched stance before a well-controlled leg lift stride is made. He works behind the ball well with some electricity in the hands at go. Defensively - shows proper footwork with feet as the carrying tool on the dirt. Hands are above average with glove-to-hand playing above softness. Arm plays with a tick above average strength and carry with long, aggressive arm action. 

+ SS Brody McGaha
Fundamental in all areas, McGaha showed budding physical metrics with an accurate barrel and sure-handed nature to pair. Listed at 5-foot-11, 165-pounds, McGaha turned in a 6.91 60-time with room for added strength to play the feet higher. His feet are well-above average on the dirt with some of the best actions of this group, and there is a real ability to catch the baseball present with some of the best hands of the group as well. His arm plays with shorter action and flashes of carry. Offensively, it is a short, on-top swing that proved to be accurate. He drove an unlucky deep fly into the teeth of a wind, and walked several times on the weekend before unleashing a (3) hit performance versus Michigan. He can really spray it to all parts with adjustable, playable hands that launch with above average quickness. An offseason in the weightroom could really elevate the productive skillset McGaha brings to Mooresville next spring. 

+ RHP/3B/OF Braylon Storey
Storey turned in some physical metrics that proved to be of serious intrigue and were only amplified by the 91 mph event-best fastball he grabbed on the bump. He also ran an event-best 6.49 60-yard dash to set the stage for what could easily be a future 95+ arm on the bump, but provides two-way intrigue with the 99.7 mph exit velocity he posted. While the swings are a bit boom-or-bust with a spinny nature, the hands work independent at times to bring real thunder. He showed best defensively at 3B, but profiles best as a power hitting outfielder on this side of the ball.

+ RHP/INF Drew Morgan
Morgan was ultra-productive offensively, 4-for-4 in his opportunities at the dish. While I view him as one of the top arms in this class - there is some intriguing two-way ability that stems from the long-levered 6-foot-4 frame and barrel accuracy. The swing is short with middle-of-the-field feel and he has the arm to play the left-side. The feet are raw but the hands are above average on the dirt. While the highest ceiling feels to be on the pitching side, a sub-7 60, arm strength, hit-ability, and a projectable frame are strong offensive traits that Morgan brings as well. 

+ RHP/INF Matthew Kulig
The premium flashes that Kulig showed on the mound proved to be the more-lasting impression leaving this event, but there is some skills that shine offensively, too. It is a short, simple, right-handed stroke that plays with a quality path annd budding strength. The swing helped to collect a pair of knocks in game, while he also showed sound actions on the dirt with a left-side arm and 7.10 60-yard dash. How the frame and development as a pitcher trends likely indicates his future home, but there is a sound base on this side of the ball that strength likely amplifies.