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Preseason All-State: Freshman Arms

February 25, 2025
Cooper Trinkle
Indiana Scouting Director

Our first Freshman Preseason All-State took place on Saturday, February 22nd and it brought over a hundred up-and-coming prospect to Indiana University. Our staff was able to identify several high-upside prospects in this class while checking in on plenty more that we've already begun a track record with. 

As I sift through the in-event notes, staff opinions, and video from the day - one thing jumps out to me, the depth of arms already beginning to blossom. There is clear talent at the top of the class, and many on display at this event, with several prospects showing mixes of upside and right-now stuff. Eight arms that stood out most amongst their peers are highlighted in-depth below - and several others noted as well. Several position-first, two-ways also showed well, and will be highlighted amongst the position group analysis. 

Find the full statistical breakdown, here. 

Director's List 

Eight arms that won the day...

Cole Breeden RHP / Mater Dei, IN / 2028

Rankings  StateRank: 2 / POS: 1 OverallRank: 92 / POS: 20

Frame / Athleticism: Projectable, wiry, 6-foot-4, 175 pounds with long limbs. Should ending up holding well-over 200 pounds. Multi-sport athlete (basketball).

Stuff: Fastball sat 82-84 with mid-2300 spin at times, shows the makings of a power sinker. Slider is a future swing-and-miss pitch with true sweeper shape and tight spin (2200-plus avg) in the low-70s. Low-70s change was thrown with fastball intent and played with heavy fade. All pitches were controlled, he showed the best command for his change. 

Arm Action / Delivery: Slow tempo to top of lift w/ slight hesitation at the top. Slight tilt/topple move, works in-line. Lands square. Excellent hip-to-shoulder separation. Dynamic, controlled finish. Clean, on-time takeaway begins a moderate-lengthed arm action. Repeats a full-circle arm action, tends to shorten swing length, gets to a 3/4 slot at release. Arm action is super loose.

Summation: Breeden is our top-ranked arm in the class and a safe projection. This is what a high-end arm from Indiana looks like as a freshman. Phil Wade comped him to Bryan Hoeing, a 2015 grad (also a talented hooper) that debuted for the Marlins in 2022. I haven't seen an arm as polished as Breeden for the age when all things are considered. There is very good control, border-line command already, a hard tab for such a young prospect. While the velocities are not eye popping yet, the operation is easy, loose, clean and he has two well-shaped off-speed pitches making a starters' tab safe. 

Ian Funk LHP / Andrean, IN / 2028

Frame / Athleticism: A lean, thin-hipped, projectable, 5-foot-11, 155 pound southpaw. He showed great body control in his bullpen. He is young for the class, still 14.

Stuff: Fastball played at 77-79 with occasional cut and he displayed good control. He pitches from a 4'3" release height and the fastball plays with a very low vertical approach angle. His 63-65 curveball spun over 2300 at times with big sweep, averaging 19". The changeup faded to the arm-side with later break at 70-71. His breaking ball was commanded. 

Arm Action / Delivery: Easily the most polished delivery of the day, low effort, balanced and repeatable. Does land with open front toe that likely cleans up with strength. Exceptional hip-to-shoulder. Its a loose, full circle arm action with some whip to 3/4 arm angle. 

Summation: Funk was frankly my favorite watch of the day as it was my first time getting eyes on and he came highly recommended. The delivery is exceptional and strikes came with it. While the stuff doesn't jump out right now, the arm action is easy to bet on and there is shape to his secondaries. The ease of operation makes it easy to put a starters' tab and the lower release height should help his stuff play above its' velocities. 

Braylon Storey SS / RHP / Center Grove, IN / 2028

Frame / Athleticism: Athletic, explosive, 6-foot-2, 170 pound broad-shouldered frame. Frame has plenty of room to pack on with an immature look. Posted some of the events' best athletic metrics - 6.72 60-yard dash and event best 29.3" vertical. 

Stuff: Backspun fastballs in the 82-87 range while flashing big carry. Ball jumps out. Killed spin on a low-70s changeup that played with fade. Showed a big, upper-60s curveball that has shape and spun in the 2000-2100 range. Fastball tended to miss up, change was best commanded offering. Flashed feel to land CB. 

Arm Action / Delivery: Stretch-only mover. Posts onto back leg as he gets to a tall, athletic lift and tilts shoulders. Uncoils with an explosive move and short arm action to a high 3/4 release. 

Summation: The athletic measurements and frame speak for themselves - he has room to grow into a lengthy, athletic frame and the present explosiveness jumped out at me. He is also an interesting position player profiling as a left-side defender with some power potential, but the upside is tremendous on the bump. He reminds me in a couple ways of Blane Metz, a soft comp for now. There is rawness to the delivery to clean up but the unteachableness is apparent here. 

Bodhi Pulley RHP / 3B / Bloomington High School North, IN / 2028

Rankings  StateRank: 6 / POS: 2

Frame / Athleticism: Long-limbed, 6-foot-2, 185 pounder. Above average to better strength for the age. Frame could hold plenty, likely ends up with a physical look as strengh is added. 

Stuff: FB 82-84 with heavy arm-side run, averaging 16.2". 2S fastball tunnels with advanced spin. Best breaking ball at the event, though got around it at times and dropped slot. There is big two-plane shape at 73-74 with over 2600 spin. Should be a really advanced pitch and good combo. His changeup played with big fade, softer at 65-69. He showed average control for all three. 

Arm Action / Delivery: Double pump into a tucked, tall, deep inward turn. Uncoils in-line. Hips are explosive and lead to quality hip-to-shoulder. Explosive mover for age in total. Loose arm gets deep at times. Present arm speed to a wider L3/4 to 3/4 slot.

Summation: There is a lot to like here - beginning with the present day stuff. He had the best breaking ball of the event - it is going to be a really good pitch. He's been up to 86 with a big arm-side run fastball and its easy to project out 90-plus when strength gets added to the present day projectable frame. These pitches are advanced, and the changeup has plenty of upside, while they all profile well together. The hips are really good and make projections of even high velocities promising and the arm works. He swings open at times leading to control issues, a refinement that will surely be made. 

Gavin McGee OF / RHP / RONCALLI HIGH SCHOOL, IN / 2028

Rankings  StateRank: 20 / POS: 5

Frame / Athleticism: Athletic look, 6-foot, 175 pounds. Broad-shouldered with some room for projection still left. Still 14, young for the class. 

Stuff: Showed one of the better fastballs of the day. Carried it at 18.6" of vert at 84-85 mph and it was one of the better controlled fastballs of the day. His curveball is thrown firm for the class, 73-75, and he spun it in the 23-2400s. It has two-plane shape and tunnels off the fastball. Changeup plays with 18" of arm side. Controlled all pitches. 

Arm Action / Delivery: Double pumps before an athletic lift. Hips work to create very solid hip-to-shoulder, shoulders remain in-line throughout. Good mover overall. Arm action is loose and athletic. Gets big scap retraction with some whip to a high 3/4 release. 

Summation: The arm action is really good here to go along with some of the days' best present stuff. The fact that he is young, and an above average athlete, makes projections comfortable. I really like the pitch shape and think he has a chance to get a lot of swing and miss. His delivery, and control, both showed big improvements in this look. His bullpen was mature and executed. 

AIDEN THOMPSON OF / RHP / Center Grove, IN / 2028

Frame / Athleticism: Athletic, wiry, 6-foot-2, 175 pound frame. Loose mover. Has upside as OF, as well. 

Stuff: Fastball was spun up into the 2200s with power arm-side run at times, playing at 83-85. Best pitch is 70-72 slider that played with big sweep (12" on avg) and spun in the 2200s. The changeup was inconsistent though played with arm-side run at 76-80. 

Arm Action / Delivery: Up-tempo, aggressive mover. Really gets down the mound, fastball played with event best 6'7" extension. Arm was late on occasion from the windup, synced best from the stretch. Arm action is long, full, and fast - getting to a high 3/4 release. 

Summation: Thompson won me over with a really impressive bullpen and one of the fastest arms of the day. Center Grove churns out prospects and their weights program will do wonders to this projectable righty. I think this has a chance to be very loud, and the slider has the makings of a swing and miss pitch in the future. 2024 grad and current Iowa Hawkeye Nick Heitman is the comp that comes to mind when watching Thompson. 

Darret Branson RHP / Evansville Mater Dei, IN / 2028

Rankings  StateRank: 15 / POS: 5

Frame / Athleticism: Athletic, high-waisted, 6-foot-2, 175 pound frame. Ample projection in the frame. 

Stuff: FB 80-83 with carry (17.4" IVB avg.) and he was in zone with it at 85% rate, the best of the day. 69-70 CB has bigger two-plane shape and spun into the 2300s, making of out-pitch. Creates arm-side tilt on a changeup with 20" of arm-side and he showed the ability to get it to both sides. 

Arm Action / Delivery: Faster tempo to low, even lift, balanced at the top. Short, crossfire strider - quiet eyes. Long draw to the arm swing but syncs well. Gets to a high 3/4 slot with abv avg arm speed, drops slot on CH. 

Summation: Long-levered, athletic strike-throwers are safer bets and Branson checks those boxes with above average stuff for the class to go along with it. He's a multi-year Future Gamer that I have a track record with of being in the zone. He showed nothing but the same here while his stuff showed only a bit of a spike, though he's also playing basketball at the moment. 

Jayce Cunningham RHP / St. Theodore Guerin High School, IN / 2028

Frame / Athleticism: Proportional, 6-foot-2, 175 pound frame. 

Stuff: 83-85 mph fastball was third highest of the day. FB plays more sinker-like with heavy arm-side sink. CH was best secondary, came out with FB intent, playing with nearly 17" of fade. Developing slider in the upper-60s. Control for all

Arm Action / Delivery: Controlled pace to top of moderate, tucked balance point. High front side drop-and-drive move creates above average extension (6'0" ext. avg). Finishes balanced. Some looseness to a longer arm swing, releases at 3/4 slot.

Summation: Cunningham is another righty that makes for a safe projection. The delivery is balanced and he throws strikes with routine intent, backed by abv avg stuff for the present day. The fastball plays with big sink and he threw one of the better changeups of the day. The 6'2 frame should hold more strength to louden the stuff. 

Quick Hits

+ '28 LHP Luke Hensley (Danville) is the No. 3 ranked lefty in the class as it stands now, leading another group of talented left-handers. I'd like to note the depth of lefties to this point in the class, but Hensley is one we are bullish on because of his ultra-projectable, 6-foot-4, 185 pound frame and clean-armed look. His fastball worked up to 81 from a higher slot and his secondaries are highlighted by a well-spun (22-2300s) breaking ball in the low-70s.
+ Three more lefties to follow from this class include: Owen Kopercinski (Lake Central), Brody Drake (Center Grove), and Carson Meyer (Batesville). Kopercinski provided the highest fastball velocity amongst any left-handed at the event, pitching at 81-83 and touching 84. The athletic, 5-foot-9, 160 pounder is another young one in this class, and his arm speed stands as his best attribute. It is a violent operation with a bit of quirk to it, but the fastball really jumps out and the higher frontside should create a deceptive look. 
- Drake has the cleanest arm amongst the group and repeats a full circle arm action that I think will help him continue to get better. His athletic, 5-foot-10" 165 lb frame already includes some twitch evident in the 6.79 60-yard dash he turned in during the morning. The fastball sat 79-81 and touched 82 on his best bullet. He showed a faded low-70s change along with developing feel for spin. Meyer is a strike-thrower with a 5-foot-10, 175 pound strong build. He filled it up with some manipulation to the fastball, reaching up to 80. He carried a 4S and ran a 2S with feel to pitch to both sides. His best secondary was a low-70s change that he threw with fastball arm speed, and he also showed a short 72-74 breaking ball. The delivery is balanced and its lower effort, while the arm works to a full circle on the backside.
+ A select group of 2029 grads were invited, though '29 RHP/SS Alex McCord (Cathedral) fit right in with the freshman. It a long-armed, 5-foot-11, 160 pound athletic frame. He ran a 7.12 before shining as a position player with a 92 exit and 85 mph arm across the diamond. The operation on the mound is really advanced for the age, as well. The delivery is athletic and the arm works uninterrupted and fast. He pitched at 80-83 with a well-shaped breaking ball and a low-70s split. 

Follow List 

*ordered alphabetically*
Name  State School Class Pos.
Henry Cahill IN Noblesville 2028 RHP
Nash Crafton IN Madison 2028 RHP
Asher Curnutt IN Center Grove 2028 RHP
Mitchell Finelli IN Brebeuf 2028 RHP/OF
Carson Frome IN Evansville North 2028 RHP
Chase Marsh IN East Central 2028 RHP/SS
Cass Omlor IN Zionsville 2028 RHP
Hunter Oliver MI Hartland 2028 RHP
Jaxon Rinehart MI Edwardsburg 2028 LHP
Austin Semmler IN Terre Haute North 2028 LHP
Paul Stewart IN Noblesville 2028 LHP