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Preseason All-State: Freshman Position Players

February 26, 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 several that we've already begun a track record with. 

This position player group is certaintly intriguing. The top of the class bats are all elite in their own regards and that was on full display this week. Several showed off gains since 2024 looks while a few newcomers made fantastic first impressions. Read along to find an in-depth breakdown on our favorites, more winners, and a follow list of notable performers. 

Find the full statistical breakdown, here.

Director's List 

Advanced hitters w/ traits that jump out

Dylan Murphy SS / 3B / North Posey, IN / 2028

Rankings  StateRank: 1 / POS: 1 OverallRank: 28 / POS: 8

Frame: Athletic, 6-foot-3, 200 pound frame. Looks the part in the uniform with broad shoulders, a muscular frame, and tapered torso. 

Toolset/Profile: 6.77 60-yard dash is a well-above average time for the age and the run tool projects out as a future-plus. The hit tool is advanced for the age and works with present barrel strength for the class (94-plus exit) and he hit the furthest batted ball of the event per Trackman. The glove is an above average tool and he has a shot to stick at short with above average arm strength across presently (84 infield arm). I feel very comfortable projecting him to at least stick on the dirt, but I could see him fitting in CF at some point. Regardless - it is an up-the-middle profile with speed/power upside and a polished offensive look. 

Actions:

Offensive - Sets up in a wider base with slightly open stance. Hands start in pre-loaded position and he uses a slight barrel tip to trigger. Forward move is controlled by a hover-type stride. Lands in a good base and turns the barrel on-plane with a direct path. Several well-struck balls from g2g, path is optimal. 

Defense - Fluid mover on the dirt with very solid glove-to-hand. Soft, confident hands. Arm is loose with above average strength and he can throw from multiple slot. 

Summation: There are several special traits here beginning with an elite-looking profile and 5 tool upside. The run tool is the loudest at the moment and he is an exceptional athlete with that tool likely turning into a plus. The 6-foot-3 frame and present mid-90s exits likely brings real raw power as he matures, and it should be playable with exceptional mechanics and bat-to-ball. The middle of the diamond profile is valuable and his arm continues to elevate, now standing at an above average tool, as well. There is a maturity to the way Dylan carries himself, and he is an exceptional worker. I have enough track record with Dylan to say that the makeup is elite and that makes me comfortable projecting further development. 

Jack Whaley SS / 3B / Columbus North, IN / 2028

Rankings  StateRank: 3 / POS: 2 OverallRank: 122 / POS: 28

Frame: 6-foot-3, 185 pound frame. Long-levered, athletic frame still has plenty of room for projection - should end up physical.  

Toolset/Profile: The tools are really solid across the board with bullish future projections based upon the frame. The bat strength is advanced with mid-90s exits and present above average bat speed. There is a high chance that he ends up hitting for power as strength is added to the athletic frame. He will end up with above average to better foot speed, presently running a 7.00, which was a top 10 time of the day. Whaley was 86 across the diamond and likely ends up with a borderline-plus arm tool when its all said and done. The glove is an above average tool as well. He has a chance to stick at short given the athleticism and arm talent, but also fits as an offensive-oriented 2B/3B mold, and there is also a chance he could end up going out to CF if the run tool really comes along - the bat will play as a middle-of-the-order type. 

Actions: 

Offensive - Sets up in a wider, grounded base. Subtle sink into the hips as he makes a smaller hand load and short stride. Minimal forward move in the operation allows for balance and repeatability. Barrel turns on-plane and gets to extension. Showed the ability to use the whole field, has back-side feel, flashed pull-side gap power. 

Defense - Athletic actions. Hands are best defensive attribute - quiet glove actions with abv avg glove-to-hand. He shows above average lateral quickness. Gets into his arm strength well with an above average exchange. 

Summation: Whaley showed off big jumps within the toolset while in the middle of basketball season and maintained his status as one of the top prospects in the class. He has big upside in the right-handed batters' box with a run-producers' look and big bat speed/strength to pair. The athleticism and frame that the 6-foot-3, three-sport athlete brings are easy to bet on. He has multiple tools that could end up as a plus, along with present skill in all areas that really stood out at this event. 

Mason Biernacki OF / RHP / Penn , IN / 2028

Rankings  StateRank: 4 / POS: 1 OverallRank: 134 / POS: 30

Frame: Athletic, explosive, compact, 5-foot-11, 175 pound frame. 

Toolset/Profile: Biernacki has the classes' best present toolset. He burned a 6.61 60-yard dash, already a real tool, and his 1.58 10-yard split shows the acceleration he brings between the lines. There is real thunder in the barrel already with explosive bat speed (event-best max bat speed, 81.9 mph) and exits already eclipsing 98 mph. The arm is a present tool, reaching 92 mph, and he also has some upside as a RHP with a mid-80s fastball and high-spin breaking ball. He profiles best as a R/R CF and has speed/power upside offensively.  

Actions: 

Offensive - Sets up in a taller stance with open front foot. He starts with some tension in the back hip and the barrel laid perpendicular to the shoulder plane. There is a small leg-lift gather before an aggressive-but-controlled positive move and the upper body has a small pull-back load. I love how the barrel turns off the shoulder. There is exceptional launch quickness and the bat is on-plane throughout. Showed the ability to use the entire field with tons of back-side feel. 

Defense - Aggressive athlete with sure hands. Run time suggests elite upside in CF. The arm is ultra-quick. 

Summation: Biernacki is a dynamic player with real tools and showed a more-physical look at this event compared to last summer. The explosiveness shows up in all-parts of his game, and he also turned in a 28.5" vertical leap, 2nd-best at the event. I couldn't be more bullish on the offensive profile with a real chance to hit and speed that will play the hit tool even higher. The shorter R/R profile will follow him, but the tools play like he is 6-foot-4, and the arm and quickness could help mitigate that if he can show elite defensive skills in CF. Shooter Hunt often talks about "aggressive athletes with apptitude" and Biernacki fits that mold to a T. 

Hayden Zellers OF / Greenfield-Central, IN / 2028

Rankings  StateRank: 11 / POS: 3

Frame: Lean, twitchy, 6-foot, 155 pounds. Thin-hipped and wiry. Has plenty of room to hold strength. 

Toolset/Profile:  6.82 60-yard dash, 1.60 10-yard was third-best of the day. The bat-to-ball and overall hit tool are both some of the classes' best. The swing is on-plane forever and he had the third-best bat speed average of the day. His exit peaked at 90.8 mph. There is enough bat speed and present twitch to project average to better power down the road. He was 82 from the outfield, just a tick above average for the class. He profiles as a top of the lineup, high-contact hitting CF with a potential plus run tool. 

Actions: 

Offensive - Starts tall & slightly open in relaxed stance. Loads into backside as back elbow climbs and barrel lifts, counterbalances with a short, controlled stride. Lands with control and feel to adjust. Solid launch quickness with a barrel that works on-plane for a long time.  

Defense - Athletic, natural mover with choppy footwork at times. Arm has improved.  

Summation: Zellers was one of the best looking prospects at the event. The run tool will likely be a plus and that jumps out at you when you combine his silky left-handed stroke. People will pay for L/L hitters that can really run and hit and Zellers fits that mold. He is a 2x Junior Future Gamer that I've seen take 30-plus at-bats so far, and the bat-to-ball has a chance to be real. The bat speed and barrel strength ticking up is huge for me to see and if it does further he may exceed average power projections. 

Jacob Forystek OF / Lake Central, IN / 2028

Frame: Athletic, twitchy, 5-foot-10, 165 pound frame, younger for the class with an immature look. 

Toolset/Profile: 7.03 runner in the 60-yard dash, 1.63 10-yard, 10th best vertical at the event (24.4"). 94.2 mph exit was a top 10 velo of the day, swing is twitchy with feel to lift, has a chance to hit for above average pop with more strength and maturity. There was feel to the hit tool during BP but the swing is a bit unorthodox - needs to be evaluated further in game setting. The arm is an above average tool for the class presently and will likely be another tool in the bag for him, making at least a RF profile comfortable with CF upside with the twitchy/athletic actions. He reminds me a bit of Indiana signee Noah Drake at the age. 

Actions: 

Offensive - Starts wide with higher hands and barrel perpendicular to an upright torso. Makes a big backshift move early as the toe-tap retracts, uses a big barrel tip to keep his hands back as he goes forward. Creates a ton of linear separation. Sequences very, very well to get the most out of his body. It is violent, but there is control to it. Direct barrel works to leverage. Hands are quick. 

Defense - Aggressive athlete, arm works. 84 outfield velo 

Summation: Forystek is my gut-feel guy and one that really won me over in his batting practice round. He oozed confidence in the way he stepped to the plate and got off controlled-but-violent left-handed hacks. The hands have some electricity to them and he showed barrel feel. The moves are really big and I'm curious to see the adjustability in game, but there does appear to be some unteachableness to the operation with the aforementioned twitch. I've gotten fantastic reports from the Lake Central staff and look forward to following Forystek in 2025.  

Andrew Noble OF / Westfield, IN / 2028

Rankings  StateRank: 12 / POS: 4

Frame: Athletic, explosive, 6-foot, 175 pound frame. 

Toolset/Profile: Showed off the loudest tool of the entire event, 6.52 60-yard dash, 3.66 30-yard, and 1.57 10-yard - all event bests. There is some bat to ball feel with developing power potential. The speed should equate to tracking abilities in CF. The arm is just above average for the age. Profiles as a LHH CF with a plus run tool. 

Actions: 

Offensive - Starts in a taller stance with higher handset. Hands climb during the load and deliver a direct barrel with some heaviness to it. Handsy swing, raw lower-half. Best balls were struck on a line from g2g.

Defense - Aggressive. Heavy-footed at times but exceptionally quick. 82 mph OF arm with stiffer arm action. 

Summation: Point blank, there is some freakishness to this athlete. He's got an explosive first step and can really get going underway. He was one of the more-muscular looking prospects of the day, also a standout three-sport athlete. The overall baseball actions are raw to this point, with plenty of time to refine, but the athlete is what I like most here. He has a plus run tool already, hits left-handed, and likely develops average to better raw power before its all said and done - and plays a premier defensive position. 

Quick Hits

+ Two catchers emerged as the best of the group in '28 C Spencer Schiff (Evansville Mater Dei) and '28 C/1B Henry Everts (Westfield). Schiff is the No. 1 ranked catcher in the class as it stands now and turned in a 74 mph arm from the crouch, pops in the 2.1s, and brought a polished look when receiving. Schiff's right-handed swing is his best tool. He has a quick, repeatable load and overall simple operation, with exits reaching 92. Schiff is a really good mover and stands at 6-foot, 170 pounds. He turned in a 7.13 60-yard dash, a really solid time for the age and profile, and also showed upside as a right-handed arm with a fastball up to 81 and feel for sharper spin. 
- My first look at Everts did not disappoint. He had been highly recommended to receive an invite and showed up with big, but still developing, 6-foot-3, 200 pound strong frame. He has a chance to be a really big/strong kid and that was evident in the heavy barrel he delivered at the plate. The swing plane is a touch across his body leading to mainly pull-side contact, but he hit everything hard - 1st at the event in average exit velocity (89.1 mph) and was into the mid-90s at his peak, and first in the event in Sweet Spot % (81%). The path is short and should be playable with his sturdy, grounded lower-half. Everts was also 75 from the crouch, with pops in the 2.2s, and displayed a high-motor and energy in the crouch during bullpens. 
+ Three more infielders performed well and are high-floor follows moving forward + listed below : 
- '28 INF Ty White (Plainfield) is one I have seen for some time and he continues to trend as one of the better athletes in the class. It is a stocky, 5-foot-9, 165 pound frame and he brings twitch to pair with it. He's explosive and turned in a top 5 vertical leap (25.6") and a 7.07 60-yard dash. He brings lateral quickness to the dirt with solid actions. His hands are his best attribute and he shows really quick glove-to-hand. The arm is quick and slingy producing an event-best 87 mph arm across the diamond. He has the ability to play all three infield spots at the high school level with the body/athleticism trends likely determining his best future position. Offensively, it is a short, flat, handsy stroke geared towards line drive contact. He's shown barrel feel in the past and was on a line often with a 91.2 mph exit at this event. 
- I really like the upside in '28 SS/RHP Drew Dalton (Decatur Central). He is a long-limbed, 6-foot, 170 pound infielder that ran a 7.09. I like him best at the dish were he shows a loose, whippy, right-handed swing with some twitch already present. His exits reached 93 and he showed the ability to leverage with a more direct path. He moved well in the infield with sure hands to pair with developing footwork. His arm works - into the low-80s across the diamond and on the mound. He's a good mover in total with projection in the frame - strength gains will pay dividends to the overall toolset. 
- '28 MIF Donovan Craig is a region-area shortstop that impressed at this event. He's undersized at 5-foot-8, 150 pounds - though makes up for it with some present twitch and skill. Craig ran a 6.99 60-yard dash, and got out the gate at a 1.61 10-yard split, some of the best acceleration of the day. The feet are quick on the dirt with fundamental infield actions in total. Offensively, he hits from the left-side and showed a quick, accurate barrel that impressed me. He sets up in a crouched stance with an inward turn and low hands, almost George Brett-style. His hands stay in place as he toe taps and he is able to control his weight to transfer energy through the ball. Craig should be impactful for Munster this spring and his performance at the All-State merits a follow for sure. 

+ The outfield talent in this class is outstanding, but one more caught my attention throughout the day, Maxwell Gurnic (Crown Point). He's a physical-looking, 6-foot-1, 185 pounder R/L OF with big strength. It is a short, uphill swing that produced exits up over 96 mph and he flashed above average bat speed. He ran a 7.02 60-yard dash and showed just average arm strength at 81 mph. Speed, power, and a physical frame jump out at you.
+ A pair of 2029s emerged with evident talent for the age in OF's Cooper Gear (Valparaiso) and Carson Sloan (Center Grove). Gear is a talented, 5-foot-9 left-handed hitter with a smooth, natural stroke that already reaches exits over 90 mph. The swing is short and on-plane throughout and he has a confident presence in the box. He ran a 7.17 60-yard dash and was 81 from the outfield.
- Sloan was hard to miss with an already-physical, 6-foot-3, 200 pound frame. His face has a younger look to it and he moves very well for his size, testing well amongst his peers with a 7.18 60-yard dash and 24.4" vertical leap. The explosiveness is evident in the box, athough the operation is a bit raw for now, with exits reaching 97-plus. The swing is short and works uphill with power potential very likely. Sloan reached 81 from the outfield. 

Follow List 

*ordered alphabetically*
Name  State School Class Pos.
Callum Birdzell IN Cathedral 2028 SS
Jack Bradford IN Warsaw 2028 C
Drake Carnahan IN Fishers 2028 SS/RHP
Andrew Confer IN Cathedral 2028 OF/RHP
Nathan Cooper IN Providence 2028 SS
Jason DeCeault IN Crown Point 2028 3B
Jackson Denny IN Mooresville 2028 OF
Garrett Deuser IN Madison 2028 C
Carter Ellis IN Greenfield-Central 2028 SS/RHP
Ben Finney IN Kouts 2028 SS/OF
Zac Glander IN Noblesville 2028 SS/RHP
Deryan Gordon IN Churubusco 2028 OF
Colin Hamel IN John Glenn 2028 SS
Gideon Harris IN Silver Creek 2028 SS
Slade Hodges IN Noblesville 2028 1B/OF
Remington Johnson IN North Posey 2028 SS/RHP
Jacob Linton IN Lebanon 2029 SS/RHP
Brooks Miller IN Danville 2029 OF/RHP
Graedan Robinson IN Bloomington South 2028 3B
Colton Shipp IN Whiteland 2028 OF
Cutter Stockwell IN Homestead 2028 SS
Cam Stratman IN Evansville Mater Dei 2028 3B
Cy Street IN North Central 2028 SS/RHP
Stathan Thompson IN Mooresville 2028 3B
Tyler Vo IN Andrean 2028 OF
Caleb Wilson IN Crown Point 2028 SS