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Quick Hits: Preseason Preview

March 19, 2025
Cooper Trinkle
Scouting Director

The Preseason Preview has a solid track record of attracting high-end players and this year was no different. There were several prospects amongst the 70 participants that showed well for themselves heading into the spring season. Find nine winners from this event below, followed by sixteen more notable performers, organized by grad class. 

Find the full event statistics, here.

Nine-to-Know

Big winners across four grad classes

Parker Rhodes RHP / Greenfield Central, IN / 2025

Rankings  StateRank: 6 / POS: 3 OverallRank: 194 / POS: 66

+ Rhodes showed excellent offseason gains at this event - trending nicely as he heads into his draft season. The 6-foot-1, loose, wiry, 185 pounder averaged 96.7 on his 4S fastball, topping out at 97 mph. The fastball comes out with life and he can sink it at 95, and the sinker properties suggest it's his best fastball. The slider played with tight, side-to-side action at 82-85, but his 88-89 kick-change was my favorite offspeed offering, falling off the table late with fade. The change is a potential plus in the bag and he rounded out a 5-pitch mix with an 88-89 cutter. Rhodes is a technician that can pitch to all quadrants. The arm speed is electric & he has some of the best control amongst the right-handed arms in the class. This Mississippi State recruit will likely have a backstop filled with scouts at his starts this spring & could continue to grab helium leading up to July. 

Calen Schembra OF / 1B / Center Grove High School, IN / 2025

Rankings  StateRank: 29 / POS: 7

+ Schembra continues to show solid growth as an athlete and it is paying dividends across the board. His 5-foot-11, 200 pound frame is beginning to become physical and he turned in a 6.91 60-yard dash. The Valpo recruit turns a tight barrel with feel to manipulate & some loft in the path. His 101-plus exit provide impact and Schembra appears primed to hit and hit for power for CG this spring. The arm is a tool, 93 from the OF & 89 across the diamond, and he can flat out pick it at 1B, likely profiling best as a corner OF, but the glove at first is excellent.  

Collin Osenbaugh SS / RHP / Shenandoah , IN / 2025

Rankings  StateRank: 20 / POS: 3 OverallRank: 369 / POS: 81

+ Osenbaugh is a Louisville recruit with a sweet left-handed stroke, and immense arm talent in a proportional, 6-foot, 195 pound frame. His game as a position player profiles as a run-producer type bat. The swing path is super clean and he transfers energy through the ball with easy lift in the path. His exit reached 99-plus with easy intent and a max distance of 389 feet. He is a solid average runner (7.10) with soft hands and an electric, 94 mph arm across highlighting the defensive profile. Osenbaugh is also a right-handed pitching prospect, but did not show on the mound at this event.

Camden Moore 3B / 1B / Zionsville, IN / 2027

Rankings  StateRank: 19 / POS: 3

+ Moore has a real chance to hit and is one of the better right-handed bats I've evaluated in the '27 bunch. He is a large individual at 6-foot-5, 200 pounds with ample room to add strength to a run-producers' frame. He was the only underclassmen to average 90-plus throughout their round at this event, and his exits peaked at 96-plus. The swing features a barrel tip and on-time toe tap with balance throughout. He uses easy intent to produce above average bat speed, and that paired with strong bat to ball for the class, brings power potential. The arm is a future plus and an interesting tool with potential two way upside purely in the arm talent + frame. There is enough strength to stay at the hot corner and he's developing more bounce in the feet. He ran a 7.25 at this event, and I think he'll end up being at least an average (7.0) runner with the athleticism considered. It is a high-end frame with tools & strength starting to blossom.

Alex Gilliam RHP / OF / Center Grove, IN / 2027

Rankings  StateRank: 54 / POS: 21

+ Gilliam has taken big strides on the bump this winter & should see himself elevate after a strong performance at this event. The undersized-but-twitchy & athletic, 5-foot-8, 165 pounder used an up-tempo, stock, well-seqeunced delivery that produced an 88-89 fastball that came out at 90 on his best bullet. The fastball came out with some life and his 75-77 slider played with it. The slider is a future wipeout spinning now in the 26-2700 range and playing with sharp sweep. There was feel for a low-80s change, as well, with above average control shown. Gilliam is a high follow for our staff for CG this spring, and into the summer on the circuit, showing one of the better fastball/spin combos we've seen to this point in the class. 

Liam Smith 3B / RF / Bloomington North, IN / 2026

Rankings  StateRank: 45 / POS: 5

+ Smith is an uncommitted bat that I really like heading into the spring with big projection to the 6-foot-4, 190 pound athletic frame. The card is full of average to better tools that he showed at this event, with no major deficiency in his game, & you bet on the frame to add strength which could bring near plus raw power down the round. Exits have been into the 100s before, and the operation is more athletic and flowy compared to previous look. The arm is a solid tool (86 INF/87 OF) & he is an average runner (7.17) who profiles best in the corner outfield &/or infield. Area RC's with a need for a '26 bat should get a look on Smith this spring or summer, with a chance to polish and mature into a next-level run-producer. 

Ryan Grupenhoff RHP / OF / Bloomington High School North, IN / 2026

Rankings  StateRank: 156 / POS: 53

+ Grupenhoff is a big upside play, and I wouldn't be surprised to hear/see this really start to tick during the back-half of 2025. It is an ultra-projectable, 6-foot-5, 175 pound frame with long levers prevalent. The lower half of the delivery moves surprisingly well for his size with a loose arm working on top to an OTT slot with some whip at release. Strength should elevate a fastball that sat 82-84 at this event. The fastball played with big extension from a high release height and occasional carry, while his 69-70 curveball played off of it with glove-side depth. He showed a mid-70s change, as well. 

Cooper Yeakle LHP / OF / Fishers, IN / 2028

+ I first identified Yeakle throwing on a Grand Park backfield at 14u, sitting about 75 mph with hands nearly to his knees and a loose left arm. He got an invite to our Fall State Games last fall, and went to work this offseason to show huge gains since his last appearance with us. Now all of 6-foot-2 and 165 pounds, that loose, whippy arm now produces a low-slot fastball that sat 81-83 and was up to 83.5 mph. The fastball plays with big arm-side run and he also showed a developing 75-77 slider and an upper-70s change. The secondaries still need to refine, but the arm is what I like best here. Yeakle shows several traits indicative of a future prospect, and his development will be monitored closely moving forward. 

Henry Skeen OF / RHP / Hamilton Southeastern HS, IN / 2028

+ Skeen is another freshman that showed a glimpse of his high ceiling at this event. The 6-foot, 170 pounder uses an up-tempo delivery with a tall lift and dynamic move down the slope. The hips are advanced for the class and the arm works full and fast. The fastball worked in the low-to-mid 80s, touching 86 twice, but he mostly pitched at 82-84 with control. His low 70s slider and mid-70s split both show proper shape and appear usable, with the split as the better pitch on this day. Skeen is a great rotator for the age, evident in the 97-plus exits he produced from the right-side of the dish and he holds some upside as a potential power hitting corner OF, as well, but the operation he brought to the bump is one of my favorites in the 2028 class from the winter showcase season. 

2026s

*Highlights embedded into the prospects' name if not shown*

+ Aiden Phillips, SS, Homestead: Homestead continues to churn out prospects and Phillips is the latest 'pop-up' to come from that program. It is a premier frame at 6-foot-2, 190 pounds with a solid set of tools including: a 101.1 mph exit velocity max, an 86 arm across the infield, and a 7.09 60-time. This swing is aggressive and rotational with pull-side intent and he averaged 90-plus throughout his round. The hands are soft on the infield with above average actions in total and he will be followed closely this spring for the #9 ranked Spartans.

+ Kye Jacobs, SS/OF/RHP, Clinton Prairie: An undersized athlete with a wide range of skills that can be summed up best in one word - Ballplayer. He is a really solid runner, into the 6.6s and he turned in a 6.75 at this event. The arm is a solid tool, into the upper-80s across the diamond, 90 from the outfield, and up to 87 on the mound with a twitcy, athletic operation shown there. He is a versatile defender with sure-handed glove actions to fit an up-the-middle profile. The bat continues to develop, up to 97-plus off the bat with a short, handsy stroke from the right-side. He shows some switch hit feel, but the left-side is still in the development stages. 

+ Beck Jordan, 3B, Westfield: The bat is the tool to like with the 6-foot-2, 195 pounder. His exits reached 100-plus with a short swing that works against a firm frontside to create some whip. He averaged 95-plus throughout to speak towards the barrel accuracy, and his power was shown from gap2gap. Defensively, he shows fringy foot speed with average actions at 3B and an 84 mph arm across the diamond. 

+ Sam Spolyar, C/1B, Brebeuf Jesuit: The 6-foot-2, 210 pounder hangs his hat on present bat strength with a loud round of batting practice that included the firmest exit of the day - 103.9 mph off the bat. There is present bat speed within an intentful operation and he averaged 90-plus on balls put in play while flashing present pull-side power. The arm is a non-tool with his profile likely serving best as a bat-first 1B at the next level. 

+ Alister Shrock, OF/C, Eastern: Another big performer who posted strong metrics across the board. It is a physical, muscular-looking frame at 6-foot-1, 185 pounds and he turned in a 7.19 60-yard dash to pair. His arm is a solid tool, reaching 87 from the outfield during defensive evaluations. He made his biggest impression during batting practice with tons of bat speed and a peak exit that reached 100.9 mph, while averaging 93 mph. It is a stiffer operation - with the hands starting near the back shoulder before pulling the knob towards the front hip with a wristy barrel delivery. There is some buggy whip to pair with the aformentioned bat strength that creates solid raw power presently. 

+ Alex Lopez, 3B, Frankfort: Lopez is a stocky, 5-foot-9, 165 pound third baseman with his left-handed swing being his carrying tool. The swing works with controlled pace and a bigger leg kick stride. He falls on balls with a longer, on-plane swing delivering exits at 98-plus from the left-side. He is a switch hitter, with the right-handed swing behind the left at the moment. Lopez is a fringe average runner (7.26) with an 82 mph arm across and solid average actions at 3B.

+ Killian Groh, OF, Brownsburg: Groh is another uncommitted junior that showed well at this event, bringing an athletic, twitchy, 5-foot-10, 160 pound frame and solid toolset in total. He is a tick abv avg runner (6.96) with solid arm strength shown during defensive evaluations (87 mph). The swing features an on-time toe tap and minimal hand load with a short, on-top path that produced liners at 93-plus. Fundamental actions shown across the board with twitch and solid tools. 

+ Henry Boyce, SS, Covenant Christian: Boyce stood out immediately by turning in an event-best 6.66 60-yard dash to begin the event. The twitchy, athletic, 5-foot-9, 170 pounder carried that same athleticism into infield evals with his feet being the carrying attribute on the dirt, a quick-footed defender with some arm strength, up to 85, across the diamond. The swing is more geared towards contact, with exits reaching 91 mph, and he uses a short, tight, handsy path. 

2027s

*Highlights embedded into the prospects' name if not shown*

+ Eli Hulzebos, OF, Bishop Chatard: An interesting sophomore that showed a projectable, 6-foot-3, 195 pound frame and present bat strength with 100-plus exits on the top-end. It is a long-levered, high-waisted frame with ample room for strength gains. He showed some aggression with some heaviness to the forward move and a later barrel lift that creates stretch. There is obvious power potential here with solid bat speeds shown, and his arm is a solid tool, as well, reaching 87 from the outfield.

+ Liam Zorger, OF/LHP, Guerin Catholic: A 6-foot, 170 pound two-way that appears to have taken advantage of the offseason and added quality strength. It paid off most for him in the left-handed batters' box, where he showed a loose, rhythmic hand load and positive forward move with a clean path that produced exits at 97-plus. Zorger was up to 84 from the outfield, and also provided a strike-throwers' look in his 'pen with a running fastball that touched 81.

+ Gavin Rushton, RHP, Lapel: Rushton showed an upside look on the hill with a projectable, 6-foot-2, 180 pound frame and clean operation. He worked in-line with a stock delivery and the arm gets inverted before flipping up in-sync. The fastball played at 82-83 mph from an OTT slot and his mid-70s CB played off the heater with depth. He showed a mid-70s change, as well, with the FB/CB being his best pitches. There is velocity on the way with abv avg feel present.

+ Ajax Garcia, 3B/RHP, Northwestern: Garcia looks the part of an upside with a lean, wiry, 6-foot-2, 158 pound frame. His best tool shown was the bat, hitting from the left-side with a short, on-plane swing that produced exits at 93-plus with hints of pull-side lift. He offered average actions at 3B, with upside as a right-handed arm with a clean operation and fastball up to 82. 

2028s

*Highlights embedded into the prospects' name if not shown*

+ Chase Osenbaugh, 3B, Shenandoah: Osenbaugh showed off an advanced left-handed stroke for the class with exits that reached 95-plus from a stocky-bodied, 5-foot-9, 195 pound frame. The swing works in a controlled fashion, and he is able to create stretch as the barrel works tight off the back shoulder to get on-plane. There is above average bat speed shown with hints of power potential. The bat will be monitored as he matures and he showed solid arm strength for the class with an 81 mph infield arm at this event.

+ Carter Ellis, UTL, Greenfield-Central: Ellis performed well at our inaugural Freshman All-State and returned for another postive look at this event. It is a proportional, 5-foot-11, 175 pound frame & his best present tool is his arm, reaching 83 from the infield, 83 from the mound, and 84 from the outfield. His best future position is still undetermined, but the bat is a solid tool for the class, as well. He starts in a tall setup with a high back elbow, before making an ambush-style forward move. He is a front-foot hitter with strength, reaching a peak exit of 95 mph at this event. 

+ Parker Springman, RHP/C, Greenfield-Central: Springman is a lean, wiry, 5-foot-10, 160 pounder with a variety of skills shown, though I liked it best on the mound at this event. He pitched at 79-82 with an up-tempo, rushed-at-times delivery that begins with an overhead pump. The arm is loose and is his best tool, and he showed a developing top-down CB at 67-70, along with a 73-74 change that was his best pitch om this day. There is two-way upside and the arm strength translates to the crouch, where he was up to 77 during catch and throw evals with pops ranging from 2.10 to 2.29. At the dish, Springman starts in a wider stance with a heavy push out of the backside that he uses as a forward move. The swing is wristy and works out-front, producing a max exit velocity of 90.7 mph. 

+ Payton Morgan, RHP, Terre Haute South: I really liked the way this arm worked and it provides some upside to the immature-looking, 5-foot-9, 140 pound frame. The frame should mature and grow, but the arm action is full & fast and should be able to hold velo jumps as strength comes. His fastball came out at 78-80 and he spun a 68-69 breaking ball that showed 10/4 shape. Morgan showed a sinking, low-70s change to round out his three pitch mix.