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Spring Scout Blog: Week #1

April 7, 2025
Indiana Scouting Staff
Prep Baseball Indiana

The opening week of the season has passed and our staff traveled all over the state to get early looks on prospects from all areas. Our Scout Blog will be updated throughout the spring, and it will house notes on the prospects that we see. We will unveil a seperate blog geared towards MLB Draft prospects and follows, so this blog will mainly be geared towards uncommitted prospects, along with underclassmen who have already made their commitment. 

Check out our notes on some of the top prospects we saw during opening week, below, and a link to our Week #1 Player of the Week award - FOUND HERE. 

By: Cooper Trinkle (Indiana Scouting Director)


Beckett Doane, LHP, 2026, Noblesville (Mississippi State)

I got a brief look at the 6-foot-6, 220 pound Mississippi State recruit in a five-batter scrimmage setting. On this day, he dominated over the heart of the plate with an 89-91 mph fastball. The fastball plays with heavy arm side life and his upper-70s change plays off of the heater. He threw a 81-84 slider with firm sweep and was able to back foot it to RHH's. He showed average command in total with two walks in five batters, but there was not a ball put in play and he got 8 swings-and-misses in 25 pitches total. The state’s top ranked left-handed pitcher has added significant strength to his frame over the off-season, but the delivery has gotten more-rotational compared to looks last year, and his overall command will be monitored closely. 

Logan Robe, RHP, 2027, Westfield

Robe’s outing was a revelation for me personally, and it was great to see average-to-better FB control from him in his first outing of his sophomore year. He impressed at our PAS in March with a heavy fastball that was up to 91 mph. Velocity is something that we have come to expect to see from the 6-foot-2, 215 pound physical Westfield product, and he provided a lot of it in this look. Robe sat 90-92 with a riding fastball that missed bats. He showed the ability to shape and spin a breaking ball in the upper 70s, but the command for it lacks presently.  The arm works in a short, compact fashion, and his delivery still has room to refine, especially the front side. It is a relief profile, undoubtedly, but Robe has a chance to be one of the hardest throwers in Indiana’s 2027 class.

Elijah Hall, RHP, 2027, Noblesville

Hall is a sophomore arm that we are bullish on at this point. My first look of the spring was very positive, and the strength gains that the 6-foot-2 right-hander made over the off-season jumped out immediately. His first couple FBs came out at 88, and then he proceeded to sit 90-91 on the heater for the rest of the outing. The fastball plays with carry and he tunnels a downer, upper-70s curveball off of it. Hall flashed a 82-84 change that played with some sink, as well. The arm works from an over-the-top slot with an athletic delivery and above average command shown to allow for starters' upside. The open toe at landing does draw some concern, but the athleticism, present stuff, and above average control are surely traits to bet on with this young arm. 

Aiden Reynolds, 3B, 2026, Noblesville (Indiana)

Reynolds was awesome in my first in-game look at him of the spring. He hammered a ball that the third baseman could not handle in his first AB, doubled to RCF next, and singled through the middle in his final trip. All three times that he came to the plate, he ended up scoring, and it was a revelation to see the 6.7 speed he showed in the winter show up on the base-paths. The Indiana recruit has long built a reputation of being one of the best hitters in the class, and the overall improvements that the 6-foot-1, 195 pounder has made to his athleticism and body are positives to take away. He is a 50 runner now, with budding gap power that should turn into home run power at some point, and a tick above average arm strength.

Jaylen Wells-Henderson, RHP, 2027, New Albany

Jaylen provided a quality look on opening night by tossing five innings of one-run baseball. The highly-athletic, 6-foot-2, 175 pound right-hander holds tons of upside with a slender, projectable look. He pitched with an up-tempo delivery that included a tight, tucked lift, and athletic move out. The arm works loose and free on the backside and releases at a high 3/4 slot. He held 82-85 on his fastball throughout the outing, and his ability to spin a shaped slider at 77-79 gives me conviction in saying the FB velocity will jump soon. He showed a change and a bigger breaking ball in the low 70s with depth and holds starters’ upside with his above average control. 

Hayden Zellers, OF, 2028, Greenfield-Central

I caught the No. 10 ranked freshman’s first varsity start, where he was hitting out of the cleanup spot for Greenfield-Central. He got beat in his first trip by a tough L/L matchup, but quickly adjusted to work a walk against the same arm his next trip. He doubled backside on a ball that he flared to the left field warning track, showing that his 6-foot, 155 pound frame has the twitch to impact the ball, and he will likely grow into more. He runs very well for the class, a 6.8 runner at our Freshman Preseason All-State, and that was evident when he got underway on the double. There is a lot to like with this young left-handed hitter, who owns a sweet left-handed stroke that works on-plane throughout.  

Drake McClurg, OF, 2027, Center Grove (Indiana)

I got to see Drake versus Homestead this week, and my takeaway was that he was the most dynamic player that rolled through Grand Park this weekend, amongst a talented group of teams and players. The athleticism that the 5-foot-11, 185 pounder brings is abundantly clear in the way that he plays. He was all over two really solid arms and collected a pair of hits and a sac fly in this look. His first at-bat was really impressive, grabbing a single, stealing second and third, and coming around to score. He followed it up with a triple that he hammered down the right field line, and was 4.4 on the turn. The confident aura & clear competitiveness he brings is also an asset that he provides, and he is beginning to show hints of all five tools in-game. 

Camden Moore, 3B/UTL, 2027, Zionsville

I saw Moore take several at-bats this weekend at Grand Park, & continue to be bullish on the 6-foot-5, 200 pound right handed hitter. It is an athletic frame that has a chance to pack on strength that will translate to power in the near future. He showed me quality swing decisions with minimal chase, and a direct swing that has some strength already present. Walking away, my biggest takeaways here include : seeing him spit on chase BB late in-counts, the ability to hit when off-time, and some 'bounce' off the barrel on balls he squared up. The arm is the best raw tool at this point, and he showed some position versatility in three games playing - 3B, SS, & LF. He turned in a 4.54 H-1st on the lone run-time I got on him on the weekend. 

Sean Dunlap, C/OF, 2026, Crown Point (Tennessee)

I saw Dunlap lineup against Javy Carrera in an early season matchup, and it was great to see our No. 1 ranked prospect in the class versus velocity early in the spring. He took quality trips through throughout the night - highlighted by a pair of free passes, and a scolded double down the LF line. The 6-foot-3, 210 pound Tennessee recruit hunts pitches with aggression, looking to do damage, and manipulates his setup in order to do so. I have seen several good hitters early in the season, but Dunlap's bat speed surpasses them all. The swing is big at times - causing some direction issues, but that is to be expected with the offensive profile that he provides. He turned in a 6.69 at our Preseason All-State and some explosiveness out of the box in this look. The primary catcher played RF on this day, tracking well out there, and it is a solid secondary position for him. 

Caden Matusak, SS/RHP, 2026, Crown Point

I was curious to see Matusak in a game after he put up wowing numbers at our Preseason All-State in March : 105 exits, 6.87 60, & 95 across the infield. He played 2B in this look, with more than enough arm strength for that position, so it was difficult to really see the arm play, but it showed carry in between innings. He turned around a high-end arm for a single into right and also showed feel to manipulate the barrel & adjust on off-speed with a single into left that came with two strikes. He flashes big bat speed at times - but he has a tendency to get forward & handsy. He has the athleticism to continue to refine in the box - and the athlete is what I like here. He really fills out the uniform & is a solid runner underway - while also moving around the infield much better than you’d expect of a 6-foot-3, 195 pounder. 

Ben Canada, SS, 2027, Guerin Catholic

I was impressed with Canada at our Preseason All-State in March, where he showed off a blossoming set of tools and a more-physical look. As I dove into video, I liked him more and more, and his name continued to be brought up to me by various members of our Scouting Staff. Conner Madding got a look on him on Friday, and I loved the video he got on Ben, so I sat on the sophomore SS for about six at-bats & 9 innings in the field on Saturday. He is all of 6-foot-2, 180 pounds with a younger-look that leads me to believe there will be more physicality & impact. He took mature at-bats, showing feel for the strike zone, and collected a pair of hits against quality arms. He stayed on a left-on-left breaking ball for a firm PS ground ball single, and turned around an upper-80 fastball for a single through the box. It is a simple, minimalist swing, with little moving parts that are easy to repeat. He is soft on the front foot, allowing for solid swing decisions, and it is a silky path when everything is synced. If I have one knock at the plate, he has a tendency to get upper body-dominant and too steep with the path causing some over spin. On the dirt, he showed feel to handle the routine play and enough arm strength to turn the double play from second base. I think he eventually ends up as a left-side defender, but he mans 2B amongst a loaded Guerin infield as the lone underclassman of the bunch. I did not get a run time on this day, but is certainly a tool I am monitoring with Canada, who ran a 7.31 in March. 

Riley Ackerman, LHP, 2027, Crown Point

I caught Ackerman for a one-inning stint in my trip to Crown Point last week and walked away with a positive look. The projectable, 6-foot-2, 170 pound southpaw pitched at 82-84, touching 86 with some arm-side life on the heater. He flashes a future swing-and-miss slider at 72-73 that played with sharp sweep, and showed an upper-70s change as well. Ackerman continues to look the part of a slam-dunk LHP follow with a balanced delivery that features an upright torso and shorter stride. The arm works short and compact, with some arm speed as he turns it over to a mid-3/4 slot. 

Davis Moore, LHP, 2027, Zionsville

Moore showed quality stuff for the class in this look, but was quickly chased after leaving too many pitches up to good hitters that made him pay in this look. Walking away, I still felt good about the overall stuff he showed, sitting 81-84, T 86 on a running heater that got up to 20" of arm-side run per Trackman. His breaking ball was spun at 68-72 (2400s) and got 20" of sweep at times, and his mid-70s change reached up to 20" of arm-side, as well. The wiry, 6-foot, 160 pound frame has plenty of room to add strength, another trait to be bullish on here. 

Karson Smith, SS, 2026, Guerin Catholic

Smith is off to a hot-start to his junior campaign and he is one of the top shortstops still available in the class. The 6-foot, 170 pound athletic right-handed hitter went 4 for 5 in my look, collecting a pair of extra-base hits along with a single. The swing is short, and his ability to control his forward move puts him in an advantageous position to hit. He matches plane with a barrel that works slightly uphill, with quick hands to pair. He put two balls in play during this game that registered at 95-plus per Trackman, and is showing more impact in total thus far in the young season. He is a 6.6 runner, and that translates to range at short. His feet are really solid and his arm has left-side strength. He was up to 91 across the infield at the Preseason All-State, and showed the ability to use multiple arm slots in this look. 

Ian Taylor, OF, 2026, Guerin Catholic

Taylor is likely the best uncommitted hitter in Indiana's junior class and showed that tool off frequently this weekend. It is a strong, compact, 5-foot-10, 185 pound frame that holds present explosiveness and his peak exits already reach 105-plus. He starts from a hinged setup, before a bigger, hovering stride is made to time up the baseball. The explosiveness shows up in the launch and his flatter path creates lag through the zone. Taylor scolded a PS double in my look that came off the bat at 97, one of his (6) hits on the weekend. He is also showing that his 6.9 60-time plays up on the bases, with (7) stolen bases already in the young season. There is CF upside, as he boats a 90 mph OF arm as well, but the bat is certainly the carrying tool. 

By: Conner Madding (Indiana Area Scout & Director of Operations/Content)

Gannon Grant, RHP/SS, 2026, Center Grove (Tennessee)

I got a brief look at the 6-foot-2, 185 pound righty on the bump in a high-leverage relief stint on opening night. The Tennessee recruit retired all five batters he faced in his five-out save, striking out three. Grant pitched at 90-92 and touched 93 once. The pitch played with arm-side life. The breaking ball is a future whipeout, he spun it at 78-80 mph with sharp, late bite. He landed it whenever needed and got plenty of swings-and-misses with it. Grant did not show the changeup in this look, but it is another advanced secondary offering, playing in the upper 70s with late fade. The delivery is ultra-repeatable, Grant uses with a short stride down the slope with a fast arm that follows. The athletic junior also showed his two-way capabilities with quality actions at SS throughout the night and picked up a hit in the 1-0 Center Grove win.

Kellen Thomson, RHP, 2026, Center Grove (Ball State)

Thomson got the start on opening night versus Noblesville and worked five scoreless frames for the Trojans. An athletic and projectable, 6-foot-4, 185 pound right-hander, Thomson induced a ton of soft contact with a sinking 85-88 mph fastball. The Ball State recruit showed a breaking ball in the upper 70s that flashed sharp action. He used a 81-83 changeup sparingly to a heavy right-handed hitting lineup, but it plays nicely paired with the heater and is a quality secondary offering. The delivery is simple, lifting to a tall, athletic balance before a controlled move down the mound. The arm works free and easy on the back side, working to a high ¾ slot. I expect the velocity to continue to rise this spring for the former future gamer as the weather warms up.

Owen Lukac, LHP, 2026, Fishers (Evansville)

Lukac was one of my favorite arms of the week, coming in relief in a one run game. The 6-foot-1 southpaw punched three in one and 1/3 innings pitched, allowing one hit, zero earned runs, and walking one. He lifts to a moderate balance point before an athletic move down the slope. The arm works loose to a low ¾ slot. The fastball reached 89 multiple times early on with some life, he settled in at 86-88 mph. Lukac showed two above average secondary offerings, a sweeping 77-79 slider spinning in the 2700s and a 75-77 mph sinking changeup that he threw for strikes. I loved this brief look of Lukac after seeing him in the fall, three quality pitches for strikes was encouraging to see.

Eric McAtee, RHP, 2026, Center Grove

I got a solid look at the junior in a start this past Friday at Grand Park. The 6-foot-4, 195 pounder provided a quality start for the trojans. McAtee pitches with an up-tempo delivery, lifting to a tall balance point with an inward turn before a loose move down the slope. There is some rawness to the operation but the arm swing is uninterrupted and works with whip to an over-the-top slot. He sat 85-87 mph with the heater throughout, touching 88 twice. The fastball flashed some carry and he commanded it at an average clip. He showed two secondary offerings, a 71-74 mph slider with sweeper shape and he flashed a 75-76 mph changeup that showed some diving action. McAtee is an uncommitted arm our staff will continue to monitor closely this spring and into the summer due to the frame, arm action, and ultra-loose move that suggests the velocity could tick at anytime.

Connor Couch, RHP, 2026, Bloomington South

Couch is an uncommitted righty that I was excited to see this past weekend after an impressive bullpen at our Preseason All-State event in March. The arm works free & fast to a high ¾ slot, the delivery is up-tempo with intent to the operation. Couch was 87-88 early and settled in at 85-87 mph. He spun a quality, two-plane curveball at 70-73 mph and was comfortable landing it to both righties and lefties. The projectable, 6-foot-3, 200 pounder punched six batters in his four innings of work, walking one, and allowing three hits. The arm action and spin stood out most to me in this look and I’m eager to continue following the young, Bloomington South product.

Aiden Phillips, SS, 2026, Homestead

Phillips was a standout performer at our Preseason Preview event in early March and he caught my attention immediately with his strong & athletic 6-foot-2, 195 pound frame. He hit in the clean up spot in a talented Homestead lineup. He sets up in a balanced stance with a leg kick stride before turning the barrel tight across the chest, showing plenty of bat speed. He went to a no-stride approach with two strikes and was on the barrel in multiple trips to the plate. The uncommitted junior played 2B for the Spartans, showing solid actions and an above average arm. Phillips is an interesting uncommitted junior that our staff will continue to follow closely.

Luke Gremelspacher, RHP, 2026, Guerin Catholic

Gremelspacher is a junior arm from Guerin Catholic that I have seen progress from a young age. He got the start on Friday and went four and 1/3 scoreless innings. The frame is physical at 6-foot-3, 215 pounds. He lifts to a lower balance point and moves down the slope with even shoulders. The arm action is quick and compact to a low ¾ deceptive slot, providing a tougher look on hitters. Gremelspacher held 85-86 mph throughout, touching 87 mph once, the fastball plays with heavy arm-side run and some sink at times. He used the breaking ball as an out-pitch, and it showed true sweeper shape at 71-74 mph. He rounded out his three-pitch mix with a mid 70s fading changeup. The present stuff and overall control were encouraging to see from the righty.

Hayden Werner, RHP, 2026, Fishers

Werner got the start for Fishers versus Fort Wayne Carroll and earned the win. He tossed four innings of one-run baseball, relying mainly on a fastball/slider combo. The heater touched 88 mph once early before settling in at 85-87 mph with 12” of horizontal movement and 12” of induced vertical break. He induced some swing-and-miss with a short, 75-78 mph (2100s) slider, however the overall command of the pitch was inconsistent at times in this look. Werner flashed a 80-81 mph changeup with some fading action. He lifts to a tall balance before moving down the slope with pace. The arm works loose on the backside to a ¾ slot. There's plenty of room to pack on strength to his wiry, 6-foot-2, 175 pound frame.

Clayton Lenz, MIF, 2026, Avon

Lenz stood out throughout multiple games in the Avon lineup, collecting seven hits in thirteen trips to the plate across four games at Grand Park this past weekend. The junior has an athletic frame at 6-foot-0 165 pounds with plenty of room for more strength. The swing is simple with a quiet hand load and short stride forward, level bat path with solid barrel control. A reliable middle-infielder for the Orioles, Lenz showed controlled, athletic footwork throughout the weekend with a fringy arm. An above average runner, Lenz swiped three bags in four games.