By Nathan Rode
National Supervisor

Now that it’s officially 2016, we’re looking ahead at some of the top stories to follow throughout the year. In this week’s Hotlist, state directors submitted what to watch for in their state. Today, I’m doing the same, but including topics outside the PBR coverage area. There is some overlap, as a few entries in the Hotlist are also squarely on my radar. This is what I’m looking forward to…

Unusual Suspects: Depth In The Midwest
If you follow high school baseball or the draft at all, you know it’s a special year in the Midwest. Kansas and Wisconsin each have three prospects in the PBR Draft 100 while Missouri has two and, Iowa, Nebraska and North Dakota each have one. Kansas could produce a top-five pick for the first time since the Royals took Bubba Starling fifth overall in 2011. RHP Riley Pint (St. Thomas Aquinas HS, KS) is the No. 2 prospect in the country and touched 99 last summer.