2026 KY High School Invitational: Scout Blog
April 23, 2026
As the 2026 KHSAA season rolls on, we take a look back at the Prep Baseball KY High School Invitational and highlight some of the top performers from a loaded weekend in Somerset. With talent-packed rosters from across the state, this event provided a great look at individual tools, in-game performance, and future potential. Take a closer look at some of the standout players who made their mark across the weekend!
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FRIDAY, MARCH 27
BOYLE COUNTY VS. WHITLEY COUNTY
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Caeden Patterson RHP / 3B / Boyle County High School, KY / 2027Rankings StateRank: 16 / POS: 7
Troy Commit. Patterson delivered a strong 7 inning performance, allowing just 5 hits while punching out 10 and filling the zone at a 69% strike rate. Patterson ran the fastball up to 90mph and did an excellent job pairing it with his secondary arsenal, showing advanced command to keep hitters off balance throughout the outing. The Troy commit consistently generated weak contact and ground balls, looking every bit the part of a key arm for the Rebels’ staff this season.
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Kip Allen RHP / SS / Whitley County High School, KY / 2029Rankings StateRank: 10 / POS: 2
Allen turned in a strong outing on the mound, working 4 innings while allowing just 1 hit and striking out 4 against a solid Boyle County lineup. The young right-hander ran the fastball up to 85mph while mixing a solid secondary arsenal, attacking the zone at a 63% strike rate to keep hitters off balance throughout the night. A 2025 Prep Baseball Junior Future Games alum, Allen is a talented ‘29 to keep an eye on this spring as he impacts the game both on the mound and in the box.
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FREDERICK DOUGLASS VS. SOMERSET
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Kole Grundy 3B / RHP / Somerset, KY / 2026Rankings StateRank: 8 / POS: 1
Georgia Southern Commit. The 6’5, 210lbs right-hander possesses a physical XXL frame with plenty of presence on the mound. An effortless mover with long levers, Grundy ran his fastball up to 87 mph while showing quality spin up to 2215 RPM, consistently filling the zone and challenging hitters with confidence. He paired the fastball with a true downer curveball that works well off the heater, showing the ability to land it in the zone for strikes while also generating swing-and-miss when expanded below it. Over 5 innings of work, Grundy punched out 7 hitters while issuing just one walk, displaying both stuff and control. A 2024 Future Games participant, Grundy looks poised for a big senior season and should be a major impact arm for the Briar Jumpers.
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Caynan Sizemore SS / 3B / Somerset High School, KY / 2026Rankings StateRank: 33 / POS: 9
Centre College Commit. Sizemore turned in a big night at the plate, going 2 for 3 with a run scored, 2 RBIs, and a walk to pace the Briar Jumpers’ offense. Sizemore plays with a physical yet athletic frame and moves well in the infield, pairing it with quality bat-to-ball skills and developing power potential at the plate. The Centre College commit looks poised to be a key middle of the order bat for Somerset throughout his senior campaign this spring.
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Alex Whitaker OF / RHP / Frederick Douglass High School, KY / 2028Rankings StateRank: 16 / POS: 5
Impressive night out of the bullpen for Whitaker, working 3.2 innings with 4 strikeouts while allowing 1 run on 4 hits. The young right-hander operates in the low-to-mid 80s with a firm fastball/curveball mix that generated swing-and-miss, consistently filling up the zone and showing confidence attacking hitters. Whitaker established a presence on the mound in this look and also profiles as a threat in the box with both power and contact ability, making him a ‘28 to follow throughout the remainder of his sophomore season and into the summer.
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SATURDAY, MARCH 28
WHITLEY COUNTY VS. HENRY CLAY
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Cooper Parman 3B / RHP / Whitley County High School, KY / 2029Rankings StateRank: 3 / POS: 1
#3 ranked player in Kentucky’s 2029 class, Parman turned in a dominant performance going 7-for-8 at the plate with 3 RBIs and 2 runs scored at the KYHSI26, while consistently finding the barrel throughout the weekend. The 5’10 190-pound LHH features a physical yet athletic frame and shows the ability to drive the baseball to all fields while maintaining advanced bat-to-ball skills for his age. Parman also contributed on the mound, tossing one inning of relief and retiring the side in order with a strikeout and no hits allowed. The young freshman is off to a red-hot start to his high school career, currently hitting .446 with 25 hits, 15 extra-base hits, and 2 home runs, while showing impressive barrel control with just 2 strikeouts in 56 at-bats this season.
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Garrett O'Donnell C / 1B / Henry Clay High School, KY / 2026Rankings StateRank: 127 / POS: 17
Hanover Commit. O’Donnell, a physical and athletic LHH, turned in a strong performance against a solid Whitley County club, going 2-for-3 with a walk while consistently working the baseball to all fields. The ‘26 shows a short, efficient path to the ball and does well with keeping the barrel in the zone through contact, allowing him to produce quality at-bats throughout the game. O’Donnell is off to a solid start to his senior season and looks poised to put together a quality final campaign this spring for Henry Clay.
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SAYRE VS. UNIVERSITY HEIGHTS
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Ryan Luckey OF / 2B / University Heights Academy, KY / 2026Uncommitted. Luckey plays with a slightly undersized but twitchy and athletic frame., He turned in an impressive performance against a solid Sayre Spartans pitching staff, going 3-for-4 with 2 runs scored and 2 RBIs. The ‘26 showed quality bat-to-ball skills throughout the day, consistently finding the barrel and putting together competitive at-bats. Luckey also stood out defensively in the outfield, showing good reads off the bat and the ability to track the baseball well, while making a couple of impressive plays that highlighted his athleticism and instincts in the field.
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Joaquin Acevedo OF / RHP / SAYRE Lexington, KY / 2027Rankings StateRank: 79 / POS: 14
Uncommitted. Acevedo features an athletic, twitchy 5 '10, 161-pound frame and showed well offensively with a short, direct swing path that works well behind the baseball. The ‘27 displays natural power to all fields while consistently staying through the ball, pairing it with quality pitch recognition and a mature approach at the plate. The uncommitted outfielder will be one to keep an eye on throughout the remainder of the spring and into the summer as he continues to make an impact for the Spartans.
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LEXINGTON CATHOLIC VS. BOYD COUNTY
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John Crandall 3B / RHP / Lexington Catholic High School, KY / 2028Rankings StateRank: 4 / POS: 2
3x Prep Baseball Junior Future Games participant continues to show why he’s regarded as one of the top bats in Kentucky’s ‘28 class. The 5’9, 212lbs corner infielder brings a physical, explosive, athletic frame and consistently stays on the barrel in game, flashing raw power while showing the ability to spray the ball to all fields. Ranked No. 4 in Kentucky’s 2028 class, Crandall had a big weekend in Somerset collecting multiple barrels while showing quality swing decisions in the box and athleticism defensively, projecting as a major piece of Lexington Catholic’s lineup.
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Eamon Hughes LHP / 1B / Lexington Catholic High School, KY / 2027Rankings StateRank: 71 / POS: 7
Uncommitted. Hughes showed well across 5 innings of work, allowing just 1 hit and 1 walk while also striking out 11 and filling the zone up at a 68% strike rate. The 6’3, 215lbs left-hander features an explosive frame and a short, over-the-top arm action, working with a firm 83–85 fastball that he confidently challenged hitters with while consistently drawing weak contact. He mixed the fastball effectively with a curveball he could land in the zone to keep hitters off balance, profiling as a crafty arm that should play a key role on the mound for Lexington Catholic during his junior season.
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Jace Manning RHP / 3B / Boyd County High School, KY / 2027Uncommitted. Impressive first look at the 6’2 170lbs QB/RHP as he tossed 4 innings with 8 strikeouts while showcasing swing-and-miss stuff. The uncommitted ‘27 works from a smooth high ¾ slot, running a heavy fastball at 87–88 with spin up to 2612 while pairing it with a tight-spinning slider in the 2400s that plays well off the heater. Through 6 innings so far this spring, Manning has racked up 13 strikeouts while allowing just 4 hits and 2 runs, quickly establishing himself as an uncommitted ‘27 arm to keep an eye on this season.
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HENRY CLAY VS. BOYLE COUNTY
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Kyler Claunch SS / RHP / Boyle County High School, KY / 2027Rankings StateRank: 13 / POS: 2
Eastern Kentucky Commit. The twitchy, athletic playmaker with a slightly undersized frame plays the game with high energy and clear damage intentions every time he steps on the field. A 2025 Future Games alum, Claunch is known for his advanced bat-to-ball skills and ability to consistently put together competitive at-bats, making him a tough out in the lineup. This weekend he showed his impact on both sides of the ball for Boyle County, turning in a clean inning on the mound with three strikeouts while running the FB up to 87 mph with 2429 RPM spin, pairing it with a 78–80 mph SL that generated swing-and-miss. With his versatility and competitive edge, Claunch projects as an important piece on a loaded Boyle County roster as they look to make a deep run this season with their sights set on a trip to Lexington.
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Logan Perry OF / RHP / Boyle County High School, KY / 2027Rankings StateRank: 17 / POS: 5
Uncommitted. The athletic, & balanced 6 '0, 185lbs LHH continues to show why he is one of the top uncommitted left-handed bats in the state. At the 2026 Kentucky High School Invitational, Perry consistently found the barrel in game action, collecting multiple quality at-bats while showing the ability to work the ball to all fields. A key piece of the Boyle County lineup, Perry impacts the game in multiple ways with his ability to drive the ball in-game, use his speed on the bases, and flash emerging power in the box when needed. With his well-rounded offensive profile, the uncommitted ‘27 LHH will be a name to follow closely across the Commonwealth heading into the summer.
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BRECKINRIDGE COUNTY VS. LEXINGTON CATHOLIC
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Tristan Wicker RHP / Breckinridge County High School, KY / 2027Rankings StateRank: 20 / POS: 9
Uncommitted. Wicker has jumped out to a red-hot start this spring, showing advanced feel on the mound while mixing his arsenal effectively to keep hitters off balance. The slightly undersized right-hander works with an upbeat rhythm, running the fastball in the mid-80s and touching the upper-80s with some ride, pairing it with a sweeping slider that spins up near 2900 and a mid-70s curveball with true hammer action and spin in the mid-2000s. With the ability to land all three for strikes while generating swing-and-miss and weak contact, Wicker is emerging as one of the top uncommitted ‘27 right-handers in the state.
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Baird Woodall SS / 2B / Lexington Catholic High School, KY / 2028Rankings StateRank: 10 / POS: 2
2024 Prep Baseball Junior Future Games alum is an athletic, twitchy middle infielder who continues to show feel for the barrel early this season. Despite a slightly undersized frame, Woodall consistently works the ball to all fields while showing advanced bat-to-ball ability and a high baseball IQ on the bases. The young ‘28 looks poised to be a name to follow across the Commonwealth as he continues to develop into the summer.
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SUNDAY, MARCH 29
UNIVERSITY HEIGHTS VS. FREDERICK DOUGLASS
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Connor Harris RHP / 1B / Frederick Douglass, KY / 2028Rankings StateRank: 5 / POS: 1
The 6’4, 223lbs right-hander brings a physical presence to the mound for the Broncos and continues to show promising upside early in his prep career. Harris works with a FB at 84–86 mph with 2200–2300 RPM spin, showing ride through the zone that helps the pitch play up. He pairs it with a 73–76 mph SL that shows the feel to land in the zone while also generating swing-and-miss out of it. At the 2026 Kentucky High School Invitational, Harris turned in an impressive 2.0 inning outing, striking out four while not allowing a hit, flashing the traits that make him an intriguing young arm in the class. The ‘28 RHP projects to be a key piece of the Frederick Douglass rotation moving forward and is a name to follow across the Commonwealth as he continues to develop into the summer.
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AJ Hogart OF / 3B / University Heights Academy, KY / 2027Rankings StateRank: 18 / POS: 6
Uncommitted. One of the top uncommitted bats in the 2027 class in the Commonwealth, Hogart continues to show a strong offensive profile early this spring. The 6’0, 206lbs RHH displays quality bat-to-ball skills with present raw power, allowing him to impact the middle of the lineup for the Blazers. Hogart has produced so far this season, hitting .329 with 11 hits, 4 XBH, and 12 RBIs, showing his ability to consistently find the barrel. At the 2026 Kentucky High School Invitational, the Future Games alum showed advanced feel for the barrel and disciplined at-bats throughout the event. With his physical build and offensive production, Hogart looks poised to be another uncommitted ‘27 name to follow closely across the state as he heads into the summer.
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BOYD COUNTY VS. BRECKINRIDGE COUNTY
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Cole Adams LHP / 1B / Boyd County High School, KY / 2026Cincinnati commit. Adams, a smooth-moving and athletic 6’1, 205lbs LHP, turned in a dominant outing by filling up the strike zone and tossing 4 clean innings while allowing just one hit. The fastball worked 89–91 mph, touching 93, showing quality arm-side run with sink, while his changeup (82–83 mph) played well off the heater by killing spin down to 1502 RPM to disrupt timing. He also mixed in a 78–81 mph slider with the ability to generate swing-and-miss. Adams is off to a hot start to his 2026 season, logging 13.2 innings with just 3 hits allowed and 2 runs, while striking out 26 and walking only 6. The 2024 Future Games participant looks poised to be an arm to watch across the Commonwealth this spring and continues trending as a potential helium riser heading into July.
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SOMERSET VS. SAYRE
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Gary Gibson II RHP / OF / Sayre School, KY / 2026Rankings StateRank: 7 / POS: 3
Uncommitted. Gibson turned in a big weekend at the plate, consistently finding the barrel while showing a strong blend of power and contact ability. The ‘26 worked the ball with authority to the pull side, launching two home runs while driving in 3 RBIs and scoring 2 runs. Gibson’s offensive performance highlighted his ability to impact the baseball when he gets extended, and he projects as one to watch out of the 11th Region this spring. In addition to his offensive production, Gibson is expected to return to the mound soon, giving him the chance to finish his high school career as a true two-way threat for Sayre.
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Patrick Donworth LHP / OF / Sayre School, KY / 2027Rankings StateRank: 32 / POS: 5
Uncommitted. Donworth features a lean, athletic 6’3, 182lbs frame and showed well in a short outing on the mound. The crafty left-hander works his fastball in the low-to-mid 80s and pairs it with a quality curveball that has the ability to generate weak contact while continuing to develop the feel to land it consistently in the zone. Donworth was effective in his appearance, tossing 2.1 innings while striking out 5, showing the ability to miss bats and keep hitters off balance. The uncommitted ‘27 projects well on the mound and will be one to keep an eye on moving forward as he continues to develop for the Spartans.
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