2026 KY Scout Blog: State Games
August 25, 2026
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We are just a couple weeks removed from the second annual Prep Baseball KY State Games, hosted this year in St. Matthews at Voll Field! It was a phenomenal event to transition us from the summer into the fall season, with several prospects making noise during the showcase and gameplay sessions alike. In the midst of our Fall 2026 rankings updates, today we continue another Scout Blog feature from the event! Take a look at 20 impact names that made their presence known over the course of the weekend.👇
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Ty Burwash SS / 3B / Campbellsville, KY / 2029Looking the part of the top prospect at the event despite sharing the field with several older players, Burwash opened eyes in a drastic manner throughout my two-day look. There is some projection still to a 5-foot-11, 180-pound frame, but the "right now" abilities are what I grew fond of with Burwash. His batting practice round brought a mature, polished look as he set up in an open stance before making a slight coil to a semi-open launch, and turned an uphill / on-plane barrel that is adding impact abilities in a hurry. The top-ranked player in the class turned in rounded exit velos up to 98 mph while lofting the ball to a peak distance of 369 feet. Again the next morning, Burwash looked the part of one of the more-fundamental infield defenders at the event while taking a polished round at shortstop. For as much as I liked Burwash in workouts - he really won me over in the game portion. His first at-bat he stayed on a tougher left-on-left matchup for a hard-hit groundout.. and then he caught fire. Burwash proceeded to go RF double, CF double, then capped my look with a no-doubt homer to RF - all versus quality '27/'28 arms. He made every play on the infield, as well. What really stood out to me was Ty’s ability to quietly track and ignite a heavier barrel with little effort. He’s looked the part of a polished left-handed bat throughout my follows, with hands to stick on the dirt, and, if premier athleticism is developed, there is a path for Burwash to blossom into one of the top prospects that the Midwest has to offer in the 2029 class.
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Kip Allen SS / RHP / Whitley County High School, KY / 2029Allen was a favorite of mine throughout the summer circuit and he continued to fit that mold at this event. He is all-of his listed 5-foot-11, 175-pounds while bringing wiry athleticism and plenty of room to add impactful strength. The movement patterns are as silky as can be a prospect at this stage. He separates his hips and shoulders in a fluid manner while the operation is beginning to quicken on both sides. The value he brings as a left-handed hitting infielder provides the most value / ceiling. His hands work in an active manner in the setup with a shorter, quick barrel tip that triggers electric hands to shoot through the zone. The swing path works more level and line drive contact comes more often than power-type trajectories, but there is quality bat-to-ball ability to pair with the aforementioned strength gain projections likely to bring at least doubles power in the future. He has the hands and arm to stick on the dirt, though I think he may move off of short at some point, and he is a present average runner for the age with a chance for more. On the mound, the floor feels safe. The movement patterns are just as sweet here as he moves down the hill with a dynamic move, and an athletic arm stroke follows that produces a sinker/slider/changeup arsenal. Allen pitches in the mid-80s now with the changeup grading out at least one grade ahead of an average slider, but added strength / explosiveness could turn his sinking fastball into a real barrel-misser in a hurry. For now, I am betting on the movement patterns presented here with time likely to tell which side of the ball he will stick on.
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Neilan Bruce OF / LHP / Hopkins County Central High School, KY / 2029Rankings StateRank: 6 / POS: 1
For an inning of work, Bruce may have brought the most electric look of any arm at the event. It is a compact frame with present explosiveness at 5-foot-10, 185-pounds. The arm works in a quick, compact manner that allows him to spin the baseball at a highly-advanced clip. Bruce worked at 85-87 mostly and grabbed a rounded 88 on a cutting fastball, one that set the table for two potentially wipeout breaking balls. He flashed two shapes with the SL/CB blending some, but, regardless, the pitch got over 3k raw spin at times and played with late glove-side break that induced ugly swings and chases alike. Bruce showed a quality changeup at 79-82 as well, a pitch that cuts like the fastball but has some later-tumbling depth to fool hitters. There is not a ton to dream on with the frame and he did scatter it some in his second frame, but the ability to miss bats rivaled any arm at this event.
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Isaac Miller SS / 3B / Trinity, KY / 2029Rankings StateRank: 5 / POS: 2
Miller quietly showed out in all facets of the event while looking the part as one of the top 2029 prospects in the Bluegrass State. The body is an athletic 5-foot-11, 170-pounds with some room still to add a bit of strength, but there is present twitch to dream on that translates to a well-rounded toolset on the offensive side, and one of the quickest arms of the day on the bump. I think he could truly go either way, but I am partial to the upside he showed on the mound. It is a bit of a shorter stride as he uncoils with some authority to power a quick arm that generates a mid-80s (T 86.7) cutting fastball presently. He spun his low-to-mid 70’s breaking ball north-of 2600 on average and it played with some biting two-plane depth. The breaking ball brought a devastating look at times, though, with the shorter extension the delivery brings, hitters were able to get to it when it was left up. I am betting on the athleticism, hand speed, and supinated nature of the arm to continue to make jumps. On the offensive side, Miller swings a laggy barrel that brings impact to all-fields while showing the arm, hands, and athleticism to stick at a premier defensive spot. He launches from a really low hand position that could cause some holes, but there is clear barrel feel and adjustability to like. All-in-all, Miller brings a highly-intriguing skillset that could louden in a hurry with a strong offseason.
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Ethan York LHP / 1B / Greenwood, KY / 2028Rankings StateRank: 32 / POS: 3
York was my favorite amongst a stronger crop of rising junior arms in attendance at the State Games. There is ample projection to his 6-foot-2, 190-pound frame with added strength likely and even room for body comp improvements as he matures into his frame. He is younger for the class, and can look the part swinging the bat and moving around at first base, leading me to believe that he has the athleticism / upside to continue to make jumps. What you’re getting from York right now is a deceptive slot, multiple pitch shapes, and a near-zero vertical approach fastball that plays above its velocities. The southpaw pitched up to 87 while holding 83-86 throughout, attacking from a sub-5 release height at times as the heater plays with significant arm-side run. The slider lacks bite but is shaped well, while the changeup is the go-to and should be a bat-misser for him long term. There is a bit of wrap to the arm circle, but it turns over with quickness and stays moving throughout, which leaves me bullish still on the stuff taking at least one more jump before he gets to campus.
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Abe Mullins RHP / 3B / Montgomery County High School, KY / 2027Rankings StateRank: 17 / POS: 8
Mullins is one of the top unsigned seniors in the state of Kentucky and showed well in this look. A leaner, wiry athlete at 6-foot-3, 185-pounds with a loose, live right arm - Abe was dominant in his first inning and worked a shortened second frame with a limited pitch count coming off injury. Mullins easily sat 87-90+ on the fastball that showed above average carry, and he was able to tunnel a gyro slider with some late 2-plane dart at 77-80 off of it. He rounded out his mix with a 79-82 change that looked the part of a quality third offering. There is plenty to like with Mullins as he checks several boxes: quality stuff, movement patterns / arm action that will lead to more jumps, athleticism, and upside within the frame.
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Noah Breitner RHP / 1B / Central Hardin High School, KY / 2028Rankings StateRank: 6 / POS: 2
Burly 6-foot-2, 225 pound right-hander who had one of the better two-inning stints of the event. Gets to a moderate-sized balance point w/ stable back leg and some wrap to the lift. Higher frontside creates some deception as the long-but-looser arm turns over with strength to a higher release. Cut/ride fastball was well-executed at 85-88, touching 89, and he was able to bully with it over the white. The heater set the table for the rest of his mix, with his best secondary on the day being a big top-down curveball that worked in the low-70s. He showed an upper-70s change, but used it sparingly. The north-south arsenal brings the value here with still some ability to increase the stuff as more delivery refinements and body composition gains are made.
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Merrik Cornelius RHP / OF / Boyle County High School, KY / 2029Rankings StateRank: 2 / POS: 1
Cornelius showed off one of the strongest arms of any player on Day 1 and lived up to his high rankings within Kentucky’s 2029 class. It is an athletic frame at 5-foot-11, 187-pounds, still with some projection and present athleticism. He can really run and rotate; ran a 6.7 60-yard dash and has been triple digits off the bat in previous events. My greatest takeaway was the athletic traits and his ability to get middle-middle whiffs with his fastball. The FB worked in the mid-to-upper 80s and touched 89 from a high OTT slot with 19+ vertical break on average and 6-foot-5 extension. The control was average and his secondary feel is still developing, but he did flash a couple breaking balls that showed upside throughout his stint. Cornelius showed the makings of a future bat-missing right-hander with some traits to bet on for continued development.
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Tanner Ross LHP / OF / Henry Clay High School, KY / 2028Ross won me over this summer between a trio of outings that I saw, in which he was dominant in each. The State Games was my final look and Ross continued to look the part of a next-level starting pitcher that will pour strikes with various shapes. While the undersized frame does not fit the prototypical pitching prospect mold - unique / outlier releases are in-vogue and Ross certainly fits that bill. Ross poured four distinct shapes for strikes while repeating his delivery at an exceptional clip. He went 85+ at the peak on a 4S heater with bore that ran up and above RH bats. He also showed off a sinking version of the fastball within a similar velocity range. His 68-72 sweeper plays with big shape and he can use it as a land or chase pitch, though I left most bullish on his ability to pull-the-string on a mid-70s change that could give next-level hitters fits right now.
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Gage Burgett RHP / SS / Pikeville High School, KY / 2028Rankings StateRank: 14 / POS: 4
I was a fan of Gage in the winter and, by my evaluations, I thought he showed as one of the better righties at this event, especially amongst the 2028s. He used a balanced, slow-tempo delivery while a longer arm synced at an above average rate. There is some wrap to the arm action that hinders some repeatability, but the same wrap creates a bit of a unique fastball profile as it played with cut, run, and ride at times in the mid-to-upper 80s (T 88). He landed a low-70s breaking ball consistently and showed an above average changeup that worked in the mid-70s as well. A sneaky athlete who can also look the part at the hot-corner and in the batters box, the 6-foot-2, 205-pounder could easily take another jump coming out of next winter and should be monitored closely.
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Brayden Brand RHP / 3B / Henry Clay High School, KY / 2028Rankings StateRank: 50 / POS: 10
Brand quietly posted one of the best outings on the mound of Day 1 and, though not the biggest nor most electric arm, he left an impression on me. Brand came out and just poured mid-80s fastball for strikes (T 86) while mixing effectively with two quality offspeed offerings; a 2300+ mid-70s slider and sub-1500 76-79 change. I love the quick / compact nature of the arm action, along with the aforementioned command, all combining with an apparent competitiveness as he wasn’t afraid to attack hitters over the white. While he left the biggest impression on me on the mound, Brand also added a homer on the offensive side of the ball the next day.
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Griffin Gandee OF / Madison Central High School, KY / 2029Rankings StateRank: 39 / POS: 6
Gandee quietly looked the part of a promising RHH to follow in the 2029 class. I liked his batting practice round where he repeated a simple swing for louder outputs; peaking at 97.7 mph with quick hands igniting the barrel from an upright position with balance throughout the operation. I thought he took quality at-bats against older arms during gameplay and he even showed some unassuming straight-line speed / athleticism while turning in a 6.87 60-yard dash. The 5-foot-10, 180-pounder reminds me a bit of IN 2026 Gavin Jackson at the same age and exits this event as a close follow for the Kentucky staff for next spring. |
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Cole Jarnagin 2B / C / Boyle, KY / 2028Rankings StateRank: 40 / POS: 1
Jarnagin was another R/R bat I left impressed with as he showed well-rounded actions and tools, all while playing extremely hard at all times. Hitting out of a wide-based, hinged setup, Jarnagin maintains rhythm and fluidity throughout the swing despite hitting from a simplified base. The upper-half works short-to-long with adjustability at launch point. There are some innate bat-to-ball skills to like and he also got into sneaky power with a homer in-game and exits going north of 95 mph during batting practice. Defensively, it is a fundamental, quick-footed look in the middle of the infield. 6.80 runner.
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Logan Robertson SS / 2B / Central Hardin High School, KY / 2029Rankings StateRank: 34 / POS: 9
Robertson was a name I circled leaving this event and I am excited to see what kind of jumps he can make this winter as he heads into the vital sophomore season. A wiry, athletic, 5-foot-10, 150-pounder with clean rotational patterns, Robertson first showed off hints of future-impact twitch while looking the part in every way. A 7.1 runner, Robertson took a clean round of infield while showing the potential to stick at a premium defensive spot if he continues to trend in the right direction. The R/R profile may hinder the ceiling some, but I liked the swings that he took in both batting practice and gameplay and the aforementioned twitch already produces 92+ peak exits during batting practice. |
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Maximus Brunkel C / 3B / Conner High School, KY / 2027Rankings StateRank: 42 / POS: 2
At 5-foot-9, 198 pounds, Brunkel has continued to make strides physically and athletically over the past year, emerging as one of the top uncommitted catchers in the Commonwealth. A 2025 Future Games alum, Brunkle came out and showed well at the 2026 State Games, consistently finding the barrel throughout his at-bats while showing continued progress in limiting swing-and-miss. In BP, he showed a direct, powerful path to the baseball with strength behind contact, producing a 102 mph exit velocity. The athleticism has continued to improve as well, now running a 6.90 60-yard dash while showing the ability to pair his speed with legitimate strength in the box. Behind the plate, Brunkel showed solid arm strength, topping out at 80 mph. These improvements over the past year have helped elevate his overall profile and have held him firmly in the conversation as one of the top uncommitted catchers in Kentucky. |
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Evan Copher RHP / 2B / Montgomery County High School, KY / 2027Rankings StateRank: 46 / POS: 18
Copher made a strong case as one of the top uncommitted arms remaining in the Commonwealth. The athletic 5'11", 190-pound right-hander delivered a flawless two-inning outing, showing off a polished three-pitch mix with excellent tunneling on his secondary offerings. His fastball sat 86-88 mph and touched 89 with noticeable carry, paired with a late-breaking, sweeping curveball. Copher’s above-average pitchability yielded high-level swing-and-miss with stuff to match, making him a must-watch uncommitted prospect heading into this fall.
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Logan Mason 1B / RHP / Daviess County High School, KY / 2029Rankings StateRank: 24 / POS: 2
Mason put together an impressive BP session on Friday night, showcasing explosive raw power from a towering 6-foot-5, 207-pound athletic frame. Mason turned heads driving exit velocities nearing 100 mph while demonstrating an ability to create natural backspin and lift. For a young prospect with an XXL frame, he displayed remarkable quickness for his size, posting a 7.09 60-yard dash. His unique blend of size, power, and mobility gives him all the makings of a top-tier prospect in the Commonwealth in the coming years. |
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Kayden Nethery 3B / RHP / Male, KY / 2028Rankings StateRank: 83 / POS: 7
At a proportional 5-foot-10, 165 pounds, Nethery operates from a tall, balanced setup with a slight knee bend in the box. Offensively, he showcased advanced bat-to-ball skills with an innate feel for the barrel, consistently producing hard contact during his round and registering a loud 97 mph max exit velocity. Impressively, those tools translated seamlessly to live gameplay. Nethery was a consistent threat in the box, demonstrating a mature, low-whiff approach while showing excellent discipline to stay within the strike zone. Defensively, the athletic infielder looked the part at shortstop, moving fluidly with soft hands and clean, quick transfers. The arm plays easily across the diamond with athletic actions and solid carry, topping out at 82 mph. Coming off this impressive all-around showing, Nethery is firmly on the radar as a name to watch heading into his junior campaign.
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Cooper Parman 3B / RHP / Whitley County High School, KY / 2029Parman establishes himself as a premier name in the Commonwealth, taking home co-MVP honors from the event. The physical, explosive left-handed hitter put together a standout showing in both workout and live gameplay. Offensively, Parman sets up in a powerful, knee-bent stance with a lower hand slot, generating twitchy bat speed and high-level power through the zone. He backed up the eye test with a loud round of BP, posting exit velocities up to 99 mph. That power translates naturally into game action as Parman displays above-average bat-to-ball skills, showing the ability to drive the ball to the backside gap with authority while maintaining the quickness to turn and produce impact to the pull side. Defensively, the young ’29 exhibits solid footwork that projects cleanly at a corner spot, pairing his movement with a loose, three-quarter arm action across the diamond. Parman continues to cement his status as a high-follow prospect in Kentucky’s 2029 class.
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Jordan Wilmes OF / Trinity, KY / 2028Rankings StateRank: 88 / POS: 18
Wilmes has made a definitive name for himself this summer. Following an outstanding performance at the Top Prospect Games, the athletic left-handed hitter brought the same energy and production into this weekend’s workout. Offensively, Wilmes sets up from an athletic base, generating loose, fluid actions from the left side. He put together a very impressive round of BP, easily working the ball to all fields while demonstrating the ability to turn on pitches for pull-side power, registering exit velocities into the mid-90s. Those advanced bat-to-ball skills transition seamlessly into live gameplay; Wilmes consistently found the barrel during game action, spraying hard contact to all quadrants of the field. Defensively and on the basepaths, his premium athleticism takes center stage, highlighted by a blazing 6.62 60-yard dash. As a smooth-moving outfielder with an advanced offensive approach, Wilmes is firmly establishing himself as a must-know name in the Commonwealth for the next two years. |
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