KY Scout Blog: High School Invitational March 28-30
April 3, 2025
As the 2025 KHSAA season marches on, Prep Baseball KY is excited to continue in-depth scouting coverage of high school baseball in the Bluegrass State. We are happy to introduce our weekly Scout Blog feature, evaluating top performers that the staff sees throughout the state! This will provide an inside look at individual's skills, potential and performance.
Our first Scout Blog covers this past weekend's loaded High School Invitational, featuring some of the most elite talent across the state. Check out some of the standout performers!
 |
Cam Estep SS / 2B / Corbin High School / 2026Rankings StateRank: 26 / POS: 5
Estep shows a 5-foot-11, 165 pound lean & athletic frame. Estep showed throughout the weekend that he can handle velocity, while also displaying a direct bat path to the ball, and a quiet operation, with body control standing out. The uncommitted shortstop displayed good hands at short with quick feet, and he is a solid to better runner underway (6.77).
|
 |
Noah Cima OF / SS / Corbin High School / 2025Rankings StateRank: 27 / POS: 6
The uncommitted 2025 presents a 6-foot-3, 185 pound lean & physical frame w/room to fill. Cima displayed raw power at the plate this weekend, with a twitchy, flat swing that includes present bat speed and a chance to blossom into plus raw power. Cima had a tremendous weekend at the plate batting .400, and having a big home run for Corbin Friday night. He swiped three bases on the weekend to show his 6.64 60-yard dash translates in-game. The toolset is off the charts, along with the natural athleticism, and his ceiling is uber-high as he refines his game further.
|
 |
John Crandall 2B / RHP / Lexington Catholic High School / 2028Rankings StateRank: 4 / POS: 1
This young ‘28 stands with a 5-foot-10, 180 pound strong & physical frame. Crandall showed during this weekend he can handle velocity in the box, with a simple operation that includes future power. Plenty of traits stand out here - but the bat speed stands out most and is advanced for the class - he should start showing home run power sooner rather than later. It is a bat-first guy, but Crandall shows solid hands on the dirt with an above average arm for the class, too.
|
 |
Baird Woodall SS / 2B / LEXINGTON CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL / 2028Rankings StateRank: 21 / POS: 5
Athletic, undersized, 5-foot-9, 145 pound frame. Plays with a high motor and has a knack for making the right play. Offensively - bat-to-ball shined and even versus velocity. It is a simple, loose-wristed swing that works flatter though the zone, and he showed the ability to make hard contact to all parts. On the dirt, the feet stand out and are advanced for the age. Shows sure handed glove actions and a present average arm.
|
 |
Korben Lucas OF / 1B / Lyon County High School / 2025Rankings StateRank: 67 / POS: 13
Lucas stands at 6-foot-1, 190 pounds with a lean & athletic build along with some room to grow. The Frontier commit displayed a short compact swing with sneaky, twitchy power and a more contact-oriented approach. On the weekend, Lucas collected four hits in seven plate appearances, including a home run, and showed he has the ability to handle velocity at the plate. Lucas was a definite winner this weekend for Lyon County.
|
 |
Peyton Williams RHP / Lyon County High School / 2025Rankings StateRank: 5 / POS: 2
Williams had one of the more dominant stints of the weekend. He walked his first two batters of the night, and then proceeded to strike out the next nine for three scoreless frames in total. It is a massive 6-foot-3, 215 pound frame from the converted catcher committed to Western Kentucky. He sat 88-92 with a riding fastball that missed bats, bullying. He showed the ability to manipulate spin with a downer CB and sharp SL that both played in the upper 70s to low 80s, both spinning over 2400 and into the 2500s. The breaking ball was used to get chase late and came out the hand with a fastball look. He uses a slower, methodical lift to coil his hips, and he uncoils with an explosive move as the arm works to an over the top slot. The arm works with strength over speed and he has a chance to blossom into a power back-end bullpen arm. |
 |
John Bingham RHP / SS / Lyon County High School / 2025Rankings StateRank: 3 / POS: 1
A 6-foot-1, 175 pound Mississippi State recruit that represented Kentucky at this year’s Super 60. Bingham uses a Louis Tiant-esque delivery showing the hitter the numbers on his back before uncoiling down the slope with a dynamic, intentful move. The rotational nature of his delivery causes some control issues, but when synced his 88-90 mph fastball came out with some life. He struggled to command his off speed pitches in this look, but he featured a mid 70s slider and a mid 80s change. There is some refinement to be made certainly, but the dynamic movement patterns and fast arm are traits to bet on in the long-term.
|
 |
Hudson Phillips UTL / Lyon County High School / 2028Phillips stands in at 6-foot, 165 pounds with an athletic frame that has plenty of projection.. Phillips showed a short swing this weekend with good barrel control and hard contact to all parts of the field. He provided an upside look on the mound, as well, and the arm is a tool to dream on. Good ‘28 follow.
|
| |
Colton Prow C / Lyon County High School / 2028Prow took advantage of his early season opportunity as a freshman getting a start for Lyon County. He is a big presence with a 6-foot-2, 230 pound frame. Prow collected three hits on night one, showing abv avg bat speed within a short, tight path. The knob works tight to the chest as he tilts behind and his lower half is controlled throughout - using a hover-type with less than 2K & a heel-lift w 2K.
|
 |
Bradyn Hall OF / Pikeville High School / 2025Rankings StateRank: 93 / POS: 21
The uncommitted senior has a lean & lanky frame with projection to it. Hall displayed good foot speed on the base paths this weekend and a short and simple approach at the plate with a contact approach and sneaky pull-side juice. He showed good bat to ball skills at the plate, with minimal swing & miss, profiling as a top of the lineup type. Hall had no issue tracking balls down in the OF and has a chance to stay in CF at the next-level.
|
 |
Max Phillips OF / LHP / Trinity High School / 2027One of the states’ top two-way sophomore talents provided an outstanding look on the bump to close on Day 1. All of 6-foot-4 with a frame that immediately jumps out at you when he gets off the bus, it projects to turn into a pro frame with strength gains. He is a natural mover on the hill, moving with a slower, controlled tempo and slight cross-fire landing. It is a loose, compact, easy effort arm action that produced an 85-87 fastball that touched 88 on his best bullet. He showed some ability to manipulate shape on a 71-76 breaking ball. Known best for his abilities in the left-handed box, Phillips looked the part in this outing of one of the top left-handed pitching prospects in the Midwest in his grad class. On Day 2 - Phillips showed his sweet left-handed stroke with a 3 for 3 day. The ceiling remains uncapped for this talented ‘27 out of Trinity, who should be sought-after come August 1.
|
 |
Gray Davis RHP / SS / Trinity High School / 2027Kentucky’s top ranked sophomore was dominant in this one, racking up nine punchouts in six innings with four hits and one walk en route to the win. He is a fringe 6-footer with an athletic, 195 pound frame. The delivery is athletic and he breaks his hands as he makes his forward move to remain in sync. The arm action is full with electric arm speed and he gets to a ¾ slot. Davis pitched at 88-91 mph and touched 92 twice. He sunk it, especially down and to his arm-side, with occasional ride/run at the top of the zone to get above barrels. The slider has future out-pitch written all over it, playing at 77-80 with sharp sweep. In summation, he commands the ball, with two quality offerings and a flash of a third (80 CH), and athleticism shining throughout. He offered some two-way upside with a loose-wristed, right-handed swing that holds above average bat speed.
|
 |
Hudson Meredith LHP / OF / Trinity High School / 2027Meredith was dominant in his two innings of work, striking out all six batters he faced in his relief stint. He holds a 6-foot-1, 185 pound frame that has some projection left to it. The fastball sat 85-86 mph on this day, touching 88 twice, and he was up to 89 in a ‘pen over the off-season. The breaking ball is a present out-pitch, spinning at 76-77, and he got plenty of swings and misses with it on this day. Commanding the baseball & changing speeds/eye levels are his biggest strengths, and he has an at least above average change up in the bag, though it was not needed in this appearance. Meredith uses a slower tempo lift before getting down the mound with a well-sequenced, in-line, balanced delivery. The arm works loose on the backside and gets to a high three-quarter slot at release. Walking away, you feel good throwing a starters’ tab on Meredith, who should be one of the highest regarded recruits in Kentucky’s 27 class. |
 |
Grayson Willoughby RHP / 3B / Trinity High School / 2026The 2024 FG Participant has a 6-foot-2, 185 pound athletic & physical frame. Willoughby has good arm speed, and pitches from an OTT arm slot, his FB this weekend sat 88-92 mph, and up to 93 mph, his spin ranged from 2300-2400 RPMs. He got swings-and-misses with a 75-76 mph slider, and spun it at 2300-2400 RPM. Willoughby is gaining helium as one of the top right-handed prep prospects in the class after grabbing a 95 in the Preseason and a solid start to his junior campaign. |
 |
Nolan Hosking 1B / OF / Trinity High School / 2026Rankings StateRank: 16 / POS: 1
The Louisville recruit took away MVP honors from this event with an eye-popping stat line that is as follows : .500 avg, 3 R, 7 RBI, 3 HR, 1 BB. The most dangerous hitter at the event was Hosking, who owns a 5-foot-10, 200 pound frame with present strength throughout. He creates advanced bad speeds within a simple, repeatable operation. He sets up in a grounded stance with a small load/stride timing mechanism and his head remains quiet throughout. The barrel works on a short path and he has feel to hit the ball at the front of the hitting zone. His wrist strength stood out to me with a couple of his home runs on the weekend coming from balls down in the zone that he flicked over the left field wall with ease. It is a bat first profile for the primary first baseman, but he looks the part of a real run producer that could make an early impact at the next level.
|
 |
Zach Floyd OF / C / TRINITY High School / 2026Rankings StateRank: 9 / POS: 2
The 2024 FG standout has a short, clean, left-handed stroke that was on display this weekend. Floyd has a physical, 6-foot, 210 pound frame, and is also a plus runner (6.43). He holds speed/power upside with twitchy strength in a short, compact swing. The Louisville commit profiles as a next-level CF and if the power continues to come, has a chance to draw some pro attention next spring.
|
 |
Brayden Bruner OF / LHP / Pleasure Ridge Park High school / 2025Rankings StateRank: 60 / POS: 11
Bruner turned in a plethora of mature at bats, quality takes throughout, and an accurate barrel on balls in the hitting zone. He is a lean, wiry 5-foot-11, 165 pounder and he is an above average runner to better underway. He sets up in a quiet, athletic stance with a short, compact load and repeatable stride where he is soft on the front foot. The head remains quiet throughout the operation and his barrel is on plane early and gets to extension. The Bellarmine recruit got on base at a .500 clip throughout the weekend driving in four runs, scoring four of his own, and hitting a home run in his first at bat of the weekend.
|
 |
Ravon Lee Jr OF / 2B / Pleasure Ridge Park high school / 2026Rankings StateRank: 22 / POS: 4
Lee is a premier athlete who stood out for PRP. It is a 6-foot-2, 190 pound frame that looks like a division one wide receiver presently. He runs like it, too, turning in a 3.69 on a drag and a 4-flat on a ground ball to second base. The swing is handsy, flat, and works across the zone, but there is wiry strength present for at least average raw power. He is a threat on the bases with a chance to stick in centerfield with more reps out there.
|
| |
Deuce Harris OF / Pleasure Ridge Park High School / 2025Harris was a key cog in the PRP offense and helped them to two wins in two games. He is a stocky, athletic, 5-foot-10 185 pound outfielder with a plus run tool. Hitting from the left side, it is an athletic operation with a later barrel tip and loose, leveraged swing that plays with above average bat speed presently. There is more juice than the compact frame suggests, and he showed barrel feel across the weekend, with enough bat control to lay down a bunt when needed. He holds centerfield upside at the next level and is a name to know, uncommitted senior from Kentucky.
|
| |
Nik Carter 3B / RHP / Larry A. Ryle High School / 2027Slow-tempo lift before a dynamic move is made down the slope that allows him to get above average extension. He lands slightly closed and the front-side works passive throughout. The arm works freely on the backside before getting to a low ¾ slot. Carter ran his fastball up to 86 in two innings of work, holding 82-85. The slider showed as a looser sweeper at 70-72 and likely sharpens now if he learns to throw it harder. He flashed an abv avg change at 78 that he killed spin on (1292). Carter is a ‘27 arm that is a definite follow moving forward, and could likely tick into the upper-80s rather quickly.
|
 |
Dylan McIntyre RHP / 3B / Larry A. Ryle High School / 2025Rankings StateRank: 6 / POS: 3
McIntyre is an athletic 6-foot-1, 190 pounder committed to San Jac and he got the start on Saturday & his line is as follows : 5 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 8 K. He showed above average command in total with 60% strikes throughout the start. The fastball came out at 90-92 in the first, touching 93, and spin in the 2400s. He settled at 88-91 and the fastball played with heavy arm side life, and occasional sink. The slider is his best pitch, an upper 70s wipeout that spun north of 2700 with sweeper shape. He rounded out a three pitch mix with the low to mid 80s change up (1400s) that he used sparingly, but it is an above average offering. There is starters’ upside here with the low-intent, athletic delivery and three above average pitches. The arm gets deep, but he turns it over with quickness and it plays at a three-quarter slot. McIntyre showed a low pulse presence on the mound and competed over the white on a consistent basis while working with quick tempo.
|
 |
Jaxson Howard RHP / SAYRE SCHOOL / 2025Rankings StateRank: 33 / POS: 13
Howard was tasked with entering the game against number one Trinity with the bases loaded and no outs in the second inning. He proceeded to strike out the next three, and then he retired 9 of his next 10, & his final line was as follows : 4 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 7K. Howard is an extremely projectable arm standing at 6-foot-6 and only 190 pounds. His fastball played at 85-87 mph on this day with a steep vertical approach angle that caused swing & miss from his high over the top arm slot. There was some manipulation to his breaking ball that played at 73-77 mph, with his best spin showing downer action and playing with some sharpness. Howard showed a potential starters’ look with three pitches for a strike, and rounded out his mix with an upper 70s change (1500s). A really good athlete, there is room for refinement in the delivery that should bring more velocity to the Bellarmine recruit.
|
 |
Cole McLean LHP / OF / Taylor County High School / 2026McLean is off to a hot start in his junior campaign & our look this weekend was extremely positive. The future Tennessee Vol blanked Lyon County for six innings, allowing six hits, one walk, and he struck out 11. His upper-80s fastball (T 89) played with heavy arm side run and missed bats routinely. He subtracted with a mid 70s sweeper and upper 70s change, both above average pitches now that he has plenty feel for, and the breaking ball is a future-plus. The 6-foot-1 athletic mover gets quality hip to shoulder separation within a balanced delivery, but the arm action stands out most. The arm gets to a full circle on the backside with easy intent throughout and a loose whip to a slightly lower than three-quarter arm slot. He has a chance to be a starter at the next level when you combine the present above average stuff, easy delivery, pristine arm action, with present feel to pitch. McLean was Kentucky’s pitcher of the week last week, with his two-start stat-line for the week as follows : 13 IP, 8 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 30 K!, & 2-0 record.
|
 |
Luke Hayes C / RHP / Taylor County High School / 2025Rankings StateRank: 35 / POS: 3
The 2023 FG Alum has a 6-foot-2 180 pound strong & athletic frame. The Morehead commit works well behind the plate with soft hands, athletic lateral movements, and throws from a short mid ¾ slot. At the plate, Hayes has a short, level path with some raw power that is elevated by solid bat-to-ball skills. |
 |
Kole Grundy 3B / RHP / Somerset High School / 2026Rankings StateRank: 11 / POS: 1
Grundy is one to dream on, certainly, and represented Team Kentucky at this year's Prep Baseball Future Games. He has legitimate two-way upside as a 3B/RHP and both were on display in my looks this weekend. There is still room to add strength to his 6-foot-5, 210 pound frame that should bring real raw power down the road, with some already present evident in the 100+ exits he has posted. He is an above average runner for the frame, as well, with a chance to stick on the left-side considering the abv avg to better arm strength he provides. Offensively, he sets up in a wider stance and loads with quiet hands and slow feet & his flatter swing has present abv avg bat speed. On the mound - Grundy’s best pitch was his mid-70s slider that he spun at 2700+ throughout his start. His low-to-mid 80s (T 86) fastball played up because of the slider feel and he showed an upper-70s change, as well. He looks the part of a starter with a low-intent delivery and its easy to dream on the velocity climbing as he matures. In total, it is a projectable athlete with upside to like on both sides of the ball.
|
 |
Caynan Sizemore SS / 3B / Somerset High School / 2026Rankings StateRank: 27 / POS: 6
The 2024 FG alum stands at 6-foot-1, 205 pounds with an athletic, broad-shouldered frame. Sizemore has good body control at the plate with an easy, direct path that includes present bat speed and strength. Sizemore is a fundamental defender with above average arm strength and his instincts stand out on the dirt, along with the high-motor he provides.
|