Prep Baseball KY 2028 Watchlist - Part 1

March 20, 2025
Carter Floyd | Jamie Tessoff
KY Social Media Director | KY Scouting Director

The 2025 KHSAA baseball season is underway, this year featuring lots of new talent all across the Bluegrass State. This year's freshmen class is loaded with strength and skill, and we're excited to watch as even more high school newcomers break out for big seasons in 2025. As we work towards our Player of the Year candidates, first take a look at just a few of the freshmen prospects who will be making their presence known this season across the Commonwealth!

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Hayden Melton 3B/2B | Knox Central High School

The top ranked overall player in the 2028 class, Melton is looking for another big season in the southeastern corner of the Bluegrass State. In 2024, Melton led the Knox Central offense in hits, RBI, extra base hits and batting average (.463 AVG, 37 H, 31 R, 27 RBI, 13 XBH, 18 BB, 17 SB). The young utility prospect is also coming off a standout performance at the 2024 Junior Future Games, where he hit .625 with 7 RBI through just 10 PAs, including a grand slam. A multi-sport athlete at 6'1" 190lbs, look for Melton to continue his varsity success and lead the offense again this year.

Connor Harris RHP/1B | Frederick Douglass High School

The young two-way out of Lexington is one that the KY staff is very excited to follow as well, as the now healthy Harris is sure to receive solid varsity playing time during this freshman season. After dealing with injury last year that limited him to 2.0 IP in the high school season and almost no action in the summer, the 6'4" 185lb RHP/1B looks to comeback strong and have a breakout year, both offensively and on the mound on a very talented Frederick Douglass roster. Pitching success is no stranger to the Harris family, as older brother Leighton Harris is the reigning Prep Baseball KY Pitcher of the Year. The ceiling is equally as high if not higher for the young righty, who will be working with a FB well into the 80s now as well as devastating offspeed work.

Reace Vaughn SS/RHP | Taylor County High School

Vaughn has earned himself a varsity starting spot this season at SS as the leader of the infield in an uber talented Taylor County lineup. A two time Junior Future Games participant, Vaughn has found success against some of the top competition in the country and is looking to continue that in a tough 5th region. On the mound, the righty works with a firm FB and a high movement CB/SL/CH mix. At the plate, it's tough to find a hitter more scrappy than Vaughn, who is consistently a tough out for opposing arms. The fundamentals and pure athleticism are there for the young two-way, and it will be fun to watch him continue to develop over the course of his high school career.

Luke Gilliam RHP/3B | Madison Central High School

Now ranked as the top 2028 arm in the state, Gilliam is up to an impressive 87 mph on the fastball as part of a very strong four pitch mix. The young righty found loads of success this past summer at the Junior Future Games, emerging as the clear winner among the KY arms after going 5.0 IP with 10 K, 0 R, 0 BB and just 2 H in Team KY's opener. The RHP/3B has competed at the plate as well, making him a true two-way threat in the 11th region. There is certainly plenty of room to improve as he continues to grow physically and fill out his 6'1" 160lb frame. Look for Gilliam to have a big impact this season as he provides an immediate boost to the already talented Madison Central rotation.

John Crandall 2B/RHP | LEXINGTON CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL

Rounding out our first batch of 2028s is two-way John Crandall, now a part of the top-ten preseason ranked Lexington Catholic program. The young MIF/RHP has been a standout performer during both of his stints at the Junior Future Games, leading the offense this past summer with a .714 AVG and .800 OBP. The 5'10" 180lb MIF effortlessly finds the barrel, with an exit velocity up to 95mph. On the mound, Crandall shows excellent command on the fastball as well as high movement on the breaking ball and changeup. Look for Crandall to add an extra boost to a loaded Lexington Catholic roster this season.