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Top 10 Stories of 2025: #10 - Paducah Fall ID

December 8, 2025
Prep Baseball KY Staff

December has officially arrived and it's time to begin our 2025 Year in Review! Over the next few weeks, we will be reflecting on an excellent year for the Bluegrass State and reviewing the Top 10 Stories of 2025. Coming in at #10 on the list, we have our inaugural Paducah Fall ID showcase!

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As we begin our Top 10 Stories of 2025, we look back at an event that represented a meaningful step forward for Prep Baseball KY! For several years, we have wanted to extend our reach into the far western part of the state. This fall, that push materialized with the inaugural Paducah Fall ID, giving us our first full showcase look at a wide group of players from western Kentucky. This debut event brought in a mix of new prospects, returning standouts, and several players who have continued to trend upward throughout the year. The result was a strong first chapter for an event that already feels like it will become a key part of the KY showcase circuit!

One of the most notable aspects of this event was the number of players attending a Prep Baseball showcase for the first time. Several of them delivered performances that immediately placed them on the KY staff’s radar.

2028 C Kaiden Ford led that group with one of the more well-rounded debuts we have seen in the '28 class. Ford posted a 92.6 mph exit velocity, 81 mph arm, and an even 2.00 pop time, paired with a 6.70 second 60 that speaks to his athletic base. It was a complete look from the young backstop that landed him at the #4 catcher ranking in Kentucky’s 2028 class following the event.

Another newcomer who made noise was 2026 OF/LHP Luke Turner. The Marshall County two-way turned in a loud round of BP with a 97.5 mph exit velocity and 322 ft. max distance, supplementing that with a 7.10 s 60 yard dash and 80 mph OF velocity. The combination of strength and movement stood out and gave him some real momentum heading toward his senior spring.

2026 two-way Brandon Dutton put together a productive first showcase as well. Dutton touched 85 mph on the mound with spin rates north of 2200 rpm, ran a 6.89 s 60, matched the 85 mph mark during his defensive evaluation, and showed clean swings in BP. It was a balanced look across the board as the Paducah Tilghman righty heads towards his senior season.

Alongside the newcomers, several familiar faces from western Kentucky further validated their progress this fall.

2026 SS/C Kendrick Dunning, a 2024 Future Games participant, turned in one of the strongest all-around performances of the event. The 6'0" 195lb RHH set personal bests in exit velocity (101.9 mph), 60 yard dash (7.10 s), and infield velocity (88 mph), supporting the upward trend he has shown throughout the years. Dunning's offensive round was among the best of the day and the added strength in his frame is starting to translate in a big way.

2026 1B/OF Kannon Dunn posted the top exit velocity of the whole showcase with a firm 102.0 mph, highlighting the raw power that has steadily become a defining trait in his profile. The Marshall County senior paired it with a 6.86 second 60 time, producing a 14.9 power/speed score that reflects big time physical development and suggests a real possibility of a breakout senior year.

On the mound, 2027 RHP Nick Cantrell delivered one of the most intriguing looks we saw from a junior arm. The lean 5'11" 155lb righty worked in the upper-80s with spin in the 2300–2400 rpm range, and flashed a four-pitch mix with tight and heavy movement. The ability to generate action on multiple offerings gives Cantrell legitimate long-term upside as he continues to refine the command.

2026 RHP Will Fox, a University of Louisville commit, kept his momentum rolling with another strong outing in front of the KY staff. Fox reached a personal best 89.5 mph on the fastball with spin rates over 2500 rpm, even mixing in a cutter touching 2644 rpm along with two well-shaped breaking balls. The 6’3” right-hander has shown steady gains throughout 2024 and 2025, and this look further confirmed his status as one of the top arms in western Kentucky.

2026 LHP Caden Kern followed up with an equally polished showing at his home field. The southpaw sat 85 mph with the fastball, showcased a heavy sinker at times, and paired the FB with a 74–75 mph slider and 73–75 mph changeup. Kern's ability to sequence multiple pitches and maintain feel on both sides of the plate provides a reliable foundation as McCracken County enters what should be a very competitive spring in Paducah!

In the weeks following the Paducah Fall ID, several of these standouts announced their college decisions! Kannon Dunn announced his commitment to Kentucky Wesleyan College while Kendrick Dunning and Caden Kern committed to John A. Logan Junior College where the pair will remain teammates at the next level. Seeing these commitments come out of this showcase proved to the KY staff why this event was so meaningful!

The first-ever Paducah Fall ID delivered a strong initial look at a talented and sometimes under-covered area of the state. The mix of new breakout performers and returning standouts provided valuable data heading into the offseason, and the event as a whole marked a big expansion point for Prep Baseball Kentucky. A big thank you to McCracken County for hosting and the staff looks forward to returning to the First Region in the years to come!

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