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Quick Hits: 2026 New Orleans Preseason ID

January 6, 2026
Alex Armand
Louisiana Scouting Director

Boutte, LA - On Sunday, January 4, 2026, the Prep Baseball Louisiana staff traveled Hahnville High School to host our second event of the year with our New Orleans Preseason ID, which featured over 45 players in the state's 2026-2029 classes.  Each participant went through a pro-style workout that consisted of running a laser-timed 60 yard dash using Vald Performance, defensive evaluations, and batting practice using Trackman Baseball and Blast Motion.  Each pitcher threw a bullpen with Trackman Baseball running to receive all of their pitching data and metrics.  Below, we take a look at some of the standout performers from Sunday's event.  

*VIEW ALL EVENT STATS FROM THE 2026 NEW ORLEANS PRESEASON ID HERE. 

Tanner Rouse RHP / Metairie Park Country Day School, LA / 2028

There are always prospects who break out during our Preseason ID events, and Rouse was one of the biggest movers at last Sunday’s showcase. The Country Day product boasts a 6-foot-1, 175-pound lean frame with long limbs and considerable room to add strength moving forward. He worked exclusively out of the stretch from the first-base side of the rubber, showing a loose, quick, and easy arm action before releasing the ball from a three-quarter slot.

Rouse’s 85–89 mph fastball jumped out of his hand with riding life through the zone, averaging 19.6 inches of induced vertical break. He also flashed feel for spin, pairing the fastball with a 72–73 mph slider that showed short lateral break and spin rates up to 2,453 rpm. While it was more control than refined command on Sunday, there’s plenty to dream on, and Rouse will be firmly on our radar moving forward.

 

 

Austin Sanchez OF / 1B / Hahnville, LA / 2028

Rankings  StateRank: 16 / POS: 3

6-foot, 180-pound frame with a stronger lower half, showing noticeably improved physicality on Sunday. Sanchez delivered one of the loudest batting practice rounds of the weekend and continues to trend upward offensively. A left-handed hitter, he starts from an athletic, balanced stance with his hands set slightly away from his body before working into a simple, controlled load. Once his front foot gets down, Sanchez unleashes an aggressive lower-half turn, whipping the barrel out front with intent to do damage to the big part of the field.

He consistently drove the ball gap-to-gap, posting exit velocities up to 95.3 mph. Defensively, his long-term home—whether at first base or a corner outfield spot—remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: Sanchez has established himself as one of the premier left-handed power bats in Louisiana’s 2028 class.

 

 

Cale Bricker RHP / OF / Northshore, LA / 2028

Rankings  StateRank: 29 / POS: 8

This marked our first look at Bricker since the Super Sophomore Games in August, and he has clearly taken a step forward since then. The Northshore product features a 6-foot, 180-pound sturdy frame with a strong lower half and works from the first-base side of the rubber through a simple, repeatable delivery. He uses a slightly longer arm swing before releasing the ball from a three-quarter slot with a 4.7-foot release height.

Bricker consistently pounded the strike zone with an 86–89 mph fastball, representing a +3 mph jump since August. He complemented it with a low-70s, top-to-bottom curveball that showed good bite and spin rates north of 2,500 rpm. A sophomore arm out of Southeast Louisiana, Bricker looks primed for a big spring and should continue to trend upward.

 

 

Luke Gab OF / 1B / Brother Martin, LA / 2027

Physical 5-foot-11, 185-pound frame. This was our first look at Gab, and it was an impressive introduction. He opened the day by running a 6.98 laser-timed 60-yard dash on what proved to be a slow track, then showed an accurate, above-average arm from the outfield, reaching 86 mph.

At the plate, the left-handed hitter sets up in a balanced stance with his hands held just below shoulder height and a slight lean over the plate. He employs a simple, efficient load and maintains a flat path through contact and into his finish, consistently driving the baseball with authority up the middle. Gab posted a max exit velocity of 98.8 mph, further highlighting his offensive upside.

An uncommitted junior, Gab should be firmly on the radar of college recruiters looking to add an impact bat to their 2027 class.

 

 

Gregory Ruiz III SS / OF / Holy Cross, LA / 2027

Rankings  StateRank: 39 / POS: 7

Wiry, athletic 5-foot-10, 170-pound frame. Ruiz is a player who continues to trend upward every time we see him. The Holy Cross product ran a 6.92 laser-timed 60-yard dash on Sunday on what proved to be a slow track, and we’ve seen him dip into the 6.7 range at previous events.

Defensively, Ruiz showed improved infield actions and the athleticism to handle the outfield with ease. Offensively, there’s plenty of fast-twitch in his swing. He features quick hands and a fluid, efficient path, consistently driving the baseball back through the middle while also flashing sneaky pull-side power.

An uncommitted junior out of the New Orleans, Louisiana area, Ruiz is well worth following as he heads into the spring.

 

 

Kamber Keller SS / 2B / Brother Martin, LA / 2028

Rankings  StateRank: 46 / POS: 7

Sunday marked our first look at Keller in nearly two years, and he has clearly made strides across the board. The Brother Martin product features a stocky 5-foot-9, 160-pound build and turned in one of the top infield defensive workouts at the event. He showed crisp, confident actions, receiving the baseball with soft hands out front and funneling it cleanly to his midline. His throws across the diamond were accurate with true backspin and carry, and he also demonstrated the ability to throw on the run.

Offensively, Keller was consistently on the barrel, showing a short, direct path to contact and a willingness to work the ball back through the middle with firm, line-drive contact.

 

 

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