Prep Baseball Report

Become a Member

More +

2025 Minnesota State Tournament Standouts

June 20, 2025
Dayne McNaughton, Henry Bushey & Parker Hageman
Prep Baseball Minnesota

 

Minnesota, USA - The 2025 Minnesota State Tournament had everything a baseball fan could ask for, highlighy competitive games with late lead changes, no-hitters and guys stepping up in high leverage moments. Our scouts were out all last week, read up on who caught our eye at State this year.

STAFF STANDOUTS

CARTER STORTS | OF/SS | 2026 | Minnetonka

Storts showed up huge for the Skippers in the State Championship game. In the second inning, Storts battled to a full count and smashed the eigth pitch of the at bat for a triple. Serious athleticism was on display from Carter, collecting another hit and flying around CF making plays. The 2024 Future Games participant is a name coches in the region should know this summer.

CODY LOIDA | OF/SS | 2026 | Mahtomedi

The cleanup bat for the Mahtomedi Zephyrs was Cody Loida, the Uncommitted Junior hit all week long, being a big piece of Mahtomedi winning a state championship. Loida collected 4 big hits in the tournament, and fought tooth and nail every time he stepped in the box. Boasting a 6-foot-3 186 lb frame, Loida can still develop more physically, along with already being a big time player.

Nick Carlson | SS | 2025 | Champlin Park (Concordia-St. Paul commit)

At the heart of Champlin Park’s postseason surge was one constant sparkplug: Carlson. The senior shortstop was everywhere when it mattered most—going an absurd 5-for-6 in bracket play with three doubles, four RBIs, and four runs scored. He reached base in almost every plate appearance across the quarterfinal and semifinal games, adding a pair of walks to his stat line for good measure. He was relentless on the bases and steady with the glove, embodying the kind of energy that fuels tournament runs. A Concordia-St. Paul commit, Carlson’s wiry, athletic frame hints at more strength on the horizon—but make no mistake, he’s already making an impact.

WINSTON WISELY | LHP | 2025 | Mahtomedi (Macalester Commit)

Winston "Winny" Wisely was magnificant in his two starts in the 2025 state tournament. The southpaw tossed a complete game in the championship game for the Zephyrs, leading them to a ring. The future Macalester Coo had a state tournament line of 13 IP, 2 ER, 14 Ks. Reaching back for 85 in both outings and spinning a hammer breaking ball, Wisely showed pitchability and the ability to minimize with runners on. 

JACK BUTTERWORTH | RHP | 2025 | MINNETONKA (ARIZONA STATE COMMIT)

Jack Butterworth got the ball for the Minnetonka Skippers in the quarterfinal and state championship game. With a pitcher esque build, Butterworth did not dissapoint. In his championship game start, Butterworth was throwing blistering fastballs sitting 91-92 and reached back twice for 93 in the first inning. Butterworth's sweeping slider was a legit plus offering, sitting 79-82, he used it as an out pitch his second time through the lineup. The flamethrower from Tonka is primed to make a splash in his first year down in Tempe.

KEATON WOJCIK | LHP | 2027 | MANKATO EAST

Keaton Wojcik did something remarkable in the state semifinal game, threw a no hiiter, won the game, while another pitcher threw a no hitter. Wijcik propelled the Mankato East Cougars into the championship game with a final line of 7.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 6 Ks. The southpaw ran his fastball up to 86, spinning a tight slider at 77-78. The lanky lefty showed ample projectability with his long levers. Keaton is a name to know for this summer and beyond as he develops further.

EVAN NORDBY | RHP | 2026 | Champlin Park

Evan Nordby is a name college coaches are going to want to remember. The 2026 right-hander showed flashes of what's to come back in March, touching 88 mph at the Preseason ID in Mankato. Since then, he’s only trended upward. The lanky, crossfire delivery gave hitters fits in the opening round, where he tossed 4.2 innings, struck out three, and held Andover to two runs in a 15-2 rout. One week later, he was back on the bump at the State Games, where the radar again lit up—88.2 mph. The six-foot-two frame still has room to grow, and if his trajectory holds, Nordby isn’t done climbing. Not even close.

Jack Van Gemert | RHP | 2027 | Cretin-Derham Hall

Pitching in the State Championship game is high leverage for anyone. Coming in the ballgame out of the pen and leading your team to a title, now thats high leverage. That role was put on Sophomore, Jack Van Gemert from Cretin. The young righty ran his fastball up to 85 while spinning breakers to get ahead of Minnetonka hitters. Van Gemert would go 3 scoreless and earn the win, closing the game out and giving the Raiders a 3-2 win. 

PLAY OF THE TOURNAMENT

BLAKE BULLIS | 3B | 2025 | CRETIN-DERHAM HALL

In the top of the 7th in the state championship game, Blake Bullis made the best play of his baseball career. On a ball hit in foul teritory, Bullis navigated the tarp down the 3rd base line and made a play that should be played on major news outlets everywhere. The third baseman would make a backhanded play at third, followed by the Raiders winning it all. 

You know what, just watch the video ⬇️