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2026 Missouri State Games: Quick Hits, 2029 & 2030 Grads

July 9, 2026
Eliott Wilk
Central Region Operations Director

On Tuesday, June 9th and Wednesday, June 10th, the Prep Baseball Missouri staff traveled to the campus of the University of Missouri in Columbia, MO to host the annual Missouri State Games. This event was open for 2027-2030 class members, selected by invite, and featured 130+ players from across the Show Me State.

All of our events offer players the opportunity to update their recruiting resume and showcase their talents in front of our staff. We also use these events as identifiers for future invite-only events, like the Preseason All-State, our summer Top Prospect Games, and the prestigious Prep Baseball Future Games that takes place at the tail end of the summer. To see what our events offer, click HERE.

Shortly after the event, our staff compiled several of the day’s stat leaders inside our traditional ‘Stat Story’, which you can find HERE. 

Today, after combing through our notes from the day, we’ve compiled some of the event’s upperclass standouts below within these ‘Quick Hits’.

2029 FOLLOWS

Making a strong statement at the Missouri State Games, C Oliver Bouse (Ozark, 2029) solidified his status as an advanced backstop to closely follow in the soon to be sophomore class. Built with a strong 5-foot-9, 166-pound frame, his right-handed swing demonstrated a polished path to contact, generating a 90.6 mph peak exit velocity and an 81.9 mph average throughout his round. That offensive skill set instantly translated into game action, where he roped a double down the left-field line to kick off the gameplay portion of the event. Defensively, Bouse really shines behind the dish, where he put his advanced catch-and-throw traits on full display. His lightning-fast exchange and quick transfer allowed him to post 1.82-1.99 pop times while firing a 74 mph throw from his crouch. Bouse possesses a premium foundational toolset that points toward a high ceiling as he continues to physically mature.

Oliver Bouse

Another underclassman who had a strong showing at the Missouri State Games was OF/RHP Brody Dekok (Francis Howell, 2029), demonstrating tools and upside across the board. Standing at a projectable and physical 6-foot-2, 181 pounds, his premium athleticism was instantly on display as he posted a 6.86-second 60-yard dash. At the plate, the right-handed hitter showcased a strong, consistent barrel that produced a peak mark of 89.6 mph during his round of batting practice. He carried that strength directly into his defensive workout, firing an 81 mph bullet from the outfield. Dekok is a two-way talent to monitor closely as he continues into his sophomore year.

Already established as one of the top names in the state’s soon to be sophomore class, INF Ben Delic (Oakville, 2029) put together another highly impressive showing at this year’s Missouri State Games. The young, athletic infielder stands at a strong 6-foot-1, 196 pounds and continues to showcase an advanced feel for the barrel. Delic generated premium bat speed throughout his round of batting practice, consistently finding the sweet spot with precision to record a 99 mph max exit velocity and an 88.6 mph average exit velocity. Defensively, he put his quickness on display by running a crisp 7.00-second 60-yard dash and showing steady, athletic actions across the dirt with an 83 mph infield velocity. Delic possesses a highly projectable power ceiling and projects as a high-impact offensive contributor as he continues to add physical maturity to his frame. 

Ben Delic

Putting his two-way ability on full display, OF/RHP Halston Hicks (Glendale, 2029) emerged from the Missouri State Games as a name to watch in the soon to be sophomore class. Boasting a strong 5-foot-11, 205-pound frame, the right-handed hitter peppered line drives throughout his batting practice round, showcasing loud raw power with a 92.9 mph exit velocity and a 338-foot max distance. On the mound, Hicks showcased an imposing four-pitch arsenal with notable pitchability for his age. He worked his fastball up to 82.2 mph from a high 3/4 slot, generating a 2,180 RPM spin rate while landing it consistently for strikes. He effectively changed eye levels by pairing the heater with a sharp 66-68 mph curveball and a 78-81 mph cutter, while also turning over a 70-73 mph fading changeup to keep hitters guessing. An athletic underclassman with a foundational toolset, Hicks figures to grow into an asset for Glendale over the coming years.

Currently ranked as a top-three player in Missouri's 2029 class, INF/RHP Dan Lang (St. John Vianney, 2029) put his high-level tools on full display once again in Tuesday’s look. Standing at a physically imposing and projectable 6-foot-1, 190 pounds, Lang began his day by running an athletic 7.12-second 60-yard dash. In the batter's box, the right-handed hitter displayed advanced raw power and a clear launch-angle approach, posting a 96.1 mph peak exit velocity and blasting his furthest ball an estimated 364 feet. His defensive workout was equally eye-opening, as he showed fluid, athletic actions on the dirt alongside a loose, explosive arm that fired an 88 mph bullet across the diamond. A premium underclass athlete with middle-of-the-order traits, Lang firmly solidifies himself as a high-priority name to closely monitor in the 2029 class.

Dan Lang

Flaunting a foundational impact power profile, OF Tre McBroom (Willard, 2029) put together a standout all-around performance at the Missouri State Games. Built with a physical, strong-bodied 5-foot-10, 184-pound frame, McBroom first grabbed attention with his speed, blazing a 6.99-second 60-yard dash with a  3.88-second 30-yard split. In the box, the right-handed hitter showcased a heavy barrel that hammered baseballs with authority during BP. He generated a 97.7 mph max exit velocity and a 89.8 mph average exit velocity, consistently finding the barrel to log a loud 57% hard-hit rate and using his raw power to blast his furthest ball an estimated 378 feet. On the mound, McBroom flashed intriguing two-way upside as he mixed a 82.3 mph fastball to provide a well-rounded foundation for the Willard product to build on.

C Oscar Poniewaz (St. John Vianney, 2029) delivered a loud, eye-opening performance at the Missouri State Games. Standing at an athletic 5-foot-10, 159 pounds, Poniewaz asserted himself as one of the top offensive threats of the event. The right-handed hitter showcased immense strength at the plate, turning in a loud round of batting practice where he generated a 98 mph peak exit velocity and an 92.6 mph average exit velocity, launching his deepest ball an estimated 345 feet. Defensively, he matches that advanced athleticism behind the plate with premium catch-and-throw traits. Poniewaz flashed catch and throw ability that translated to an impressive 1.97-2.09 pop time while firing a firm 76 mph throw from his crouch. Already displaying a physical skillset that plays well above his age, Poniewaz is a sophomore backstop who commands a close eye moving forward.

Imposing himself as one of the most athletic underclassmen in attendance at the Missouri State Games, INF Anthony Rodrigue’s (De Smet Jesuit, 2029) well rounded tool set was on full display in this look. Possessing a lean, ultra-projectable 6-foot-1, 190-pound frame, Rodrigue first turned heads by running a 6.94-second 60-yard dash. His premium athleticism easily translated into the batter's box, where the left-handed hitter’s barrel whips through the zone with ease, generating an 89.6 mph peak exit velocity and an 81.9 mph average exit velocity during his workout. That offensive operation translated directly into game action, where he hammered a ball to deep center field for a loud double. Defensively, he showed athletic actions on the dirt with clean footwork and steady hands that project well to keeping him on the infield. Rodrigue is an exciting soon to be sophomore follow who is already becoming a major asset for De Smet.

Anthony Rodrigue

OF Kaeden Villanueva (Ozark, 2029) put together an explosive, well-rounded performance at the Missouri State Games. Possessing an athletic, quick-twitch 5-foot-8, 164-pound frame, Villanueva started his day by showing off high-end wheels with a 6.97-second 60-yard dash and 3.92-second 30-yard split. In the box, his quick left-handed stroke generated high-level bat speed turning in one of the loudest underclass rounds of the event, recording a 98.3 mph peak exit velocity alongside a 91.7 mph average exit velocity. Villanueva consistently drove balls from gap to gap, logging an 63% hard-hit rate and launching his furthest barrel an estimated 363 feet. His combination of game-changing speed and sneaky juice makes the Ozark product a follow as he continues his high school career.

Presenting one of the most physically advanced and imposing underclass builds at the Missouri State Games, 1B/RHP Drake Wilson (Kickapoo, 2029) showed off his high-upside power profile throughout this look . Already packed with brute strength inside a massive 6-foot-3, 240-pound frame, the Springfield-area native swings a highly intentful right-handed barrel that effortlessly impacts the baseball. During BP, Wilson registered a loud 96.9 mph peak exit velocity, averaging 83.2 mph per swing, using his natural leverage to launch his furthest ball 364 feet. He also hopped on the bump to flash true two-way potential, running his fastball up to 80 mph. With undeniable size, immense bat speed, and foundational tools that point toward middle-of-the-order run production, Wilson stands out as a name to watch as the 2029 class continues to develop.

2030 FOLLOWS

An incoming freshman to keep a close eye on for the future, LHP/1B Ben Calcaterra (Lindbergh, 2030) put his highly intriguing upside on full display at the Missouri State Games. Possessing massive physical projection in a tall, lean 6-foot-4, 164-pound frame, the southpaw showed off plus stuff for his age during his time on the mound. He was sharp in his bullpen, topping out at 80 mph with a fastball that features natural sink while running it up to a 2,214 RPM spin rate. Calcaterra backed up the heater with an advanced 67-80 mph slider that works across the zone, to establish a clear starter's profile. At the plate, his smooth left-handed swing demonstrated plenty of future juice as well, generating an 89 mph peak exit velocity. He instantly jumps onto the radar as a high-ceiling underclassman to watch as he continues to grow into his upside frame.

A top-tier underclass talent who immediately demanded attention at the Missouri State Games, OF/RHP Sawyer Merris (Christian Brothers College, 2030) put his upside on full display. Built with an athletic 5-foot-10, 181-pound frame, Merris’ right-handed stroke already shows middle-of-the-order potential, generating a 90.2 mph peak exit velocity and an 81.9 mph average throughout his round of batting practice, adding a hammered double in game play. He seamlessly carried that athletic foundation into the defensive portion of the event, showcasing a loose arm that reached 81 mph from the outfield. Though he didn't toe the rubber during the event's gameplay portion, Merris remains a high-priority two-way follow in the state's 2030 class with an electric arm that easily translates to a frontline profile on the mound.

Sawyer Merris

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