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A's Scout Day: Quick Hits

April 7, 2025
Eliott Wilk
Central Region Operations Director

Across three dates in February and March, the Prep Baseball Missouri staff hosted A's Scout Days in St. Louis, MO and Rogersville, MO. More than 100 players from the A's program participated in a pro-style workout in front of our staff, gathering data through the help of our unrivaled tech partners.

Today, we are taking a look at a number of the standouts from the day with scout notes and videos, below. 

POSITION PLAYERS

Switch-hitting INF Seaton Thompson (Ladue Horton Watkins, 2026; Missouri commit) continued to solidify his status as one of the top prospects in the state with another loud all-around performance. A highly athletic 6-foot-2, 180-pound frame, Thompson swung with fluidity and polish from both sides of the plate, showing advanced feel and impact in BP. He launched his furthest ball 364 feet with a peak exit velocity of 103.2 mph, consistently driving balls with authority throughout his round. Thompson also flashed his athleticism by posting a personal-best 6.77 in the 60-yard dash and an 84 mph infield velocity.

C Crew Norden (Rock Bridge, 2025; USC Upstate signee) continues to prove he's one of the top right-handed power bats in Missouri’s senior class. Built with advanced physicality at 6-foot, 211-pounds, Norden brings a fast, heavy barrel through the zone with natural strength and ease. In this look, the senior averaged an eye-popping 96 mph exit velocity, peaking at 101.5 mph with a max distance of 375 feet. His offensive impact was on full display throughout BP, and he added to his standout showing by firing an 83 mph strike from the crouch during the defensive workout.

Crew Norden

C Brooks Eaton (Kickapoo, 2026) is a physical, 6-foot-2, 195-pound right-handed hitting catcher with clear upside. His quick, inside-out swing stays through the zone with consistency, working on-plane and showing the ability to drive the ball to both gaps throughout his round. Eaton peaked at 100.6 mph off the bat with an impressive 89.2 mph average exit velocity. Behind the plate, the junior displayed elite arm strength and accuracy, consistently popping between 1.86–1.94 with a top velocity of 86 mph from the crouch. He also flashed his athleticism by running a 6.98 60-yard dash.

OF Peyton Kight (Jackson, 2025; Bradley signee) put together an impressive round of BP and continues to stand out physically with a strong, athletic 6-foot-5, 210-pound frame. Kight hits with controlled rhythm and quick, strong hands, creating easy whip through the zone. He showed comfort working gap-to-gap with authority, peaking at 102 mph off the bat and averaging 92 mph throughout his round. A high-level athlete for his size, Kight also ran a 6.91 60-yard dash and unleashed a 95 mph bullet from the outfield, rounding out an impressive showing on both sides of the ball.

Peyton Kight

OF/RHP Nicholas Long (Kickapoo, 2027) is a physical sophomore who continues to trend upward, showing steady gains in his measurable tools. Built with a strong, compact 5-foot-10, 200-pound frame, Long swings with intent and strength through contact. He averaged 92 mph off the bat, peaking at 99.1 mph, and launched his furthest ball 339 feet.

C/OF Teagan Trent (Logan-Rogersville, 2026) was a standout behind the plate, showcasing a well-rounded skill set with upside. At 5-foot-11, 165-pounds, the right-handed hitter showed a fluid, repeatable swing with consistent barrel feel, averaging 91.3 mph and topping at 98 mph in BP. Defensively, Trent flashed a strong arm at 84 mph from the outfield and popped consistently between 1.91–2.01 from the crouch.

C Carson Ramos (Timberland, 2025; Northern Illinois signee) is a physical, power-hitting backstop who continues to elevate his game at the plate and behind it. Now listed at 6-foot-1, 200 pounds, the senior showed added strength in this look, posting a peak exit velocity of 99.6 mph with a 90.9 mph average and sending his furthest ball 358 feet. Ramos also flashed arm strength from the crouch, topping at 81 mph to finish among the day’s leaders.

INF Jack Sutherland (Logan-Rogersville, 2028) is a highly projectable 5-foot-11, 155-pound athlete with a polished skill set well beyond his years. A smooth left-handed hitter, Sutherland showed the ability to elevate naturally to the pull side, peaking at 92 mph off the bat with a max distance of 341 feet. Defensively, he impressed with confident, reliable hands and an 88 mph arm across the infield, adding to his well-rounded profile.

INF Jack Renze (St. Thomas Aquinas, KS) and C/1B Braylon Dillon (Olathe North, KS) were a pair of standout freshmen from Kansas that emerged as clear winners from this look.

Another standout backstop from the day, Dillon impressed with his polish at the plate and upside behind it. Physically advanced at 6-foot, 165-pounds, the freshman showcased a simple, repeatable swing with more power to come, spraying line drives to all fields. He peaked at 94.9 mph with an impressive 91.7 mph average exit velocity. Defensively, Dillon showed a quick, clean transfer and solid arm strength, popping consistently between 2.04–2.15 with a 78 mph throw from the crouch. Dillon will be a name to keep an eye on in the years to come.

A physically impressive freshman, Renze delivered one of the loudest all-around performances of the day, regardless of class. At 6-foot-2, 180 pounds, Renze swings with intent from a level right-handed stroke, flashing advanced bat speed and impact potential. He peaked at 101.4 mph off the bat with a 348-foot max distance—ranking third and fourth at the event, respectively. Defensively, his arm strength stood out, firing an 89 mph bullet across the infield, and he showed athleticism with a 6.77 60-yard dash. A name to know in Kansas’ 2028 class.

Jack Renze

TWO-WAYS

OF/RHP Jackson Leonard (Eureka, 2028) is quickly emerging as a name-to-know two-way prospect in Missouri’s 2028 class. A physically imposing 6-foot-4, 215-pound athlete, Leonard utilizes his long levers to generate natural leverage and bat speed from the right side. He swings with controlled aggression and intent, consistently looking to lift the baseball to the pull-side throughout his round. Leonard flashed serious juice, squaring up his best ball at 103.2 mph (93.2 mph avg. EV) and sending it 363 feet. On the mound, Leonard offered an equally intriguing look. He’s an athletic mover with projection, filling up the strike zone with a lively fastball that sat 86-89 mph and spun at 2,200+ RPM. He complemented it with a sharp 79-81 mph slider that flashed true swing-and-miss potential, and he also mixed in a developing changeup in the low-80s to round out his arsenal.

Jackson Leonard

RHP/1B Brody Wilson is another junior from Kickapoo who made a strong first impression in his Prep Baseball debut, standing out as a legitimate two-way talent with impact on both sides of the ball. A physically imposing presence at 6-foot-3, 230 pounds, Wilson showcased his strength and athleticism throughout the event. He opened his day on the mound, where he ran his fastball up to 87 mph and paired it with a sharp 75-77 mph slider that featured hard horizontal break (-13” HM). He also mixed in a fading 81-83 mph changeup with natural armside run to round out a well-sequenced three-pitch mix. At the plate, Wilson’s power potential was on full display. The right-handed hitter ranked near the top of the event in several offensive categories, posting a max exit velocity of 103.6 mph, an event-best 97.6 mph average EV, and launching his furthest ball 356 feet. With two-way capabilities and advanced physicality, Wilson is an exciting follow in Missouri’s 2026 class.

INF/RHP Brady Yates (Glendale, 2027) continues to solidify himself as a must-see two-way prospect in Missouri’s 2027 class, turning in another all-around standout performance. A physically imposing 6-foot-2, 202-pound athlete, the former Prep Baseball Super Sophomore Games participant made his presence felt from the start. He opened his day on the mound with a lively fastball that sat 86-89 mph, filling the zone at a 63% clip. He paired it with a sharp 69-70 mph curveball featuring hard downer action, and added a fading 78-79 mph changeup that averaged 14.3 inches of horizontal movement. Yates then carried that momentum over to the batter’s box, where his right-handed power stood out. He finished among the event’s leaders in several key categories — max exit velocity (101.7 mph), average EV (93.3 mph), and max distance (393 feet). With two-way impact and advanced physicality, Yates continues to elevate his stock as a high-follow name in the 2027 class.

Brady Yates

OF/RHP Cooper Wagner (Logan-Rogersville, 2028) flashed intriguing two-way upside in this look. A lean and projectable 6-foot-1, 160-pound freshman, Wagner started his day on the mound, sitting 83–84 mph with his fastball that featured ride through the zone (16.5” IVB) and spun at 2,400+ RPM at times. His sharp, sweeping slider looks to be his best secondary offering right now, coming in at 73–75 mph with an average of -13 inches of horizontal movement. Wagner also showed a developing changeup at 79–83 mph. At the plate, the right-handed hitter consistently found the barrel with a quick, level swing that stayed through the zone and worked gap-to-gap.

C/OF/RHP Matthew Bell (Valley Park, 2027) is a physical, high-upside two-way prospect to follow closely in Missouri’s sophomore class. A Prep Baseball Super Sophomore Games alum, Bell stands at a strong and imposing 6-foot-4, 230 pounds, and he showed off his power potential at the plate with a peak exit velocity of 101.6 mph and an impressive 93.4 mph average, consistently finding the barrel with authority from the left side. Defensively, Bell’s arm strength stood out — firing a 95 mph strike from the outfield and reaching 85 mph from the crouch during the workout. He also hopped on the mound and ran his fastball up to 88 mph, sitting comfortably in the mid-to-upper 80s, and paired it with a 72–76 mph slider that averaged 2,340 RPM.

Matthew Bell

OF/RHP Zak Meador (North County; Southeast Missouri State commit) was a clear winner on both sides of the ball. On the mound, the right-hander impressed with a three-pitch mix, led by an 87–88 mph fastball that played with ride and occasional arm-side run. He spun a short, tight 76–78 mph slider and rounded out his arsenal with a fading changeup at 79–82 mph that averaged 12.9 inches of horizontal movement. At the plate, Meador put together perhaps the loudest round of BP on the day—averaging 93.2 mph off the bat, peaking at an event-best 106.2 mph, and launching his furthest ball 401 feet.

Zak Meador

PITCHERS

One of the premier left-handed pitchers in the state, Jake Collier (Pacific, 2025; Missouri State signee) continues to impress our staff each time we see him. The 5-foot-11, 195-pound southpaw boasts present strength with room to add more, and he once again showed high-impact potential during a recent bullpen session. Collier showcased command of a true four-pitch mix, headlined by a lively fastball that sits 88-90 mph with occasional arm-side run. He pairs that with two distinct breaking balls—a sharp 75-78 mph curveball and a tighter 74-79 mph slider—both showing swing-and-miss potential. Rounding out his arsenal is an 80-82 mph changeup that he consistently located at the bottom of the zone for strikes, demonstrating advanced feel and polish for his age.

LHP Wyatt Doak (Galena, 2025; SIUE signee) emerged as one of the biggest standouts from the Springfield stop of the event. Compactly built at 6-foot, 170-pounds with noticeable strength, Doak showed a clear uptick in stuff across the board. His fastball now comfortably sits at 90-92 mph with 2,300+ RPM and rides through the top of the zone, creating uncomfortable at-bats. He complemented it with a sharp 77-80 mph curveball that featured hard downer action and spun at over 2,400 RPM. Rounding out his arsenal was a deceptive 83-85 mph changeup that he effectively killed spin on, flashing late arm-side fade.

Wyatt Doak

The Springfield stop provided our staff another quality look at 2024 Future Games alum and Missouri State commit, RHP Preston McCracken (Republic, 2026). A physical 6-foot-3, 190-pound right-hander, McCracken showed advanced feel for his arsenal and continues to trend upward. He ran his fastball up to 89 mph, sitting comfortably in the 86-89 mph range, with over 17 inches of vertical break, giving it carry through the zone. McCracken paired it with a sharp overhand curveball at 71-75 mph, averaging -15 inches vertical break and depth, and he also featured a tumbling splitter at 73-76 mph with late bottom, adding a unique wrinkle to his mix.

RHP/INF Nathanael Eakins (Logan-Rogersville, 2027) is an intriguing two-way sophomore with plenty of upside that shined brightest on the mound in this look. At 5-foot-11, 175-pounds, Eakins offers a lean, athletic frame with room to add strength, and he’s already showing signs of polish on the bump. The right-hander ran his fastball up to 88 mph, sitting 87-88 with life through the zone and an average of 14.9 inches of vertical break. He spun a sweeping 78-80 mph slider with over 2,300 RPM that projects as a true swing-and-miss offering, and he rounded out his mix with a fading 82-83 mph changeup that reached 18 inches of horizontal movement. Eakins is a high-upside name to monitor closely in Missouri’s 2027 class as he continues to polish his game.

One of the biggest risers in Missouri’s 2026 class this winter, RHP Ben Thierauf (St. John Vianney) emerged from this event as a must-know arm with considerable upside. The 6-foot-1, 185-pound right-hander offers more than just velocity — he showcased advanced command of a deep, five-pitch arsenal and spun two elite breaking balls. A fluid, athletic mover, Thierauf sat 88-89 mph with his fastball, touching 90, and showed occasional arm-side run. His curveball is a true weapon — spinning north of 2,800 RPM at 75-77 mph with sharp downer break (-23.3” IVB). He also featured a wipeout slider at 75-78 mph with heavy horizontal action (-24” HM, 2,600+ RPM), a fading changeup at 78-79 mph, and a developing splitter at 81-82 mph.

Ben Thierauf

The St. Louis portion of the event provided another quality look at 2024 Future Gamer RHP Henry Vedder (Washington, 2026; Jacksonville State commit), who continues to show intrigue on the mound. A long-limbed 6-foot-5, 180-pound right-hander, Vedder worked with a mature four-pitch mix and showed feel for the zone throughout his outing. His fastball sat 87–88 mph, setting up a sharp 77–78 mph breaking ball with 2,300+ RPM that he consistently landed for strikes. Vedder also killed spin on a fading 80–81 mph splitter and flashed a developing cutter at 81–82 mph, rounding out a promising arsenal.

LHP/1B Mason Lee (Pattonville, 2025; Bradley signee) turned in a strong all-around performance, shining especially bright on the mound. At 6-foot-2, 180 pounds, the former Prep Baseball Future Games participant showed a lively fastball at 85–86 mph and worked with a well-rounded four-pitch arsenal. He threw two distinct breaking balls — a 73–77 mph slider with short, tight action for strikes, and a 74–75 mph curveball with depth and downer movement. Rounding out his mix was a fading 80–81 mph changeup that averaged -15.2 inches of horizontal movement, adding another quality look to an already impressive repertoire.

RHP Braylon Brown (Staunton, IL, 2027) solidified himself as a must-follow arm in Illinois’ sophomore class with a standout showing. At 6-foot-3, 190 pounds, Brown offers a lean, projectable frame with room to add strength, and he moves with fluidity down the mound, featuring a clean, loose arm action and effortless tempo. Since our last look, Brown has made noticeable strides, with his fastball now sitting at 85–90 mph, topping at 91, and showing impressive carry through the zone (17.2” IVB). His separator is a tight, high-spin 69–70 mph slider that profiles as a true swing-and-miss pitch—spinning up to 2,670 RPM with -18.6” of horizontal movement. He also mixed in a developing changeup at 80–84 mph with heavy arm-side fade. Brown is a high-upside arm that college coaches should have on their radar.

Braylen Brown

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