2026 North Forrest Eagles Team Preview

January 13, 2026
Prep Baseball Mississippi Staff

The 2026 Mississippi high school baseball season is quickly approaching and, as usual, excitement is abound throughout the state. Players and coaches have been working in preparation for the upcoming season and, as is the case each year, there are some very talented players and teams across Mississippi.

Teams across the state have goals and aspirations to finish their seasons at Pearl’s Trustmark Park, in the State Tournament finals at the end of May, but there is plenty of work to be done before that becomes reality. We hope to familiarize our readers with many of the teams across the state as we preview individual teams across Mississippi. We will take you right up to first pitch this season with these team previews, eventually releasing our Preseason Power 25 rankings that’ll carry us into the opening week of action.

Please keep checking back throughout the season as we will be your one-stop shop for everything related to high school baseball across the state. Each week we will be releasing our Players of the Week and updating the Power 25 rankings.

Our 2026 preseason coverage continues today.

High School: North Forrest Eagles
Head Coach: Adam Tumey
MHSAA Classification: 2A
District Number: 2A - 8
2025 Record (Playoff Finish): 17-10 (Third Round Playoffs)

ROSTER PREVIEW

+ Top Returning Position Players:

OF/1B Chance Rogers (2027)
SS Landon Hayes (2027)
3B Levi Thompson (2027)
CF Brandon Harris (2026)
2B Jordyn Barnes (2027)
OF/DH Johnathon Terry (2026)
1B Caiden Brown (2027)
RF AJ Maye (2028)
UTL Benny Funck (2028)

2B Jordyn Barnes (2027)

+ Top Returning Pitchers:

LHP Chance Rogers (2027)
RHP Landon Hayes (2027)
RHP Levi Thompson (2027)
RHP Jordyn Barnes (2027)
RHP Benny Funck (2028)

More Names to Know

2026s:

C/3B Jared Weathersby (2026)

2027s:

CINF/RHP Joe Brown (2027)
C/RHP Tyler Spencer (2027)

TOP NEWCOMERS

+ Impact Underclassmen:

UTL/RHP Benny Funck (2028)
RF AJ Maye (2028)
OF Tray Young (2028)
OF Cokie Crosby (2028)

2026 OUTLOOK

+ North Forrest enters the 2026 season coming off a 17–10 campaign that ended with a third-round playoff run in Class 2A, continuing the Eagles’ trend of playing their best baseball deep into the postseason. Under head coach Adam Tumey, North Forrest returns a large portion of its core, particularly a talented 2027 class that has already logged meaningful varsity reps. With experience spread across the lineup and a pitching staff loaded with strike-throwers, the Eagles look well-positioned to remain a factor in District 2A-8.

Offensively, the identity of this group is built around balance and depth. Chance Rogers returns as a middle-of-the-order presence with the ability to impact the game from both the outfield and first base, while Landon Hayes anchors the middle of the infield at shortstop with steady defense and offensive consistency. Levi Thompson brings physicality and run production at third base, and Brandon Harris adds athleticism and range in center field. Jordyn Barnes provides reliability at second base, and Jonathan Terry gives the Eagles another experienced bat capable of lengthening the lineup. Younger pieces like Caiden Brown and AJ Maye add depth on the corners, while versatile utility types such as Benny Funck allow North Forrest to mix and match based on matchups.

On the mound, the Eagles bring back one of the deeper returning staffs in the classification. Rogers headlines the group as a left-handed option who can handle meaningful innings, while Hayes, Thompson, and Barnes give North Forrest multiple right-handed looks capable of working through lineups. Funck adds another arm with upside, and the overall depth allows the Eagles to manage innings effectively throughout the season and into postseason play. Additional contributors like Jared Weathersby, Joe Brown, and Tyler Spencer give North Forrest flexibility behind the plate and on the infield, while a strong 2028 class, including Tray Young and Cokie Crosby, continues to push for varsity roles.

With a veteran lineup, a deep and experienced pitching staff, and a pipeline of young talent continuing to develop, North Forrest enters 2026 as a program built for sustained success. If the Eagles continue to get consistent production up and down the order and solidify roles on the mound, they have the makeup of a team capable of making another deep postseason run in Class 2A.

Find more information on North Forrest High School’s 2026 season below:

+ Follow them on X: @NorthForrest
+ Find more 2026 team previews on our MHSAA Season Preview page

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