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Magnolia State Games: Quick Hits

June 23, 2025
Matt Miller
State Director

RIDGELAND, MS — The 2025 Magnolia State Games was held on June 17-18 at Freedom Ridge Park in Ridgeland, MS that featured top talent from the 2026-2029 classes. Players went through a pro-style workout with TrackMan, Blast Motion, and VALD Performance tech, while pitchers threw in game play and were able to get data and metrics on our TrackMan unit.

Some prospects built on past showings, while others made strong first impressions.

We continue our post-event coverage with a look at some of the standouts from the event, with more breakdowns and full scouting reports coming soon.

+ View all event stats HERE.

 

+ To view the updated Player Rankings, CLICK HERE.
+ Interested in attending an event? CLICK HERE for event schedule.
+ To stay updated on news around the Magnolia State, CLICK HERE.
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QUICK HITS

Fischer Howell 3B / RHP / Petal, MS / 2027

The 6-3, 190 pound third baseman elevated his already prospect status in Ridgeland this week. A true switch hitter, Howell was very similar from both sides of the plate as he peppered line drives to all fields with occasional loft to his swing for more distance and exit velocities up to 99 mph. Howell also showed speed we really weren’t expecting with a 6.71 60 in the showcase portion of the Magnolia State Games on Tuesday. During game play the Petal Panther smashed 2 home runs including a grand slam to take home MVP honors for the event. 

KJ Roberts SS / 2B / Oak Grove, MS / 2027

Roberts isn’t a bigger frame at 5-9, 170 but he’s plays gigantic on the field and should begin to get plenty of looks heading into his junior year. He’s what a dirtbag on the diamond looks like as he plays hard and it's easy to see. The tools were on display this week as he ran a 6.59 60, rattled off line drives up to 96 mph during batting practice, and showed a next level glove during defensive evaluations. 

Ayden Demoran SS / RHP / Diberville, MS / 2027

The D’Iberville prepster is a dual threat on the diamond and should have options to do both at the next level, though he took a step forward in our eyes on the mound this week. The 6-1, 170 pound right hander was up to 88 mph with life to his fastball while showing good feel to his secondary arsenal that included a hard slider up to 81 mph. 

Carson Richardson C / RHP / Baldwyn Career Advancement Center, MS / 2029

Just a rising freshman, Richardson showed a very good understanding of what his job was on the mound. At 6-0, 165 pounds, he still has some maturing ahead of him but his stuff is advanced for his age. The Baldwyn product was up to 80 mph with his fastball and his breaking ball is very advanced, showing solid tumbling action and excellent feel for the strike zone. 

AJ Rossi OF / RHP / ocean springs high school, MS / 2026

The uncommitted rising senior from Ocean Springs had a spectacular event both in the workout portion and in game play. After a solid batting practice round that saw him rattle off liners to all fields with exit velocities up to 97 mph off of Trackman, Rossi homered twice during gameplay. He also turned in a 6.75 60-yard and showed next level ability in the outfield.  

Mason Ballard C / 3B / Tupelo, MS / 2027

Ballard has been on the Prep Baseball scene for a few years now having been a member of the Junior Future Games squad in 2023. He continues to progress nicely and is one of the top catching prospects in the 2027 class. On Tuesday, the Tupelo standout turned in a 1.87 pop time using a 81 mph throw from behind the plate. He also showed some increase in his power potential with slight loft to his swing and exit velocities into the upper 90’s. 

Treydric Barnes OF / 1B / Taylorsville, MS / 2026

The Southern Miss recruit was a standout this week at the Magnolia State Games and grabbed everyone’s attention with 6.41 60 right out of the gate. He later decided to use wood during his batting practice round and sent liners into both gaps with exit velocities up to 101 mph. The athletic 6-4, 195 pounder wasn’t finished as he carried his tools into game play and added a couple of hits including a home run.  

Brady Rodgers 3B / RHP / Lewisburg, MS / 2027

Yet another Lewisburg arm on the rise, Rodgers was one of the first arms to throw in the game play portion of the event and looked sharp early with good command and arm side action to this fastball that worked 83-86 mph. The 5-11, 175 pound righty used a solid 3 pitch arsenal that included a change up and breaking ball with developing command of both pitches.  

Landon Swinney OF / SS / Tupelo, MS / 2027

Swinney has continued to steadily progress in the right direction since we first saw him at a Rising Stars event in the spring of 2022. He now finds himself in a very good spot heading into the fall as recruiters should begin to get to know him a little better. This week he helped himself out with a solid all-around performance at the Magnolia State Games. The Tupelo product ran a 6.62 60 to get his day started on Tuesday, followed by an impressive batting practice round where he showed a level swing path, and all fields approach, and present pop with exit velocity up to 97 mph. 

Reeves Kenney LHP / 1B / Tupelo Christian, MS / 2028

Kenney showed very good pitch-ability during his 2 innings of work on Tuesday using a basically a 2 pitch arsenal that included a running fastball and slider. The 5-11, 155 pound lefty from Tupelo Christian Prep has some development to go but understands his role. His outing, in which he allowed no runs with 5 strikeouts earned him MVP pitching honors for the event. 

Sawyer Pettit C / 2B / Tri-county Academy, MS / 2027

Pettit is another player we have watched physically mature over the past few years and it's been fun to see how he’s progressed. He can handle multiple positions on the field which should be beneficial to getting his bat in the line up at the next level which is still way down the road. The Tri-County standout has impressive tools that include a 6.86 60, 98 mph exit velocity, a 1.97 pop time, and they all transfer nicely into game play.

Tucker Rice RHP / 3B / Madison Central High School, MS / 2027

The Madison Central rising junior should be a go to arm for Coach Robey next spring as the Jaguars look to defend their state title from this season. Rice is a solid position player though his arm really stood out this week on the mound. The 6-0, 160 pound righty has been up to 89 recently with his fastball and the frame suggests there’s more on the way. He also can kill the spin on the change up and has shown solid feel for spin.

Logan Heisel C / 3B / Saltillo, MS / 2027

At 6-2, 200 pounds Heisel has a frame that recruiters love and he has tools to go with it. The Saltillo prepster first got our attention as well as the college coaches in attendance with a very good showing behind the plate during catching evaluations. Heisel turned in an event best 1.86 pop time with solid footwork and a catcher velo of 79 mph. He’s also been into the mid 9’s with his exit velocity at the plate, and features a fastball up to 85 mph as well. Just a rising junior with lots of upside.  

Whit Davis 1B / RHP / Jackson Academy, MS / 2027

Davis understands pitching as well as anyone in the 2027 class and has shown consistent progression over the past couple of years. The 6-1, 200 pound Jackson Academy hurlers fastball works up to 85 mph with good run and command. His secondary stuff will continue to get better as he gets stronger and more physical. With a little more seasoning Davis should develop into one of the more polished arms in the 2027 class. 

Cody Pigford 3B / C / West Lauderdale, MS / 2027

The West Lauderdale product is a well rounded and polished player for his age, and we think he’s about to take another step. Pigford has been to several events and shows very constant growth and development. Pigford was up to 95 mph with his exit velocity on Tuesday during his batting practice round as he sent liners to both gaps. He also ran a 6.86, was up to 85 mph across the diamond, and turned in a 1.97 pop time. There’s another level we think he will get to which could separate him from his peers a little more. 

Wyatt McDaniels C / OF / Mooreville, MS / 2027

McDaniels was one of the more physical players at the Magnolia State games and he’s just a rising junior. At 6-3, 210 pounds he looks like a grown man and swings it like one too. The catcher from Mooreville turned in the highest exit velocity of the event with a 102 mph blast according to Trackman. He also turned in a 6.79 60 to start the event. McDaniels, a former Junior Future Gamer has been up to 90 mph from the outfield and 83 mph from behind the plate which puts him in an elite group of up and coming receivers. 

Logan Umfress 1B / 2B / Tupelo Christian Preparatory School, MS / 2027

Umfress has gained some attention as of late with some impressive pop from the left side of the plate. The Tupelo Christian Prep first baseman is mostly looking to pull but he's looking to do damage on most swings. He was up to 101 mph during his batting practice round with an event high 94 mph average. The 5-10, 230 pounder still has some development ahead of him with his body but has the makings of a middle of the order, big time run producer.. Big calendar year ahead for him...

Tanner Binkley SS / RHP / Hartfield Academy, MS / 2026

Binkley had one of the more well rounded workouts on Tuesday with solid numbers in most areas. The uncommitted 6-0, 180 pounder from Hartfield Academy started off with an impressive 6.65 60. Binkley then stepped to the plate and used a level bat path with a line drive approach and exit velocities up to 100 mph including a 93.6 mph average for his round. He later added a couple of hits during gameplay while hopping on the mound and working a fastball up to 83 mph with decent feel for his secondary offerings. 

 

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 2025 SUMMER SCHEDULE ⤵️

We’re excited to announce that our 2025 summer event schedule is now live! This year, we’re traveling to all parts of Mississippi, giving players across the state the opportunity to compete and showcase their skills. Don’t miss your chance to get signed up — CLICK HERE for more details or to register! 

  

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