RIDGELAND, MS — The 2026 Magnolia State Games was held on Tuesday June 9 and Wednesday June 10 at Freedom Ridge Park in Ridgeland, MS that featured top talent from the 2027-2030 classes. Players went through a pro-style workout with TrackMan and VALD Performance tech, while pitchers threw in a game play setting 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 standout pitchers from the event, with more breakdowns and full scouting reports coming soon.

+ View all event stats HERE.

 

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QUICK HITS: PITCHERS

+ RHP Aden Bell (2029) of Hartfield Academy continues to establish himself as one of the premier young arms in Mississippi’s 2029 class. Bell possesses a big arm and an advanced feel for pitching that is rarely seen at his age. During the event, he ran his fastball up to 89 mph, showcasing explosive arm speed and very quick arm action that immediately grabbed attention. The velocity is impressive on its own, but what makes Bell even more intriguing is how advanced the rest of the arsenal already appears. Beyond the fastball, Bell showed exceptional feel for multiple secondary pitches. His changeup displayed advanced deception and command, while his hard-breaking curveball consistently flashed quality shape and depth. He also mixed in a slider, giving him multiple swing-and-miss offerings and a diverse arsenal that allows him to attack hitters in different ways. The ability to command and trust several pitches at such a young age separates him from many of his peers. The combination of present velocity, advanced pitchability, and feel for off-speed offerings makes Bell one of the top pitching prospects in the 2029 class. With his arm talent and overall mound presence, he is already generating significant excitement, and the scary part is that he is only beginning to scratch the surface of what he can become. Bell is a must-follow arm whose future is extremely bright.

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+ RHP Lanston Kent (2028) of Saltillo High School looks poised to become a major piece of the Tigers’ pitching staff for the next couple of seasons. The 165-pound right-hander impressed with a combination of arm talent, athleticism, and advanced feel that projects extremely well moving forward. Kent worked up to 89 mph with his fastball, showing fluid arm action and an easy, repeatable delivery that allowed him to maintain both velocity and control throughout his outing. What stands out most is how effortlessly the ball comes out of his hand. Kent's delivery is under control, repeatable, and suggests there is still more velocity to come as he continues to mature physically. He also showed good feel for a changeup that complements the fastball well and flashed developing secondary pitches with promising shape and spin characteristics. While those offerings are still evolving, the foundation is already in place for a complete arsenal. With his combination of velocity, pitchability, and projectable frame, Kent has all the ingredients of a future frontline starter. As he continues to refine his secondary pitches and gain experience, he projects as a major arm for Saltillo and one of the more exciting pitching prospects in Mississippi’s 2028 class.

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+ RHP Bradley Carroll (2027) of Magnolia Heights is a right-handed pitcher whose stock should continue to rise after an impressive showing at the Magnolia State Games. The sturdy 6-foot-2, 205-pounder possesses the physicality that immediately catches your attention, but it is the combination of stuff, command, and repeatability that makes him especially intriguing. Carroll worked his fastball up to 89 mph, showing the ability to generate quality velocity with a strong, controlled delivery that he repeated consistently throughout his outing. What separated Carroll from many arms at the event was the completeness of his arsenal. In addition to the fastball, he showed confidence in a full complement of secondary pitches, including a changeup, curveball, and slider. Each offering displayed solid shape and the potential to become a legitimate weapon at the next level. His ability to mix pitches and maintain consistent mechanics gives him a chance to continue developing into a high-level starter. With his physical frame, present velocity, and advanced feel for multiple pitches, Carroll has all the ingredients recruiters look for in a young arm. The overall package suggests there is still more in the tank as he continues to refine his game. Simply put, he is the type of uncommitted pitcher that programs need to get eyes on soon because he likely will not be available for very long.

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+ RHP Noah Scott (2028) of Amory High School is a young right-hander whose development continues to trend in a very positive direction. Standing 6-foot-1 and 170 pounds with a lean, projectable frame, Scott has impressed each time he has been evaluated, showing steady gains both physically and on the mound. The frame still has plenty of room for added strength, and the improvements in his velocity over the past year are exactly what evaluators hope to see from a developing arm. Just as encouraging as the velocity gains has been the growth in his overall pitchability. Scott has become more comfortable attacking hitters, showing a better understanding of how to sequence pitches and work through lineups. His confidence and feel on the mound continue to improve, allowing his natural ability to play up even more. The combination of a projectable frame, improving stuff, and growing mound presence makes him a very intriguing prospect in the 2028 class. With the progress he has already made and the physical development still ahead, Scott appears to be just scratching the surface of his potential. He is a young arm worth following closely, and it will be exciting to watch his continued progression over the next year as he develops into an increasingly important piece for Amory.

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+ RHP Kolton Beard (2028) of Harrison Central High School continues to trend upward and is quickly becoming one of the more intriguing young arms in Mississippi’s 2028 class. At 6-foot-1, 192 pounds, Beard possesses a strong, physical frame and has shown noticeable progress each time he takes the mound. The improvements in his delivery have been particularly encouraging, as it continues to become more polished, efficient, and repeatable, allowing his natural arm talent to shine. The velocity has steadily climbed as expected, with Beard now running his fastball up to 87 mph. Just as important, his overall feel for pitching continues to improve. He is showing developing confidence in all of his offerings, and the secondary pitches are beginning to take shape as legitimate weapons. As his command, consistency, and pitch development continue to progress, the ceiling becomes even more exciting. Everything about Beard's trajectory points in the right direction. The physicality, improving mechanics, increasing velocity, and developing arsenal all suggest he could emerge as one of the bigger pitching prospects in Mississippi's 2028 class over the next year. He is definitely an arm recruiters and evaluators should keep a close eye on moving forward.

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+ RHP Slade Bullock (2027) of Seminary High School, a Jones College recruit, is one of the more intriguing long-term pitching prospects in Mississippi thanks to his rare combination of size, arm talent, and upside. Standing an imposing 6-foot-7, 285 pounds, Bullock possesses the type of physical frame that immediately captures attention and gives evaluators plenty to dream on as he continues to develop. The right-hander currently runs his fastball up to 87 mph, but the velocity is only part of the story. What really separates Bullock is the quality of his changeup. He does an excellent job killing spin on the pitch while maintaining the same arm speed and arm action as his fastball, creating deception that makes it a true out pitch. His feel for the changeup is advanced and gives him a weapon that many pitchers do not develop until much later. He also continues to show progress with the rest of his arsenal, giving him the foundation to become a complete pitcher. There is still work ahead, but the ceiling is extremely high. With his size, leverage, developing mechanics, and advanced feel for pitching, it would not be surprising to see his velocity continue to climb in the right college program. Bullock has all the ingredients to develop into one of the more premier pitchers at the next level.

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+ RHP Christopher Poole (2028) of Oak Grove High School is an exciting two-way prospect whose upside continues to grow every time he takes the field. At 6-foot-4, 187 pounds, Poole possesses a long, athletic frame with plenty of room for additional strength and development, making him one of the more intriguing young athletes in the state. While he remains a work in progress on the mound, the raw tools and athleticism are impossible to ignore. Poole's arm talent stands out immediately. He worked up to 89 mph with a quick, loose arm action that suggests there is even more velocity in the tank as he continues to mature physically. His breaking ball is currently one of his better weapons, showing very good shape and feel, giving him a pitch he can already rely on to generate swings and misses. As he gains more innings and experience, continued improvement in fastball command will be a key area of development, but the foundation is certainly there. What makes Poole particularly exciting is his status as a true two-way prospect. The athleticism translates throughout his game and gives him a high ceiling both offensively and on the mound. With his size, arm speed, and developing arsenal, Poole has all the ingredients to become a major contributor for Oak Grove. He has the potential to be a significant piece of the Warriors' pitching staff in 2027 and is a player whose stock could rise quickly over the next year.

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+ RHP Colton French (2027) of Ocean Springs High School, a Mississippi Gulf Coast CC recruit, continues to prove why he has been such a dependable arm for the Greyhounds. The 5-foot-11, 185-pound right-hander utilizes his strong, durable frame and repeatable delivery to consistently attack hitters and give his team quality innings every time he takes the mound. French showed well at the Magnolia State Games, running his fastball up to 87 mph while displaying the pitchability and competitiveness that have made him a reliable presence throughout his high school career. His secondary arsenal is equally impressive. The slider stands out as a plus offering, showing sharp action and the ability to generate swings and misses. He also features an excellent changeup, doing a tremendous job of maintaining fastball arm speed and arm action while killing spin, creating deception that makes the pitch highly effective against hitters from both sides of the plate. The combination of a durable build, solid velocity, quality secondary pitches, and proven track record of success makes French an arm coaches can trust. He has been a major piece of Ocean Springs' pitching staff and continues to show the traits of a pitcher capable of making an impact at the next level.

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+ LHP JB Boykin (2028) of Amory High School continues to make some of the biggest strides of any young arm in Mississippi’s 2028 class. The 6-foot-2, 185-pound left-hander first caught our attention a couple of years ago at a Rising Stars event, and his progression since then has been exactly what evaluators hope to see from a developing prospect. Each time he takes the mound, the confidence, stuff, and overall polish continue to improve. Boykin has now worked his way into the conversation as one of the more intriguing left-handed pitching prospects in the class. His fastball has climbed to 86 mph, and there is every indication that more velocity is on the way as he continues to mature physically and refine his mechanics. Beyond the fastball, he already shows a good feel for his changeup, giving him an advanced weapon that plays well off his heater. His breaking ball continues to develop and shows encouraging signs of becoming another quality offering as he gains consistency and experience. What makes Boykin especially exciting is the combination of projection and steady improvement. The frame, arm action, and growing arsenal all point toward a very bright future on the mound. With the jumps he has already made and the upside that remains, Boykin is absolutely a must-follow prospect in Mississippi’s 2028 class and a left-hander recruiters should keep a close eye on moving forward.

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+ RHP Nelson Irving (2028) of Germantown High School may not possess the biggest frame at 5-foot-8, 150 pounds, but he consistently proves that pitching is about much more than size. The right-hander continues to impress with his feel for the craft, athleticism, and competitive nature every time he takes the mound. Irving simply knows how to pitch, and that trait allows his stuff to play up against quality competition. His fastball has reached 86 mph and is complemented by a quality changeup that gives him an effective weapon against hitters from both sides of the plate. Irving also features two distinct breaking balls, each with its own shape and movement profile, allowing him to change eye levels and keep hitters uncomfortable throughout an outing. The ability to command multiple pitches and understand how to use them is uncommon for a player his age and speaks to his advanced feel on the mound. Beyond the arsenal, Irving's athleticism stands out. He moves well, repeats his delivery, and competes with confidence every time he takes the ball. That same athleticism translates to the offensive side of the game as well, further reinforcing his potential as a legitimate two-way prospect. With his pitchability, competitiveness, and versatility, Irving is a player with a bright future and one that recruiters should continue to follow closely as he develops.

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+ RHP Miles Dellenger (2028) of Ocean Springs High School is a young right-hander with significant upside and one of the more intriguing pitching profiles in Mississippi’s 2028 class. At 6-foot-1, 170 pounds, Dellenger possesses a projectable frame with plenty of room for added strength, and the overall package suggests there is still a lot of growth ahead. The arm works exceptionally well, and his fluid, athletic delivery allows him to generate quality velocity while maintaining control and repeatability on the mound. Dellenger's fastball currently works into the mid-80s, and there is every reason to believe more velocity is on the horizon as he continues to mature physically. What makes him particularly exciting is his feel for pitching. He already shows very good command of both his changeup and breaking ball, giving him multiple weapons to attack hitters and the ability to keep them off balance. The feel for secondary pitches at this stage of development is a strong indicator of future success. Perhaps the most exciting aspect of Dellenger's profile is the trajectory. He looks like a player whose best baseball is still ahead of him, and the next calendar year could be a major turning point in his development and recruitment. With his projectable frame, clean arm action, developing arsenal, and advanced feel for pitching, Dellenger has all the tools to continue climbing the ranks and become a highly sought-after arm. He is definitely a pitcher to follow closely moving forward.

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+ RHP Jett Smith (2028) of Poplarville High School turned in one of the more eye-opening performances on the mound at the Magnolia State Games and continues to show why he is one of the top two-way prospects in Mississippi’s 2028 class. The 6-foot-1, 170-pound athlete has steadily improved every time we have seen him, and the progression has been impressive to watch. While Smith's athleticism and position-player abilities are evident, his work on the mound may have been the biggest takeaway from the event. The right-hander worked his fastball into the mid-80s with ease, showing a quick arm and plenty of projection remaining. What makes the performance even more exciting is the amount of physical development still ahead. With additional strength and maturity, there is every reason to believe more velocity is on the way. Smith continues to check boxes across the board as an athlete and baseball player. His versatility, athleticism, and rapidly developing arm talent make him one of the more intriguing young prospects in the state. The ceiling is extremely high, and if the current rate of progression continues, he has a chance to become a major name in the 2028 class. Jett Smith is unquestionably a player recruiters should continue to monitor closely as he develops into a legitimate high-level two-way prospect.

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+ RHP Rush Watkins (2028) of Baldwyn High School turned in one of the most impressive pitching performances at the Magnolia State Games, showing why he is quickly becoming a name to know in Mississippi’s 2028 class. The 6-foot-1, 175-pound right-hander possesses a lean, projectable frame and displayed a level of pitchability that stood out throughout his outing. Watkins was dominant across three hitless innings, striking out six batters while allowing no hits. He commanded the game from the first pitch, working his fastball effectively to both sides of the plate while sitting in the low 80s and touching 84 mph. His ability to locate consistently and change eye levels kept hitters uncomfortable throughout the appearance. Just as impressive was his feel for his secondary offerings, showing the confidence and command to use them in any count. The combination of strike-throwing ability, mound presence, and feel for multiple pitches makes Watkins a very intriguing young arm. With his lean frame and plenty of physical development still ahead, there is reason to believe both the velocity and overall stuff will continue to trend upward. The performance at the Magnolia State Games was a glimpse of what could be ahead, and Watkins looks poised to become one of the more exciting pitching prospects to follow in Mississippi’s 2028 class.

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+ RHP Miles Dillard (2027) of Mooreville High School is one of the more intriguing projection arms in Mississippi’s 2027 class. The 6-foot-1, 160-pound right-hander possesses a lean frame with plenty of room for additional strength, and he looks like the type of pitcher whose best baseball is still well ahead of him. While the current velocity may not tell the full story, the overall profile suggests there is significantly more in the tank as his body continues to mature. Dillard worked his fastball up to 80 mph, but what stands out more than the radar gun is the quality of the delivery and the way the ball comes out of his hand. His mechanics are polished, repeatable, and athletic, allowing him to consistently work around the strike zone while creating optimism for future velocity gains. The arm action is clean, and the overall operation suggests a pitcher who could take a substantial jump once added strength and physical maturity arrive. The upside here is easy to see. Dillard appears to be one of those prospects who may need time, development, and the right college environment before everything fully clicks. With his projectable frame, polished delivery, and intriguing stuff, he has the makings of a late bloomer who could make a significant jump over the next few years. He is definitely an arm worth following closely as his development continues.

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+ LHP Tucker Elliott (2029) of Myrtle High School continues to prove that size is far from everything on the mound. The 5-foot-9, 150-pound left-hander is one of the more polished young pitchers in Mississippi’s 2029 class and consistently pitches beyond his years. A former Junior Future Games participant, Elliott has continued to make steady progress and remains one of the more intriguing young southpaws to follow. What stands out immediately is how polished and repeatable his delivery is. Elliott moves efficiently down the mound, repeats his mechanics well, and consistently fills up the strike zone. His fastball has continued to trend upward, reaching 83.3 mph at the Magnolia State Games and working comfortably into the low 80s. More importantly, he shows an advanced understanding of how to pitch and use his arsenal. Elliott features a very good feel for his changeup, which already projects as a quality weapon, and he also throws two distinct breaking balls with different shapes and movement profiles. The ability to command multiple secondary pitches at his age is a strong indicator of future success. He competes with confidence, changes speeds effectively, and keeps hitters off balance throughout an outing. With his pitchability, advanced feel for multiple offerings, and continued velocity gains, Elliott profiles as a crafty left-hander with plenty more upside remaining. As he continues to mature physically and add strength, there is every reason to believe more velocity and overall stuff are on the way. He is definitely a young arm worth following closely in the 2029 class.

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+ RHP Walker Bradford (2028) of Central Hinds Academy is a projectable young right-hander who continues to show the traits recruiters look for in an emerging pitching prospect. Standing 6-foot-2 and 165 pounds, Bradford possesses a lean frame with plenty of room for additional strength, and his upside continues to grow as he develops physically and gains experience on the mound. At the Magnolia State Games, Bradford worked his fastball up to 82.4 mph while showing an understanding of how to pitch and attack hitters. He demonstrated a good feel for his secondary arsenal, highlighted by a quality changeup that mirrors his fastball arm action exceptionally well. That deception allows the pitch to play above its velocity and gives him an effective weapon against hitters. Bradford also showed the ability to spin the baseball at nearly 2,500 RPM, an impressive number that translates to quality movement and shape on his breaking stuff. What stands out most is his combination of projectability and feel for pitching. He understands his role on the mound, competes well, and already shows the makings of a complete arsenal. As his frame continues to mature and strength is added, there is reason to believe both the velocity and overall stuff will take another step forward. Bradford is definitely an arm recruiters should keep on their radar and a prospect worth following closely in Mississippi’s 2028 class.

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+ RHP Jackson Hoggatt (2029) of Germantown High School is another young arm about to make his mark in Mississippi’s 2029 class. The 6-foot-2, 185-pound two-way prospect possesses a projectable frame, loose athletic actions, and the type of physical traits that suggest significant growth is still ahead. Every part of the profile points toward a player whose best baseball is still to come. On the mound, Hoggatt shows a smooth, repeatable delivery and a loose arm action that allows the ball to come out of his hand effortlessly. His fastball has already reached 82 mph, an impressive number for a player his age, and his frame suggests there is plenty more velocity on the horizon as he continues to mature physically. He also shows an advanced feel for his changeup, doing an excellent job of taking velocity off the pitch and disrupting timing while maintaining arm speed. His breaking ball remains a developing offering, but it already flashes solid shape and projects well as he gains more experience and consistency. The combination of a projectable body, clean mechanics, developing arsenal, and athleticism makes Hoggatt one of the more intriguing young pitching prospects in the state. Add in his ability to contribute as a position player, and it's easy to see why he is viewed as another legitimate two-way prospect with a very bright future. Hoggatt is definitely a player to follow closely over the next several years as his development continues to accelerate.

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UPCOMING 2026 SUMMER EVENTS ⤵️

SHOWCASE	DATE	LOCATION
Central Mississippi Summer ID	06/23	Clinton HS - Clinton, MS
Central Mississppi Rising Stars ID	06/23	Clinton HS - Clinton, MS
Starkville Summer ID	06/30	Starkville HS - Starkville, MS
Starkville Rising Stars ID	06/30	Starkville HS - Starkville, MS
Hattiesburg Summer ID	07/07	University of Southern Miss - Hattiesburg, MS
Hattiesburg Rising Stars ID	07/07	University of Southern Miss - Hattiesburg, MS
Oxford Summer ID	07/14	Oxford HS - Oxford, MS
Oxford Rising Stars ID	07/14	Oxford HS - Oxford, MS
Jackson Summer ID	08/08	Jackson Prep - Flowood, MS
Jackson Rising Stars ID	08/08	Jackson Prep - Flowood, MS

 

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