STARKVILLE, MS — The Mississippi Preseason All-State was held on Sunday, February 1st at the Palmeiro Center on the campus of Mississippi State that featured top talent from the 2026-2029 classes. Players went through a pro-style workout with TrackMan and VALD Performance tech, while pitchers threw in a bullpen 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 the top performers in the catchers session from the event, with more breakdowns and full scouting reports coming soon.

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QUICK HITS: CATCHERS

Nelson Barthel C / OF / Northwest Rankin, MS / 2026 Nelson Barthel, a 2026 standout from Northwest Rankin, brings a powerful 5-11, 205-pound build and premium athleticism to the catcher position. An elite mover behind the plate, he shows lightning-quick actions with a 1.85 pop time and arm strength up to 81 mph, shutting down the run game with confidence. Offensively, Barthel is a gap-to-gap force with true next-level pop, spraying line drives to all fields and producing eye-opening exit velocities up to 108 mph. A former Future Gamer and current Jones College commit, he pairs impact offense with high-end defensive ability, making him one of the most dynamic and complete catching prospects in the 2026 class.

Carson Richardson C / RHP / Baldwyn Career Advancement Center, MS / 2029 Carson Richardson, a 2029 prospect from Baldwyn High School, features a projectable 5-11, 170-pound frame and is a solid up-and-coming catching prospect to watch. He shows a developing but promising defensive skill set behind the plate, recording a 2.02 pop time with catcher’s arm strength up to 78 mph. Offensively, Richardson works with a middle-of-the-field, line drive approach and consistently finds the barrel, producing exit velocities up to 95.1 mph. With his combination of projectability, feel to hit, and growing defensive tools, Carson is a young catcher whose progression will be important to follow in the coming years.

Kaysen Wiggins C / SS / Lewisburg, MS / 2029 Kaysen Wiggins, a 2029 standout from Lewisburg High School, pairs a projectable 5-10, 175-pound frame with rare polish behind the plate for his age. He’s an advanced mover with quick footwork and a strong, accurate arm up to 78 mph, turning in pop times as low as 1.82 that immediately grab attention. His athleticism shows up across the board, including a 6.82-second 60-yard dash that separates him from typical catching prospects. At the plate, Wiggins works with a line drive approach and has produced exit velocities up to 96 mph, showing real feel for the barrel. With defensive actions and advanced offensive tools still trending upward, Kaysen has the look of a young catcher who could be something special in the years ahead.

Nash Segrest C / 1B / Madison Ridgeland Academy, MS / 2027 Nash Segrest, a 2027 prospect from Madison Ridgeland Academy, features a long, lanky 6-1, 180-pound frame and a catching skill set that continues to trend upward each time he’s evaluated. Behind the plate, he has recorded pop times as low as 1.94, and as his arm strength continues to develop, those numbers have a chance to improve even more. Offensively, Segrest works primarily with a pull-side approach and has added noticeable pop since previous looks, now producing exit velocities up to 100 mph. With his projectable build, improving defensive actions, and emerging power at the plate, Nash is a name recruiters will want to follow closely this spring.

Griffin Moss C / 3B / Houston, MS / 2029 Griffin Moss, a 2029 prospect from Houston High School, owns a tall, lean 6-2, 195-pound frame that is still developing and should continue to enhance his ability behind the plate. He shows good footwork with a strengthening arm that has already produced pop times as low as 1.97. Offensively, Moss drives the baseball to all fields with a slight upward bat path and is getting stronger, already recording exit velocities up to 95.3 mph. With his projectable build, improving defensive actions, and emerging offensive strength, Griffin is another young, up-and-coming catcher to pay close attention to moving forward.

Ethan Killough C / RHP / Kossuth, MS / 2028 Ethan Killough, a 2028 prospect from Kossuth High School, stands at an imposing 6-2, 188 pounds and shows advanced ability behind the plate well beyond his years. He carries himself with poise and the look of a natural leader on the field, traits that complement his current standing as the #4 ranked player in his class. Defensively, Killough has recorded pop times as low as 1.91 with a catcher’s velocity of 78 mph that still has room to tick up as he continues to develop. Offensively, he is a solid left-handed hitter with noticeable juice, working primarily with a pull-side approach and some loft, producing exit velocities up to 103.2 mph. With high-level defensive tools, impactful offensive production, and strong leadership presence, Ethan has an exciting future ahead as one of the premier catching prospects in his class.

Eli McDaniels C / 3B / Mooreville, MS / 2029 Eli McDaniels, a 2029 prospect from Mooreville High School, brings a strong, durable 6-1, 200-pound frame and the versatility to play multiple positions, though he truly stands out behind the plate. He presents a big, steady target for pitchers and already shows a strong arm with catcher’s velocity up to 78 mph, producing pop times as low as 1.93. He also moves well for his size, running a 6.98-second 60-yard dash. Offensively is where McDaniels really separates himself, generating exit velocities up to 99 mph with a pull-side approach, natural loft, and clear intent to punish the baseball. He delivered in big moments as well, including a walk-off home run at the Junior Future Games in Atlanta last summer to send Mississippi to the next round of the playoffs. With his size, tools, and ability to perform under the lights, Eli has an exciting future ahead.

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UPCOMING 2026 EVENTS ⤵️

SHOWCASE	DATE	LOCATION
South Mississippi Rising Stars ID	04/01	Mississippi Gulf Coast CC - Perkinston, MS
North Mississippi Rising Stars ID	04/05	Elevate - Hernando, MS
Central Mississippi Rising Stars ID	04/19	Clinton HS - Clinton, MS

 

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