Tools of the Trade: Class of 2027 Defense
November 4, 2025
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When scouts talk about the “five tools” of a baseball player—hitting for average, hitting for power, speed, arm strength, and defense—it’s often the glove that gets overshadowed. Yet defense is the backbone of a complete ballplayer, the tool that can change the rhythm of a game with one clean read, one quick transfer, one fearless dive.
In the Northeast, where raw spring days and unpredictable hops on dirt test even the most polished athletes, defense becomes more than just a skill, it’s a separator. The players who can handle the glove with confidence and consistency stand out in a region where every rep is earned and every out matters.
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Leo Nockley SS / Wyoming Seminary Preparatory School, PA / 2027The recent Tennessee commit is not only a top defender in the Northeast, but he has proven his skills on the national stage this summer as well. From diving plays and advanced arm strength to situational awareness and high IQ plays. Nockley was turning heads this summer by during the fundamentals extremely well like holding on the runners at second base. His lightning quick transfer and glove work also separates him from the rest. The SEC commit is a must watch ball player that excels in all aspects of the game.
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Joey DiMeo SS / 3B / Toms River East, NJ / 2027Rankings StateRank: 9 / POS: 2
The recent Boston College commit is one of New Jersey’s top defenders that can make plays from anywhere in the infield. DiMeo has the reaction time to make game-saving diving plays while at the hot corner and has the range to make a back-handed plays in the hole at shortstop with the arm strength to record the out. One of the most reliable defenders in the entire Northeast region.
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Brady Palmer SS / 2B / Maine-Endwell, NY / 2027Rankings StateRank: 11 / POS: 2
The recent George Washington University commit represented Team Pennsylvania in the Prep Baseball Future Games this summer and immediately stood out defensively. Palmer plays like his hair is on fire, always bouncing around and communicating with his team being a leader and captain of the infield. The smooth fielding infielder carries himself and plays well above his years. The infectious energy he plays with energizes his teammates and elevates the level of play.
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Cooper Hillen SS / RHP / Lampeter-Strasburg, PA / 2027Rankings StateRank: 22 / POS: 4
The recent Penn State commit is another top defender in the Northeast region from Pennsylvania. The middle infielder is a smooth mover with silky footwork and an arm strength up to 89 mph from shortstop. Hillen consistently works through the baseball and lands into good throwing positions but can also make athletic plays ranging to his left or right.
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Yordany Herrera SS / 3B / Passaic Tech, NJ / 2027Rankings StateRank: 30 / POS: 5
Yordany was a standout performer at this summer’s Prep Baseball Future Games for Team New Jersey. He recorded one of the most impressive defense rounds of the entire event displaying his 90-mph arm strength and his silky glove work. His defense also translated into gameplay where he made every play when the ball found him in the field. Keep an eye on this underrated ball player from New Jersey.
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Henry Lamberg C / OF / Scarsdale Senior High School, NY / 2027Rankings StateRank: 19 / POS: 1
The number 1 catcher in New York’s 2027 class was a standout performer at the Prep Baseball Future Games this past summer. His defensive prowess has shined all summer as he proved to be a reliable defender that can steal strikes for his pitchers and control the running game as well. His arm strength of 80 mph and his pop time of 1.84-1.95 are both well above average for his age and grade. Lamberg is a must-see catching prospect in the Northeast.
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