Prep Baseball Report

ProCase ‘A Massive Success Showcasing Top Talent’


Bruce Hefflinger
Ohio Senior Writer

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ProCase ‘A Massive Success Showcasing Top Talent’

HILLIARD - A new velocity record was just one of the many impressive accomplishments that took place at the Prep Baseball ProCase this past weekend.

“Overall, the ProCase was a massive success in showcasing some of Ohio’s top talent,” noted Kyle Weldon, Prep Baseball Ohio Director of Scouting. “I love the timing of the event, a week before high school tryouts start. For the players, it’s a nice end of the winter bow on top of a lot of hard work that goes into their training all offseason. For us, we’re able to see some of the top talent in the state workout next to each other. It’s good for evaluation and it’s a great time.”

A fun event was the consensus feeling of 60 participants that competed, including 22 seniors, 24 juniors, 13 sophomores and one freshman.

“My overall assessment of the ProCase was that everyone who was there were ballers and also great people to have conversations with,’ related Noah Goetke, a sophomore at Moeller, back for his second appearance at the event. “It’s always fun competing with those guys.”

Another 10th grader that participated was Devlan Daniel.

“I really enjoyed the event,” the Indian Hill High School standout said. “I think it’s super cool how the top kids from around the state for their respected classes are all able to get together for an event and show off their talent. Being able to see other kids perform is also super cool.”

Nobody was more impressive than Nathan Bryant, a Lake Center Christian junior right-hander who broke the velo record with a 96.1 mile an hour fastball.

“I like how the ProCase allowed me to get a solid amount of reps, whether it was hitting or pitching, to really give a true evaluation of my numbers,” explained the recent Ohio State commit. “Compared to other showcases, it allowed me to have enough pitching and hitting reps to settle in and really show what I have.”

Colton Landtiser, a Pickerington Central senior, was another participant performing for a second time at the event.

“My general assessment of the ProCase was that it was a great event that was well run,” the Ohio University commit noted. “We knew where to be and when to be there. They seemed to know what they were doing. Everything was run just right.”

Deacon Nelson, a University School junior, was a first-time participant and thrilled to be part of the event.

“The ProCase was a well-run event,” the 256th-rated 2026 in the nation said. “It was a great setting to show off my hard work from this offseason. I had a lot of fun being around other top players in the state as well as forming stronger connections with the Prep Baseball Ohio staff.” 

Others also had positive things to say about an event that featured more uncommitted players than previously due to the changing landscape of college baseball.

Drew Tajblik: “It was a very in-control event that was well run. It was a great experience overall, meeting new people and showing off your skills.”

Cael Charles: “I loved this event. It was very well put together and very nice to perform at a high level around the top kids in our state.” 

Owen McKoon: “It was a really great event. It was great showcasing my talents with the best players in Ohio.”

Brody Papay: “Overall, I had a great time coming and showing what I can do at this event.”

Carter Shouse: “I think the ProCase really helped me compare myself to the older more experienced guys. I feel like I was able to prove myself and show that I can hang with some of the older guys. It was a great event.”

Owen Shinada: “I thought the event was really cool for being my first time. I got to see friends and meet new people.”

Of those participating, 29 are committed, down from 53 a year ago. Recruits going to 19 different schools were represented, with four headed to Toledo, three to both Wright State and Eastern Michigan and two to Ohio State, Kent State and Ohio University. There were one each going to state schools Bowling Green, Cincinnati and Dayton along with commits headed to Indiana, Louisville, Louisiana-Monroe, Navy, Oakland, Virginia, Marshall, Central Michigan, Morehead State and Mercyhurst.

PITCHING

Nearly half of the players at the event pitched, with 26 showing off what they could do. Nobody made an impression any more than Bryant, a 6-4 208-pounder who not only topped out at 96.1 with his fastball, but also had a spin rate of 2,682.

“I was happy to have the opportunity to finally be able to show off the talent that I have picked up over the offseason,” explained the eighth-ranked junior right-handed pitcher in Ohio, who also made a nice showing with his bat. “It was a great feeling to show that I have the talent to compete with the best on defense and offense. I liked the atmosphere and how it was surrounded by guys with the same goals as me and being able to compete with them.”

Weldon had high praise for Bryant, who became the second pitcher in as many years to break the velocity record, set last year by Zion Theophilus at 95.4.

“Nathan has continued to make massive jumps,” Weldon pointed out. “Ohio State is getting a guy who will pose a challenge to hitters with his unique delivery, mid-90s velocity, and secondary arsenal that was highlighted by an 83 mph sharp slider at the ProCase.”

There was also a spin rate of 2854 on the 83.2 slider, the best numbers in the field.

Even the chance to catch Bryant brought excitement.

“Catching for the newest, fastest pitcher in Ohio throwing 96 miles per hour was definitely a highlight for me,” explained Owen McKoon of Perry, a Louisiana-Monroe commit who stood out among the backstops at the event with 82 catching velocity and 1.92 pop time. “It will make me a better catcher.” 

There were other pitchers that also had a great showing, with Shinada and Scott Demarco, a Medina Buckeye senior headed to Cincinnati, both at 92.6 with the fastball.

“The highlight for me was I was able to PR with my fastball,” noted Shinada, an Indiana commit who missed nearly all of his junior high school season at Twinsburg with an injury. “It felt great to be out there. My arm is great, I feel whippy and hope to get back to State again one last time with Twinsburg and be state champs.”

Isaac Sullivan of Chaminade-Julienne and Landtiser also topped 92 with the fastball, Sullivan at 92.3 and Landtiser 92.2.

“My highlight was just being around friends and people that were good at what they do,” related Landtiser, the 11th-rated 2025 right-handed pitcher in the state.

Weldon was impressed with the 6-1 208-pounder who had the second highest maximum spin rate of 2571.

“Colton has a highly competitive make-up,” Weldon pointed out. “His body looked strong, so there’s a clear dedication to the weight room and development. I’m excited to see what he does in his final year before heading to campus.”

Papay made big strides in all his pitches since a year ago, with a maximum fastball of 90.9 (90.2 last year), 84 change (78 last year), 81 slider (73.6 last year) and 79.2 curve (70.8 last year).

“My biggest highlight of the event was being able to execute each pitch,” explained the Avon High School senior, a 6-5 215-pound southpaw committed to Wright State.

RETURNEES

Papay was one of a handful of returnees to the ProCase, with that proving to be advantageous in many ways.

“Being at the event previously has helped my name get out and given me the exposure that I needed,” noted Papay, the second-rated 2025 left-handed pitcher in Ohio.

Landtiser is another who participated a year ago.

“Attending the ProCase the year prior was helpful with knowing when to start my warmup and knowing overall what to expect when throwing,” said the hard-throwing right-hander, whose fastball increased from 91.7 to 92.2 and slider went from 79.0 to 81.1

Another returnee from 2024 that had a big day at the ProCase was Goetke. The 24th-rated sophomore outfielder in the nation did not run or field at the event this year, but his bat stood out. His 106.3 exit velocity was nearly four miles an hour better than the second best of 102.5 by Bryant.

“I think being at the event previously was a big advantage,” noted Goettke, a 6-1 185-pounder. “It gave me a sense of how the event is going to go and what I had to prepare for. For this being such a big event, I know sometimes you can get nervous but doing this event last year helped me deal with those nerves.”   

In addition to his max exit velocity, his 99.6 average exit velo was tops, as was his 405 max distance and 90 percent hard balls hit. Goettke’s 284 average distance was just behind Granville’s Ezra Kurek’s 288, with Goettke also showing the quickest max hand speed of 26.2 along with max bat speed of 86.

“The highlight for me was hitting 106.3 exit velocity,” related Goettke. “I’ve been working hard all off season for a moment like this and the hard work paid off to put up a great performance. I’m upset I didn’t get the ProCase record, but hopefully I’ll break that next year.”

Weldon certainly liked what the second-rated 2027 in the state showed.

“Noah had an impressive display of power during BP,” Weldon pointed out. “Up to 106 with wood puts him in a very small class of power hitters in the country. He’s a special athlete.”

LEARNING EXPERIENCE

Being there previously was beneficial in the learning process as well.

“I can take away how calm I was going into the event,” Goettke said. “I think it’s easy to get nervous and feel pressure in big events like this but I really worked on breathing and just having fun and enjoying the moment.”

Finding what to take from his performance was important to Landtiser.

“Something I could take away from the ProCase is the metrics in my pitches,” the 30th-rated senior in Ohio noted. “I feel that could help me further develop them for the season.”

While those in attendance for the second time saw being there prior as a plus, all of the participants see being part of this event bringing a lot of value.

“I can take away the fact that I can play with some of the best players in the country and not worry about being behind them anymore,” Bryant related. “It can really take some of the pressure off of me. There is obviously still always the motivation to become an even better player each day, but it gives me confidence knowing everything I’ve worked toward is all paying off. I really appreciate how much Prep Baseball has helped me along the way with getting all my metrics out there and giving me the opportunity to play in front of scouts and with some of the best players around.” 

The number one sophomore in the state also understood what being at the ProCase meant.

“I think one thing I can take from my performance is to work on being ready for these events and be at my best for these events so I can really show off what I can do,” explained Daniel, the 17th-ranked 2027 outfielder in the country.

Nelson, a Virginia commit, said he was ready for the ProCase and happy with his showing. 

“I felt extremely prepared for the ProCase,” the 62nd-ranked junior shortstop in the nation explained. “I just trusted the work I put in while I was at the showcase. I can take these results as a sign that my preparation was successful, and I will use the training plan in the future.”

Papay, the second-ranked senior left-handed pitcher in Ohio, was looking to see where he stood at this point in his game. 

“I can always be better, but it’s great to see how I am performing before my high school season,” Papay noted.

The fourth-rated 2025 RHP in the state was pleased to be able to show he is healthy and ready for a big year on the mound.

“I can take away that I should be able to show my breaking balls and that I can throw it into the zone,” Shinada said. 

It was definitely a learning experience for the younger participants as well.

“One takeaway I have is to stay warm and ready during long breaks between events,” pointed out Shouse, a Bishop Fenwick freshman.

Charles, an Amherst Steele sophomore, also found strategy was needed when not in action.

“One thing I can take from this showcase and learn is to not warm up too quickly and too much,” explained Charles,the  fourth-rated 2027 left-handed pitcher in the state. “By the time I got up there to pitch I was a little tired but still went up and gave it my best shot. I would say being more cautious while warming up is one thing I can learn and improve on.”

YOUTH SHINES

Shouse, the lone ninth-grader at the ProCase, certainly made an impression, with the left-hander topping at 90.3 on his fastball while also showing athleticism with 1.56 time for 10 yards and 6.87 for 60.

“It was a lot of pressure but I am grateful to get the opportunity to perform in front of the scouts,” the third-ranked 2028 outfielder in the nation noted. “One of the biggest highlights for me was getting to meet some of the older guys and getting to compete at what I love to do.”

His showing was what Weldon expected.

“Carter is a highly-ranked player in the country for this 2028 class for a reason,” Weldon said of the number one freshman in Ohio. “We get to watch him for four more years and I couldn’t be more excited about that. He is an explosive athlete with a feel for every aspect of his game.”

Goettke’s performance was arguably the best among sophomores at the ProCase, but Daniel and Charles certainly have a case.

Daniel, the 54th-ranked 2027 in the country, had an astounding 100 arm velo from the outfield to go along with 100 exit velo. The 17th-ranked sophomore outfielder in the country also ran the 60 in 6.72.

“I think the highlight for me was just being able to showcase my abilities and see other kids showcase their’s. It was good I could see the other, I guess, competition in the state,” Daniel said.

Charles, the ninth-rated 10th-grader in Ohio, showed off his left arm with a 91.2 fastball.

“My highlight from the showcase was pitching in that spotlight,” explained the 6-1 160-pound Charles, whose twin brother Cole also participated, with the left-hander recording a 95 outfield velo along with an 87.4 fastball. “I got to perform and show what I could do while also being there representing my organization and my teammates.” 

Another sophomore who stood out, literally, was Nolan Klingbeil. The 6-8 208-pounder from Median Buckeye reached 90.4 on his fastball, showing a lot of projectability as the fifth-ranked 2027 right-handed pitcher in the state.

POSITION PLAYERS

While Goettke and Bryant along with the youngest participants were making an impression, others opened a few eyes as well with Nelson among them.

The sixth-ranked junior in Ohio ran a 6.56 time in the 60, finished with 92 infield velocity and the 6-0 183-pound left-handed hitter also had 101.7 exit velo.

“The highlight for me was seeing my numbers after running the 60, hitting BP, and throwing in the infield,” the second-rated junior shortstop in Ohio explained. “It was nice to see all of the hard work pay off in the ProCase setting with the Prep Baseball staff watching.”

Another 2026 that showed well was Sullivan, who had 101 exit velocity, had a distance max of 287 and had the second best infield velo of 93, trailing only North Ridgeville sophomore Emanuel Ramos whose velocity reached 95. Sullivan, the fifth-rated junior shortstop in Ohio who is committed to Dayton, also made a nice showing on the hill with a 92.3 fastball and 82 mph slider.

Weldon had good things to say about McKoon, the fourth-rated 2025 catcher in the state who showed off his athleticism in addition to his skills behind the plate with a 6.51 time in the 60.

“It’s hard to have a more impressive workout than Owen McKoon just did,” the Prep Baseball Ohio Director of Scouting proclaimed. “On top of everything he does with a bat in his hands and geared up behind the plate, the dude ran a 6.51. He should have a monster spring.”

The 39th-ranked senior in Ohio was thrilled about his results as well as what lies ahead.

“It was a cool opportunity to showcase my skills in front of the scouts,” McKoon explained. “I’ve been working on speed work this winter and that really showed in my 60 time.

“I’m excited to start my senior season at Perry with guys I’ve played with for years and also excited to play at ULM next year.”  

His 6.51 time in the 60 tied Ian Cain, a Kent State commit from Avon, for second fastest behind Drew Tajblik of Lake who ran a 6.41.

“It felt great to show off what I had in front of everyone,” noted Tajblik, a two-way standout on last year’s Division III state runner-up team who is committed to Toledo. “Running the fastest 60 time out of the whole event was definitely a highlight.”

The eighth-rated senior shortstop in Ohio also had the best jump height max of 29.5 along with 97.3 exit velocity and also showcased his skills on the mound but did not participate in infield competition.

“I had to skip infield because I had a basketball game that night that I couldn’t miss,” explained the 47th-ranked 2025 in the state.

BIG OPPORTUNITY

Getting to show scouts looking on at such a prestigious event was without a doubt meaningful for all involved.

“It was awesome performing in front of all the scouts,” Goettke said. “I love showcasing what I have to offer in front of them and getting my name out there for the future.” 

It was the same feeling for the 6-0 205-pound Daniel.

“Performing in front of the scouts for me is always a lot of fun because I feel like it’s a really cool environment,” Daniel explained. “When you do well you feel a lot better about yourself, so performing in front of them was fun.”

It brought some juice according to Charles.

“I thought performing in front of these scouts and people that represent Prep Baseball Ohio was a little boost of adrenaline and energy,” Charles explained. “It brought a lot of excitement because you know you have to put on a good show but it shouldn’t be a nervous time when you’re up there. You should get up there knowing you’re going to do great. Who knows? You might hit a new PR on your fastball because of that adrenaline.”

The thoughts were similar for pitchers Papay and Landtiser.

“It was definitely a great experience being in the presence of all the scouts and always trying to show what my abilities are,” Papay said.

Added Landtiser: “I forgot there would be scouts there until one of my buddies pointed it out, but it was fun. It’s always fun doing well in front of eyes and being able to show the work you’ve been putting in.”  

Bryant was happy they could see his abilities.

“It was a great opportunity as usual to perform in front of all the scouts Prep Baseball attracts to their events,” Bryant noted. “It always gives me the adrenaline to know I have to perform well in front of them and helps me play more loose and powerful.”

Not paying attention to who is looking on is how Nelson handles it.

“I always say that I play to my maximum effort whenever I am on the field because I never know who is watching,” Nelson explained. “I just played the way I know how to play and let the results speak for themselves.”

FINAL THOUGHTS

While thoughts now turn to the upcoming spring baseball season, it does not come without some thanks from the participants at the ProCase.

“I just want to thank all the Prep Baseball staff and everyone who ran all these great events, and everyone who has helped me through my recruiting process for Prep Baseball,” Tajblik said.

Goettke agreed.

“I’d like to give thanks to everyone on the Prep Baseball staff for running such a great event,” Goettke explained. “They always run everything smoothly and well and deserve big props.” 

Similar thoughts came from Nelson and Landtiser.

“I had a great time and appreciate Prep Baseball for putting on events like the ProCase,” Nelson said.

Added Landtiser: “I always enjoy how well run Prep Baseball events are. They do a good job accommodating players when it’s needed.”

For the underclassmen, who knows? Maybe 2026 will be even better.

“Overall it was a great event,” Daniel concluded. “If invited again I would attend it because I think it really does a lot and lets me see a lot.”

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